(IPYS/IFEX) – On 29 July 2007, journalist Jaime Vásquez Valcárcel was accused of defamation by Eduardo Yong Quina, brother of Alfredo Yong Quina, former candidate to the regional presidency of Loreto. The plaintiff asked for civil reparations of 170,000 soles (approx. US$70,000). Vásquez is the editor of the newspaper “Pro&Contra” and a host of Canal […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 29 July 2007, journalist Jaime Vásquez Valcárcel was accused of defamation by Eduardo Yong Quina, brother of Alfredo Yong Quina, former candidate to the regional presidency of Loreto. The plaintiff asked for civil reparations of 170,000 soles (approx. US$70,000). Vásquez is the editor of the newspaper “Pro&Contra” and a host of Canal 21 television station’s programme “Contrapunteo”.
The lawsuit is over a September 2006 report by the newspaper referring to allegations by a group of local residents to the effect that Yong Quina is the key organizer of a contraband autoparts operation.
Vásquez told IPYS that he approached Yong Quina to get his comments on the allegations after publishing the information. Yong Quina always refused to meet with the journalist, however.
The journalist was notified of the lawsuit on 31 July.
