(SPP/IFEX) – The SPP condemns the issuing of a threat against Alberto Núñez, a correspondent for Nation Group Communications (Grupo Nación de Comunicaciones) in the department of San Pedro. According to Núñez, on 31 October 2008, he was threatened by five peasant farmers who were fighting for land rights and had been detained by police […]
(SPP/IFEX) – The SPP condemns the issuing of a threat against Alberto Núñez, a correspondent for Nation Group Communications (Grupo Nación de Comunicaciones) in the department of San Pedro. According to Núñez, on 31 October 2008, he was threatened by five peasant farmers who were fighting for land rights and had been detained by police at the Capiibary 17th Division Police Station.
In addition, after covering a story at the peasant farmers’ encampment, Núñez was surrounded by farmers who attempted to assault him. The assault was prevented when leaders of the farmers’ group, the Fight for Land Organisation (Organización de Lucha por la Tierra), intervened.
The repression of farmers by police forces, as well as the criminalisation of their demands, is a practice that has been applied repeatedly to suppress their calls for agrarian reform. However, threats against media workers, who are carrying out their work of informing the public, are unacceptable. As such, the SPP calls on civil society organisations to avoid this type of action and to respect the work of journalists.
