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Alert

Journalist informed of plan to kill her

(IPYS/IFEX) - On 19 August 2011, Ketty Vela, the director of a news programme broadcast by Radio and TV San Juan in Tocache, informed IPYS that a hit man told her that he had been hired to kill her in exchange for five thousand nuevos soles (approx. US$1800), but that he refused to carry out the hit. Tocache is located in the region of San Martín, in eastern Peru.

Vela also said she has been receiving threatening telephone calls since mid-August. The threats may be linked to allegations about administrative irregularities that the journalist has made against Mayor Corina de la Cruz, who has openly confronted other journalists who have been critical of her administration by initiating legal action against them.

The information provided by Vela has led the Intelligence Service to conclude recently that she is, in fact, in danger. IPYS calls on the appropriate authorities, including the Ombudsman, the Public Prosecutor's Office and the Ministry of the Interior, to provide the journalist with protection.