(IPYS/IFEX) – On 22 March 2006, Michael Ortiz Munares, the public relations manager for the municipality of Andahuaylas, urged the public to destroy Radio Panorama’s transmitter. He made the suggestion when he was taking part in an inspection of San José mountain, where the transmitters of various radio stations are located. His call was broadcast […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 22 March 2006, Michael Ortiz Munares, the public relations manager for the municipality of Andahuaylas, urged the public to destroy Radio Panorama’s transmitter. He made the suggestion when he was taking part in an inspection of San José mountain, where the transmitters of various radio stations are located. His call was broadcast by several stations. Andahuaylas is located in the Apurímac region, in Peru’s southeast.
Ortiz also called on the town’s inhabitants to occupy Radio Panorama’s facilities and expel from Andahuaylas the journalists Ronald Ripa, of the programme “Frente a la Prensa”, Mario Espinoza, of the programme “Andahuaylas en la Noticia”, and Niño Gonzáles, of the programme “Sin Censura”. The three were present during the inspection.
After Ortiz’s call to action, Mayor Manuel Molina, aldermen supporting him, and close to 100 other people went to San José mountain, announcing their intention to burn the transmitters down and assault the three journalists mentioned. However, they were discouraged from doing so by fact that the three journalists were taping and photographing the incident.
The three journalists told IPYS that the frustrated assault was motivated by the fact that on their radio programmes of 14 March they had allowed the public to express opinions about the increase in the mayor’s and aldermen’s salaries.
IPYS condemns the incitement to attack the journalists and destroy Radio Panorama’s facilities, which is doubly unacceptable for having been led by public authorities and employees.
