(IPYS/IFEX) – On 21 January 2009, Ana Yuffra, a candidate for mayor in the district of San Juan Bautista, locked several journalists in her house to prevent them from reporting on a group of protesters who were demonstrating at the house, accusing her of having defrauded them. San Juan Bautista is located in the province […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 21 January 2009, Ana Yuffra, a candidate for mayor in the district of San Juan Bautista, locked several journalists in her house to prevent them from reporting on a group of protesters who were demonstrating at the house, accusing her of having defrauded them. San Juan Bautista is located in the province of Maynas, Loreto region, northeastern Peru.
Yuffra was annoyed that the reporters entered her property to cover the protest. She locked them up in retaliation and tried to force them to agree to refrain from reporting on the event in exchange for their release. She demanded that they delete everything they had taped and, aided by two of her colleagues, attempted to take away their equipment.
The journalists were able to escape when more reporters arrived at the house. The police also intervened to help resolve the situation. Yuffra justified her actions by saying that the press invaded her property without authorisation. The journalists intend to accuse her of kidnapping.
The affected reporters were Silvana Moz Mendoza, a reporter for Amazónica de Televisión – Canal 2, José Arbildo and Raúl Tarrillo Rojas, camera operators for Amazónica de Televisión – Canal 2, Marbella Mamani Villacorta of Radio La Karibeña, and María Teresa Upiachihuay Pacaya of Radio Loreto.
