(IPYS/IFEX) – On 27 December 2004 at 10:30 a.m. (local time), journalist Duber Mauriola Labán, of Radio Centinela, was beaten and kidnapped by civilian defence patrol members. Mauriola’s kidnappers accused him of defending the interests of the Majaz mining company, which they say is causing serious pollution problems. The incident took place in Huancabamba, Piura […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 27 December 2004 at 10:30 a.m. (local time), journalist Duber Mauriola Labán, of Radio Centinela, was beaten and kidnapped by civilian defence patrol members. Mauriola’s kidnappers accused him of defending the interests of the Majaz mining company, which they say is causing serious pollution problems. The incident took place in Huancabamba, Piura region, northwestern Peru. At present, Mauriola’s whereabouts and physical condition are unknown.
Another Radio Centinela journalist, Hermán De La Cruz, told IPYS that approximately 80 members of the Huancabamba Defence Committee, armed with sticks, went looking for Mauriola on the night of 26 December. At the time, the journalist was at a friend’s house. After waiting through the night, the defence committee members forcibly removed Mauriola from the house prior to the arrival of police officers who were on their way to rescue him. The kidnappers apparently took the journalist to their headquarters in the Huancaparpa Alto area, which is located 10 hours from Huancabamba by foot. When some of Mauriola’s relatives went to Huancaparpa Alto, they were told that the journalist was not there.
At 11:00 a.m. on 28 December, two helicopters carrying members of the national police’s Special Operations Division (División Nacional de Operaciones Especiales, DINOES) arrived in Huancabamba and began efforts to rescue Mauriola.
IPYS condemns this attack on freedom of expression and calls on the police and Interior Ministry to take action to obtain the journalist’s release and punish those responsible for his kidnapping.
