Journalist Miguel Alcántara was assaulted while he was covering a protest outside the regional president's house by neighbours who had not been paid for some public work.
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 9 June 2011, journalists Miguel Alcántara, Edwin Azaña and Mónica Romero, of newspaper “Correo”, América TV and Canal 41 TV stations, respectively, requested personal protection from the president of the Áncash regional government, César Álvarez Aguilar. The journalists have been subjected to physical and verbal attacks by this northern Peru official.
The journalists, who feel that the attacks against the press by the twice-elected regional president have intensified during recent times, presented their request to Governor Carmen Hoyos Vargas who estimated that a period of 10 days would pass before she would give them a formal response.
Alcántara was assaulted on 21 May following an order issued by Álvarez while the journalist was covering a protest outside the regional president’s house by neighbors who had not been paid for some public work in the Esperanza Alta sector.
Romero has been insulted and maligned by journalists working for media outlets that support the regional president, who have recently accused her of following Álvarez. Romero’s house has been photographed and filmed by people who are linked to the regional government.
And finally, on 2 June, Azaña was on duty when he was punched in the back by one of Álvarez’s official supporters. The regional authorities failed to respond to the attack.
