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Alert

Prosecutor drops case filed by journalists assaulted by government party supporters

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 30 March 2009, prosecutor Katharine Borrero Soto, of Lima's Provincial Criminal Prosecutor's Office No. 28, issued a resolution dismissing an accusation of assault and kidnapping filed by journalists Marco Antonio Vásquez and Marco Sifuentes, who worked for Frecuencia Latina TV's program "La Ventana Indiscreta" at the time of the incident in March 2007.

The attack took place at the ruling party's premises in Lima and was recorded by the victims. The images were broadcasted via television and those responsible were identified. Prosecutor Borrero expressly acknowledged that the assault and kidnapping took place, but she refused to investigate the case claiming lack of cooperation by the journalists when handing in evidence.

The journalists were attacked by several members of the ruling party (the Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana, APRA) as they were taping, with a hidden camera, a tribute to former Deputy Secretary of Housing, Carlos Arana. Even though Arana had President Alan García's support, he was forced to leave office after accusations against him appeared in the press.

IPYS believes that as a result of the dismissal of the journalists' accusation, a serious offense which affects the work of journalists and press freedom will go unpunished.

Updates the Vásquez and Sifuentes case: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/81917