(IPYS/IFEX) – On 7 October 2004, a group of people headed by Ilo Councillor Miriam Sosa and Municipal Services Manager Denisse Chávez forced their way into Radio Líder station. The group apparently intended to assault Omar Pari Diaz, host of “Radio Noticias” programme, and David Pari Yana, head of the press department. The incident took […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 7 October 2004, a group of people headed by Ilo Councillor Miriam Sosa and Municipal Services Manager Denisse Chávez forced their way into Radio Líder station. The group apparently intended to assault Omar Pari Diaz, host of “Radio Noticias” programme, and David Pari Yana, head of the press department. The incident took place at approximately 1:00 p.m. (local time) in Ilo, Moquegua region, southern Peru.
According to Radio Líder manager Bernarda Yana, the intruders managed to make their way to the broadcasting studio. Yana said that two police officers came to the station’s offices soon after the incident to investigate.
The incident was apparently sparked by a report broadcast on Radio Líder that condemned acts of corruption allegedly committed by Mayor Jorge Mendoza Pérez’s administration. The mayor and other members of the Ilo municipal government were removed from their positions on 17 October.
Radio Líder journalists allege that they have received anonymous threats, warning them to cease investigating the local government’s conduct. The station was previously targeted in late March, when its radio transmission equipment was stolen. Those responsible for the robbery, which resulted in the interruption of Radio Líder’s signal for four days, have not been identified (see IFEX alert of 25 March 2004).
