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Alert

Journalist's bodyguard shot in the leg

(IPYS/IFEX) - On the night of 24 October 2004, journalist Fernando Ampuero del Bosque's bodyguard, Luis Chávez Alpaca, was shot in the leg by an unidentified individual. Ampuero is the head of "El Comercio" newspaper's investigative unit. This incident is one of a series of actions against the daily's journalists.

At about 8:30 p.m. (local time), Chávez was on his way home after working at the newspaper when a car with two occupants blocked his way. Chávez got out of his car to complain about the other driver's actions. The other driver, who also got out of his car, pulled out a handgun and shot Chávez in the leg. The two assailants then fled. Chávez is recuperating from the injury.

Although Ampuero decided not to speculate as to who might be behind the attack until police investigations have concluded, in statements to the press he considered the possibility that the action was an intimidation tactic in response to reports published by the newspaper's investigative unit, which is in charge of investigating drug trafficking and corruption. "I hired a bodyguard five months ago when I started receiving threatening telephone calls," the journalist said.

This incident is only one in a series of threats and attacks against journalists who are members of "El Comercio"'s investigative unit. In April, journalist Miguel Ramirez's computer software was stolen after thieves broke into his house. The thieves did not steal anything else (see IFEX alert of 4 May 2004). In addition, on 18 October, Orazio Potestá was attacked on the street by a stranger who got out of a car and struck him with an iron bar.

The attack on Ampuero's bodyguard was reported to police and is being investigated.