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Alerts - 2012 - South America

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Peru

Journalist shot in leg after threat from mayor's office

Ramiro Muñoz Terrones, who had been threatened a few days earlier by an official who is the mayor's right hand man, suffered a bad wound on his calf as a result of the shooting, which he says was an attempt to intimidate him.

Peru

Newspaper director and editor receive e-mail death threats

The journalists believe the death threats are a response to the newspaper’s position regarding the presence of some consultants, officials and a group of powerful businessmen close to Mayor Zevallos.

Venezuela

Journalist receives kidnapping threats, allegedly from local government

Arturo Francis, a journalist and columnist for “La Prensa de Barinas” newspaper, reported that his family was threatened with being kidnapped, after a person close to the regional government of the state of Barinas told him that the government is trying to scare him.

Brazil

New Access to Information Law comes into effect

The law regulates the right of access to public information already guaranteed by the Constitution since 1988. It provides good procedures for processing information requests and covers obligations concerning proactive disclosure and the duty to provide data in an open and non-proprietary format.

Colombia

FLIP condemns attack against journalist and former minister Fernando Londoño

Those responsible for the attack have not been identified yet but Londoño had been receiving threats from the FARC.

Ecuador

Government uses telecast to discredit journalist, human rights report

The telecast interrupted Ecuavisa's news programme and was aimed at discrediting interviewer Gabriela Baer and a report by the Simón Bolivar Andean University.

Peru

Journalist receives death threat from alderman

Journalist Bequer Bejarano Valdivia, director of Channel 35 program Alerta, reported to the governor of Huánuco that he has received death threats from an alderman in the municipality, Clever Zevallos Fretel.

Argentina

FOPEA condemns death threats against journalists in Reconquista, Santa Fe

FOPEA called for quick action, stressing the need for an immediate end to the threats against Ester Lutz and Gustavo Raffin.

Peru

Court acquits alleged masterminds of journalist's murder

The Third Criminal Court issued the definitive sentence in the trial of the 2004 murder of journalist Alberto Rivera Fernández, acquitting the former mayor of Coronel Portillo, Luis Valdez Villacorta, and his former municipal administrator, Solio Ramírez Garay, both previously accused of being the masterminds behind the crime.

Peru

Police investigation points to mayor as mastermind behind journalist's murder

According to the police report No. 038-211 prepared by SEINCRI, Mayor Rivera Huerta ordered the murder because of the journalist’s criticisms of a series of municipal works.

Brazil

Gunmen attack journalist's house, car at night

Vinícius Henriques has worked for more than a decade with local radio station Arapuan FM, where he covers the police beat for the program "Rota da Notícia". Henriques told reporters that he suspected members of organized crime were behind the attack and that it was linked to one of his reports.

Colombia

French journalist's whereabouts unknown

Roméo Langlois, a correspondent for the France 24 television station and the newspaper Le Figaro, was accompanying an army and police operation against FARC coca laboratories as part of his work on a documentary on drug trafficking when he went missing.

Ecuador

New media bill should be scrapped, says CPJ

In a letter to the President of the National Assembly, Fernando Cordero Cueva, the Committee to Protect Journalists expresses its concern about a new communications bill that includes new restrictions that could limit the rights of citizens to inform and be informed.

Brazil

Abraji urges investigation into killing of journalist in Maranhão

Journalist Décio Sá had worked for the newspaper "O Estado do Maranhão", owned by the family of José Sarney, president of the Federal Senate, and ran a blog about politics.

Colombia

Journalists flee homes after receiving threats

Dionisia Morales, a radio host with Briceno, received death threats via text messages and telephone calls, she told CPJ. The caller identified himself as a member of the Autodefensas Gaitanistas de Colombia, one of a handful of drug-trafficking gangs operating in the country.

Colombia

Journalist flees after FARC threats

The La Voz de la Tierra station director said that the threats against Jesús Antonio Pareja may have been linked to a recent report on land restitution.

Peru

Journalist kidnapped, threatened by rural self-defense group

Journalist Éler Alcántara Rojas was held by a group of ‘ronderos’ who humiliated and threatened to hurt him if he did not change his reports to favor their struggle against the Conga mining project.

