(IPYS/IFEX) – On 14 January 2008, journalists Elizabeth Salinas and Cynthia Flores, who both work for the weekly “Canoeste” which is based in Chosica, a district of Lima, reported having been followed that evening by municipality employee Kenso Merino Luna and another man as they headed for dinner in that Lima district’s main square. They […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 14 January 2008, journalists Elizabeth Salinas and Cynthia Flores, who both work for the weekly “Canoeste” which is based in Chosica, a district of Lima, reported having been followed that evening by municipality employee Kenso Merino Luna and another man as they headed for dinner in that Lima district’s main square. They also noted that as they went home, a municipal police car picked up the men and followed the journalists all the way to their residences.
The journalists also reported having received death threats since 6 January; the threats were sent as text messages to their cell phones.
They believe the incidents may be linked to the publishing of an investigation on 5 January in which several minors report having been raped by Chosica’s mayor, Luis Fernando Bueno Quino, who has held office for three consecutive periods and who, since 2006, has been accused several times of forcing former municipal employees to have sex with him.
The journalists also said that the owners of newspaper kiosks have told them that municipal employees have threatened to close the kiosks if they continue to sell “Canoeste”.
