31 May 2004

Alert

IAPA asks attorney general to investigate complaints about handling of murdered journalist's case


Incident details

Alberto Rivera Fernández

journalist(s)

killed

This is available in:

English Español
(IAPA/IFEX) - The following is a 27 May 2004 IAPA press release:

IAPA asks Peru's Attorney General to investigate complaints on murder of journalist

Miami (May 27, 2004) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) expressed its concern and requested today that the Peruvian Attorney General take the necessary steps to investigate complaints about the official handling of the case of journalist Alberto Rivera Fernández, who was murdered on April 21.

An IAPA delegation visited Lima last week and, after meeting with Rivera Fernandez's relatives, detected "an unusual silence regarding the case and lack of government action, and, as is known to the public, both the relatives of the victim as well as possible witnesses have been threatened," the organization noted in a letter sent to the nation's Attorney General, Nelly Calderón Navarro.

According to Patricia Rivera and José Marrou, daughter and son-in-law of the journalist, respectively, "several of the witnesses have excused themselves and others have disappeared or have not been able to be located." Rivera also complained that she has received threats aimed at thwarting her efforts to demand justice in her father's murder.

The letter, signed by the chairman of the IAPA's Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, Rafael Molina, from El Nacional, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, requests that the authorities "immediately take the necessary actions and resolutions to investigate complaints about the irregularities observed in the handling of the case, so that this murder is solved in its entirety."

Rivera Fernández hosted the program Transparencia (Transparency) on Frecuencia Oriental radio station in Pucallpa, Peru. On April 21, 2004, he was intercepted by two suspects who shot him at point blank range. On his program he criticized the work of local officials, especially Luis Valdez Villacorta, mayor of Coronel Portillo, in Pucallpa province, who, according to relatives, had threatened the journalist.

For the last nine years the IAPA has been developing its hemisphere-wide project against impunity, which receives financial support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and includes a public ad campaign, investigative reporting, training of journalists in danger zones and monitoring of press freedom in the Americas.



Source:

Putting free expression issues in perspective.

Sign up to receive IFEX In Context.

More on this case

Court acquits alleged masterminds of journalist's murder 14 May 2012 Supreme Court overturns acquittal of former mayor implicated in journalist's murder 3 February 2011 Ruling acquits alleged masterminds of journalist's murder 11 February 2010 Disciplinary proceedings initiated against four judges for mishandling trial that absolved suspected masterminds of journalist's murder 20 December 2007 Plot to kill witness in journalist's murder case uncovered 22 November 2006 Judge rescinds arrest orders for mayor and municipal councillor in radio presenter's murder 12 April 2006 Arrest warrant issued for mayor and former court official accused of journalist's murder 7 April 2006 IAPA pleased with sentencing of journalist's murderers 13 February 2006 Two municipal employees arrested in connection with journalist's murder 8 June 2004 CPJ investigating whether journalist's murder was related to his journalistic work 26 April 2004 Journalist killed in Ucayali 22 April 2004

At a glance

Peru
Peru
 
Key reports and information
  • Midyear Meeting Report 2012: Peru

    Journalists attacked for revealing that "police had been extorting smugglers and drug traffickers who operate in the border area between Peru and Bolivia"

    Inter American Press Association 23 April 2012

  • Press Freedom Index 2011-2012: Peru

    "Peru, notorious for the frequency of attacks on the press"

    Reporters Without Borders 26 January 2012

  • World Report 2012: Peru

    Government introduces legislation to decriminalise defamation

    Human Rights Watch 23 January 2012

 
IFEX is a global network of committed organisations working to defend and promote free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.