Peru

Prosecutor killed while investigating journalist's murder

Although the police have not been able to link prosecutor Sánchez Colona’s murder to that of journalist Flores Silva, the deputy prosecutor of Casma, said that the investigation into Flores Silva’s murder was Sánchez Colona’s main case. The police were due to complete their report this week.

Venezuela

Court rules against regional newspaper

The case is linked to the publishing of photographs deemed detrimental to the rights of children and adolescents.

Argentina

Journalist threatened after investigating drug trafficking

"Drug trafficking is one of the greatest enemies of journalism in Latin America and, to some extent, it made the area become in 2011 the world's most dangerous region for media workers," says IPI.

Ecuador

Correa questions IACHR and maligns Fundamedios

President Rafael Correa made the statements in relation to a recent meeting between a government delegation, led by Foreign Affairs Minister Ricardo Patiño, and members of the IACHR, to talk about the sentence against the newspaper "El Universo".

Colombia

Journalist's murderer gets 21 years in jail, but motive is still unknown

While noting the speed with which the police and judicial authorities acted in this case, RSF cannot be satisfied with a verdict that reveals nothing about the motive for the journalist’s murder.

Ecuador

Trial against "El Gran Hermano" authors continues after proposed pardon is rejected

The authors’ attorney that the trial will continue because no legal procedure exists as a possible way to end a civil trial. "What the court has done is request that, if the process is to come to an end, that it is done according to the law".

Colombia

Authorities announce arrest in murder of journalist Argemiro Cárdenas Agudelo

The suspected gunman reportedly told investigators that he was to have received 1 million pesos (approx. € 420) for murdering Cárdenas Agudelo, who owned and reported for Metro Radio and served as Dosquebradas mayor in the late 1990s.

Chile

Court asked to protect TV journalist in attempt to seize riot video

The request was filed a few hours after men in civilian dress went to the home of the journalist who filmed the video, Canal 40 TV Aysén owner and director Samuel Chong Rivera, and threatened to arrest him if he did not hand it over.

Ecuador

State newspaper editor-in-chief receives death threats after publishing criticisms

Orlando Pérez, editor-in-chief and feature writer of the state newspaper "El Telégrafo", reported in his column that he has received several email death threats because of critical comments he made against the right wing political sector.

Peru

Court quashes defamation conviction on appeal

“This is unquestionably a victory for freedom of information and we hail Teobaldo Meléndez Fachín’s tenacity in the face of all the pressure put on him,” Reporters Without Borders said.

Ecuador

Government officials threaten, intimidate local journalists

The Minister of the Interior warned he may initiate legal proceedings against Teleamazonas TV station if it does not present evidence of information, allegedly voiced during its news program, stating that the police had used teargas bombs during the marches that took place in Quito.

Venezuela

Column writer denounces smear campaign against him

Omar Arévalo believes these accusations come in the wake of a series of reports he has made in his column.

Peru

Journalist warned about potential attack

Lenin Quevedo Bardález, news editor of the digital newspaper "Voces", reported in one of his articles that he may be the victim of an attempt on his life by police officers who were involved in a robbery and whom he had named in a previous article.

Venezuela

October election already fuelling threats and violence against media

With seven months to go to an October presidential election in which incumbent Hugo Chávez will face a challenge from opposition leader Henrique Capriles, the media are already experiencing a level of tension and confrontation that is well beyond what is normal in a pluralistic democratic debate.

Ecuador

Government media personnel prevented from covering indigenous movement march

Máximo Barba, a correspondent for Ecuador TV, was physically assaulted and prevented from covering an indigenous march as it passed through the city of Ambato.

Venezuela

Regional television station journalist threatened with kidnapping

Sara Vargas, a journalist for a station that is critical of the Chávez government, received threats via telephone calls and a note delivered by an unidentified individual.

Chile

Aysén protests and student rallies have worrying impact on journalists' safety

"At issue once again are the abuses by the security forces, especially the carabinero militarized police," said RSF.

