(IPYS/IFEX) – On the night of 21 March 2007, journalist Wilma Pérez and photographer David Guzmán, both of “La Razón” newspaper, were detained by a group of peasants from Patacamaya who were blocking a section of the La Paz-Oruro highway to back their demand that work by ELFA electrical company be halted. Pérez and Guzmán […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On the night of 21 March 2007, journalist Wilma Pérez and photographer David Guzmán, both of “La Razón” newspaper, were detained by a group of peasants from Patacamaya who were blocking a section of the La Paz-Oruro highway to back their demand that work by ELFA electrical company be halted.
Pérez and Guzmán were returning from having covered another demonstration in a nearby town when the peasants stopped the newspaper’s vehicle. The peasants accused them of being “liars, just like President Evo Morales has said,” and threatened to burn their vehicle. On 14 March, Morales accused the newspaper of misinforming the public.
The reporter, photographer and driver were held until the next day, when they managed to leave in their vehicle, taking advantage of a moment when the peasants were distracted in a discussion with passengers from several buses immobilized due to the highway blockage.
