Peru

The protesters called Vela a “sellout” over her interviews with supporters of a local water use project, as well as her on-air comments urging protesters against that project to refrain from violence after some had damaged storefronts in Tocache, she told CPJ.

“President Castillo and his government must be mindful that anti-press rhetoric by high-level public officials is dangerous and can lead to real violence against journalists,” said the Committee to Protect Journalists.

Gastón Medina, owner and news director of ‘Cadena Sur’, received an envelope at his TV station that contained a death threat and a .38-caliber bullet, following his coverage of finances at a local hospital.

Peruvian authorities should not contest journalist Christopher Acosta and Penguin Random House Peru director Jerónimo Pimentel’s appeal of a recent criminal defamation conviction and should stop using criminal defamation laws against members of the press.

Peruvian authorities must thoroughly investigate death threats against journalist Jairo Roque Gómez and hold the perpetrators to account, and local officials should refrain from using the country’s outdated defamation laws to threaten reporters.

Peruvian authorities should immediately drop their criminal investigation of journalist Ernesto Cabral and allow him and the Ojo Público team to work free of harassment.

Peruvian authorities should drop criminal defamation charges against journalist Carlos Yofré López and prosecutors should not contest López’s appeal of his conviction in a separate criminal defamation case. Both cases allege criminal defamation due to the journalist’s investigative work.

Peruvian authorities should thoroughly investigate the arson attack on the vehicle of journalist Roberto Sánchez Mamani, hold the perpetrators to account, and ensure that members of the press can work safely.

IFEX-ALC is concerned over reports of obstruction of justice in the case involving retired general and current Peruvian presidential candidate Daniel Urresti Elera. Urresti has been accused of involvement in the 1988 murder of journalist Hugo Bustíos Saavedra. The IFEX-ALC alliance calls on Peruvian judicial authorities to bring 32 years of impunity in the Bustíos case to an end.

Peruvian authorities should immediately take action to ensure the safety of journalists at news website IDL-Reporteros, and officials should refrain from making inflammatory statements blaming the outlet and its director.

Far from media attention, a Peruvian indigenous woman struggles to protect her land and water against large corporations.

The organizations that make up IFEX-ALC support those who want the acquittal of former minister Daniel Urresti to be revoked. Urresti was exonerated despite testimonials that directly implicated him in the horrible murder of journalist Hugo Bustíos.

The journalistic directors of IDL-Reporteros and a Panamericana Television show have been summoned by Peru’s Supreme Internal Control Prosecutor to deliver audio clips exposing judicial corruption, and ordered to reveal their sources.

At the same time the international delegation of the IAPA echoed the Peruvian president’s concerns about initiatives contrary to freedom of expression and of the press.

Authorities in Peru are urged to investigate all theories into the deaths of two journalists in apparently separate incidents whose remains were found just days apart in recent weeks.

A new report uncovers exceptionally high levels of media ownership concentration in Peru’s print and digital media sectors.