Ecuador

Newspaper owner attacked by athlete

In the accusation filed before the town prosecutor’s office, Javier Granados detailed that Samuel Rivera hit him several times and attempted to strangle him, but was stopped by several people who were nearby.

Bolivia

Journalist sentenced to two and a half years in prison for defamation

Rogelio Peláez was convicted of "defamation and libel" for his use of metaphors in articles about a lawyer who had collected excessively high legal fees.

Colombia

Journalist and political leader killed in Dosquebradas, Risaralda

"Argemiro Cárdenas Agudelo was in the Metro Radio offices when he received a phone call and arranged a meeting with the caller. He was on his way to meet this person when he was shot and killed," said the local police chief.

Ecuador

Authors' attorney rejects offer of pardon from president

Ramiro Aguilar, the journalists’ lawyer, stated in a writ presented before the Second Civil Division of the Court of Justice of Pichincha, that "there can be no pardon in this case, because there is no outstanding obligation to pay”.

Venezuela

Armed group accuses Globovisión of hiring paramilitaries to create mayhem

Colectivo La Piedrita said that members of their group had been killed by "paramilitary men paid by the TV channel, to create turmoil and mayhem".

Bolivia

Evo Morales betrays contradictions in his position toward the press

IPI is dismayed that President Morales considers the media to be his opposition and, therefore, instead of condemning attacks against critical press, seems to leave his followers free to "react against the lies," which has at times resulted in violence.

Peru

Journalist's work censored after newspaper is pressured by advertiser

Jorge Pereyra Díaz's weekly column, "A Fuego Lento", often criticized the Yanacocha company and the Conga mining project that the company is in charge of. A newspaper executive told him unexpectedly that his contributions would not be published any more.

Ecuador

Camera operator attacked during anti-drug trafficking operation

Relatives of people detained by police threw stones at the TV station's vehicle, hitting and injuring journalist Geovanny Vinueza.

Ecuador

Government misrepresents Freedom House's position on free expression

Freedom House is very concerned that an article published on March 4, 2012 in "El Ciudadano" misrepresented their position on freedom of expression in Ecuador. The article included inaccurate facts about a meeting between representatives of the Ecuadorean government and Freedom House.

Venezuela

Journalist reports plan to discredit him

Nelson Bocaranda said there seemed to be a plan to kidnap him and then make him appear drugged in a photomontage which would be publicised by the State-owned media.

Ecuador

Environmental activists detained for demonstrating against mining

Eight women were violently evicted from the Chinese embassy in Quito and then detained by the Ecuadorian police when they were attempting to carry out a peaceful demonstration in protest against large-scale mining.

Peru

Radio Campesina in Cajamarca closed temporarily, doubts over motive

Some of Radio Campesina's journalists, who preferred not to reveal their names, told IPYS that the real motive for the station's closure is to pressure some of the programs not to broadcast certain types of news.

Venezuela

IAPA condemns ratification of multi-million-dollar fine against Globovisión

The channel’s lawyer anticipated that there were actions remaining to be resolved in the First Court of Administrative Litigation, such as another appeal, meaning that the fine was not yet enforceable.

Venezuela

Radio announcer reports being threatened by regional government personnel

Adolfo Superlano, the host of a radio programme that denounces corruption, has requested protective measures, saying he feels he may be attacked by Barinas government personnel.

Venezuela

Globovisión journalists attacked while covering rally

The station reported that assailants, who wore the red shirts associated with supporters of President Hugo Chávez, threatened the journalists and stole their equipment.

Ecuador

Official misrepresents Human Rights Watch position

An interview with Communications Minister Fernando Alvarado, in the 4 March edition of the official newspaper "El Ciudadano", flagrantly distorted what happened during a recent meeting he had in Washington, with Human Rights Watch.

Ecuador

Communications Secretary questions newspaper association director over contents of personal email

The official said that Cornejo’s wife had allegedly “written an email calling for a demonstration against this 'bad government', including an incitement to overthrow President Correa and a request for his resignation”.

Ecuador

Government supporters start campaign opposing international press and human rights organisations

The campaign is a movement against the national and international media, and organizations that defend freedom of expression all over the world, because of their rejection of the ratification of the conviction against the newspaper "El Universo", its directors Carlos, Nicolás and César Pérez, and its opinion editor Emilio Palacio.

