(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Fernando Acuña Ortiz was called a terrorist by the chief of the Cusco operative unit of the National Food Assistance Program (PRONAA), Gamaliel Velarde. Acuña questioned the distribution of breakfast meals and other foods to peasants in a number of provinces, in exchange for their participation in actions in support of a […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Fernando Acuña Ortiz was called a terrorist by the
chief of the Cusco operative unit of the National Food Assistance Program
(PRONAA), Gamaliel Velarde. Acuña questioned the distribution of breakfast
meals and other foods to peasants in a number of provinces, in exchange for
their participation in actions in support of a re-election campaign.
The incident occurred on 8 September 1999 in Cusco’s Velasco Astete
international airport, a few moments after the arrival of Minister for Women
Luisa María Cuculiza, and in the presence of a number of Cusco journalists
who were interviewing the minister.
Journalistic sources reported that Acuña, the editor of the “El Comercio del
Cusco” daily, reprimanded Gamaliel Velarde, saying that he could not hide
the role PRONAA had played in forcing the mothers who benefited from the
Vaso de Leche (Cup of Milk) programme to come to the minister’s reception at
the airport. Gamaliel Velarde responded that the journalist was making such
statements because PRONAA had not paid for any advertising on his programme.
In turn, Acuña Ortiz asked the official to clarify if at any time the
journalist had solicited advertising from him. In response to the journalist
‘s comments, Velarde told him: “you are a terrorist.”
The same journalistic sources reported that afterwards, a group of PRONAA
employees, including the provincial coordinator, Carlos Alberto Quintana,
tried to attack Acuña. They were intercepted by other press workers who were
covering the event and came to Acuña’s assistance.
The Cusco regional council of the Peruvian Journalists’ College and the
Cusco branch of the National Journalists’ Association have publicly
expressed their support for the assaulted journalists and have denounced the
incident, which they consider a threat. They have asked that the responsible
parties be punished.
