(IPYS/IFEX) – On 27 March 2007, five journalists in the city of Tocache, located in a coca-growing area in central Peru, complained they had been threatened with murder several times since 16 March, for their reporting on the coca-growers’ strike in the area, which began on 8 March. Daniel Grández and Abel Gonzáles, of Radio […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 27 March 2007, five journalists in the city of Tocache, located in a coca-growing area in central Peru, complained they had been threatened with murder several times since 16 March, for their reporting on the coca-growers’ strike in the area, which began on 8 March.
Daniel Grández and Abel Gonzáles, of Radio Enmanuel radio station, told IPYS that they received threatening calls on their cell phones for having criticised acts of violence during the protest. The station’s owner, José Reátegui, also reported that he received a telephone call on 23 March warning him he would be murdered if he did not cancel Gonzáles’s programme.
On 24 March, Grández interviewed a local inhabitant of the community of Mishollo, another coca-growing area near Tocache, who told him that during a meeting of coca-growers’ leaders, it was agreed that the following journalists would be murdered: José Saldaña of Radio Libertad, Wagner Ruiz of Radio San Juan, Ketty Vela Ruiz of Radio Marginal, as well as Grández and Gonzáles. According to the woman interviewed, the coca growers consider these journalists their enemies.
The threats began after a 15 March agreement between the national government and the coca growers to temporarily suspend the eradication of Tocache coca crops (for further information on threats against other journalists for coverage of coca growers’ protests, see IFEX alert of 15 March 2007).
The journalists have asked the governor of the city of Tocache to guarantee their safety. As well, they are organizing a protest for 30 March.
