(IPYS/IFEX) – On 24 November 2007, journalist Danilo Bautista Hernández narrowly escaped an apparent murder attempt by two armed men thought to be hired killers. The incident took place on the banks of the river Yuracyacu, in the Nueva Cajamarca district of San Martín region, in northeastern Peru. The assailants aimed a gun at him […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 24 November 2007, journalist Danilo Bautista Hernández narrowly escaped an apparent murder attempt by two armed men thought to be hired killers. The incident took place on the banks of the river Yuracyacu, in the Nueva Cajamarca district of San Martín region, in northeastern Peru. The assailants aimed a gun at him at close range, but were dissuaded from firing it when several local residents approached them after hearing the journalist’s niece cry for help.
Bautista Hernández, host of Radio California’s programme “El Informativo de Mediodía”, told IPYS that the attack may have been in retaliation for criticisms he made on-air of the social organization Front to Defend the Interests of Nueva Cajamarca (Frente de Defensa de los Intereses de Nueva Cajamarca). According to the journalist, it would not be the first time members of the organisation have attempted to intimidate him. He also stated that on 15 November, Óscar Coronel Vega, a member of the organisation, threatened during a telephone call to kill him and warned the journalist that hired killers would charge little to kill him.
In May, the journalist escaped being attacked by a mob during a protest organized by the same organization (see IFEX alert of 16 May 2007).
