(IPYS/IFEX) – A group of radio and television journalists from the city of Arequipa were recently summoned by the Second Provincial Criminal District Attorney’s Office, presided by Eliana Zea Ramírez. The journalists were to be questioned about a disturbance that occurred in the city on 14 June 2002, during a demonstration organised to protest the […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – A group of radio and television journalists from the city of Arequipa were recently summoned by the Second Provincial Criminal District Attorney’s Office, presided by Eliana Zea Ramírez. The journalists were to be questioned about a disturbance that occurred in the city on 14 June 2002, during a demonstration organised to protest the privatisation of two electricity companies.
In a telephone call to Zea Ramírez’s office, former Arequipa prefect Luis Gutiérrez Cuadros filed a complaint against the journalists. The district attorney subsequently asked the National Police to investigate the incident. When questioned by the police, Gutiérrez Cuadros accused the journalists of being responsible for the destruction of some public and private spaces, by broadcasting statements in the media inciting people to use violence. The former prefect added that the journalists had committed the crime of “apologising for terrorism.”
The journalists in question are Eduardo Coaguila Ortiz, Benjamín García Suclla, Jorge Velásquez Gonzales, Hugo Rucano Páucar and Colombian journalist José Urrea Ríos, of Radio Melodía station; Federico Rosado Zavala, of Radio Líder station; and Enrique Mendoza Núñez of Austral TV Canal 9 station. The legal representatives of the Canal 4 HTV and Canal 3 Star Globalcom television stations were also summoned.
During the 14 June demonstrations, the radio stations permitted individuals to go on air and voice their opinions about what has happening in the city and surrounding districts. A number of citizens condemned the government and its decision to suppress the protests.
In an interview with IPYS, District Attorney Zea Ramírez informed the organisation that the journalists were only summoned to respond to the former prefect’s accusations, as part of the police investigation she is heading. According to the district attorney, the Public Prosecutor’s Office has still not made a pronouncement on any of the incidents, and the former prefect’s statements are the only evidence against the journalists. Moreover, the prefect’s successor, Édgar Gonzales Polar, publicly stated that his predecessor was speaking of his own accord and not on behalf of the Prefect’s Office when he condemned the journalists.
IPYS expressed its concern that the journalists could be held responsible for opinions or information broadcast through their media. The organisation asked District Attorney Zea Ramírezto not proceed with the investigation into the press’ alleged role in the 14 June incidents.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the district attorney:
– urging her to end the investigation of the journalists
– condemning former prefect Gutiérrez Cuadros’ accusations against the press as an act of intimidation
Appeals To
Eliana Zea Ramírez
Head of the Second Provincial Criminal District Attorney’s Office in Arequipa
Tel/Fax: +51 54 23 2588
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
