(IPYS/IFEX) – On 16 June 2005, four journalists were assaulted in the Cajamarca region, northern Peru, by a group of villagers from the town of San Cirilo as they attempted to cover a meeting held during a protest against the mining company Yanacocha, organised by the Front for the Defense of the Environment and Cajamarca’s […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 16 June 2005, four journalists were assaulted in the Cajamarca region, northern Peru, by a group of villagers from the town of San Cirilo as they attempted to cover a meeting held during a protest against the mining company Yanacocha, organised by the Front for the Defense of the Environment and Cajamarca’s Interests (Frente de Defensa del Medio Ambiente y los Intereses de Cajamarca).
Those assaulted were América Televisión correspondent Luis Mego Diaz, Televisión Nacional del Peru (TNP) correspondent Jaime Herrera Atalaya, “Correo” newspaper correspondent Percy Ramirez, and an independent journalist.
The villagers reacted violently when they realised the journalists were taping their agreements regarding their protest activities against the mining company. The journalists were pushed around, beaten with sticks and some of their equipment was damaged. Most of them sustained only superficial wounds, although Herrera was seriously wounded on the legs.
