Press Group: Three Peru Journalists Threatened in September

The International Press Institute, an Austrian-based press freedom organization, has reported that three Peruvian journalists received death threats in September, part of a deterioration in media freedom outside of capital Lima. According to the IPI, journalist Kety Vela of Tocache, in the northern central jungle of the Upper Huallaga, reported receiving threatening phone calls since August. [...]

Non-renewal of Prensa Libre raises free press concerns

The Legal Defense Institute, IDL, issued a statement today in support of journalist Rosa Maria Palacios and in defense of freedom of speech, following the non-renewal of Palacios’ nightly political program “Prensa Libre” by America TV. Palacios, a lawyer –a graduate of the Catolica and the University of Texas at Austin– and prize-winning journalist whose [...]

La Libertad radio journalist gunned down

Peruvian radio journalist Julio Cesar Castillo has been gunned down by four men in the town of Viru, in La Libertad region, local and international media reported. Castillo, 41, was killed while eating lunch with friends on Tuesday. As the host of radio program Noticiero Ollantay, Castillo had reported on alleged corruption of local officials.

Humala, Fujimori promise press freedom if elected

Presidential candidates Ollanta Humala and Keiko Fujimori pledged on Friday to respect a free press in Peru if elected to the country’s highest public office. During an event organized by the Press and Society Institute (IPYS), Humala said his potential government would respect the regulating role of the media, but added that the press should fill [...]

Press freedom group condems attack on local paper

The New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists condemned on Wednesday an attack on the office of newspaper Voces, a daily published in Tarapoto in San Martin region, last weekend. Voces’ office was attacked with homemade explosives early Saturday morning, which resulted in damages to the building but no injuries. According to the Association of Peruvian [...]

Radio La Voz de Bagua awarded a 2010 Freedom of Expression Award

Index on Censorship, a UK-based organization that promotes freedom of expression, has presented Peruvian community radio station La Voz de Bagua one of its 2010 Freedom of Expression Awards, the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas reported. Index on Censorship said the award, which is sponsored by The Guardian newspaper, “recognizes journalism of dogged [...]

HRW: Military hampers human rights investigations

A lack of justice for human rights violators during Peru’s 20-year armed conflict is a leading human rights concern in the Andean country, according to New York-based Human Rights Watch. Despite the human rights trial of jailed ex-President Alberto Fujimori, HRW’s 2008 World Report says most perpetrators of human rights abuses continue to evade justice. [...]