Venezuela

Court access denied to Globovisión reporters

Security employees of the Supreme Court of Justice of Venezuela denied access to a small Globovisión team made up of journalist Carlos Alberto Figueroa, cameraman Ademar Dona and assistant Oscar Graterol.

Colombia

Video producer flees Huila after death threats related to controversial video

Bladimir Sánchez Espitia had been working with the Association of Communities Affected by the Quimbo Hydroelectric Project (Asoquimbo) for a few months when he made the video of an eviction.

Ecuador

President pardons "El Universo" executives and writers; drops lawsuit against "El Gran Hermano" authors

Correa emphasized that the trial “made evident the great biases of the IACHR, a commission that has the characteristics of an NGO rather than a legal institution, in which legitimacy is secondary. Thus they take on real or imaginary crusades”.

Venezuela

Sports journalist gets death threat in Barinas

The threats seem to be connected to a statement Walter Obergón made regarding the poor conditions of the stadium where the Copa Libertadores match between Zamora Football Club and Argentina's Boca-Juniors was to be played.

Ecuador

Inter-American Commission on Human Rights orders suspension of sentences against "El Universo"

(WiPC/IFEX) - 22 February 2012 - The Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC) of PEN International welcomes the Inter American Commission on Human Rights' (IACHR) recent intervention in the criminal libel case against the Ecuadoran daily newspaper, El Universo. On 21 February 2012, the Commission ordered the Ecuadoran government to suspend the enforcement of the sentences handed down to the directors and former editor of the newspaper, pending a hearing between both parties. The hearing is scheduled for 28 March 2012 in Washington, DC.

Argentina

Reporter and journalism student threatened by armed assailants

Omar Millalonco and Lilen Mercado study journalism at the Universidad Nacional de La Plata and work to defend human rights.

Ecuador

Panama grants diplomatic asylum to "El Universo" director

The president of Panama, Ricardo Martinelli, granted diplomatic asylum to Carlos Pérez Barriga after a sentence was ratified that convicted the paper's directors, and former feature writer to three years in prison and the payment of $40 million for the crime of slanderous offenses against President Rafael Correa.

Ecuador

Judge claims president's attorney dictated original sentence against "El Universo"

Judge Mónica Encalada has stated, in a written document addressed to the Guayas District Attorney’s Office, that the original sentence had been written by one of the Chief of State's attorneys.

Ecuador

Sentence against "El Universo" is a setback for democracy

"This shortsighted ruling will only keep Ecuadoran journalists from investigating powerful politicians; it represents a serious setback for democracy in Ecuador," says CPJ.

Brazil

Journalist killed in Ponta Porá

Journalist Cándido Figueredo reported in the Paraguayan daily ABC Color that Rocaro had been highly critical of the local mayor, and supported the campaign of an opposition mayoral candidate.

Venezuela

Journalists detained by members of militia

Journalist Abrahán Carvajal informed IPYS-Venezuela that members of the militia entered the room where they were interviewing a patient, and ordered them to leave and head to the Security Office.

Ecuador

Tribunal sets new date for the review of facts in "El Universo" case

The paper's lawyer has questioned the selection of the three judges who will now deal with the case.

Brazil

IFJ condemns killing of journalist in Barra do Piraí

“It bears all the hallmarks of a targeted killing and we believe that the murder of our colleague was linked to his professional work," says the IFJ.

Peru

Journalist attacked after reporting on police officers

Oscar David Rodríguez Martínez believes the attack is connected to his reports about a group of police officers who are being prosecuted for their alleged connection to criminal mafias.

Venezuela

TV programme goes off air after disagreements with station

Gustavo Azócar believes that the expiration of the station's broadcast license two years ago - and CONATEL's refusal to renew it - might have played a role in the decision.

Ecuador

Local media team banned from covering referendum vote counting

Journalist Carlos Sosa questioned the officers’ decision saying they had discriminated against Telecosta and other Emeraldas’ media outlets to give preference to national media teams who were allowed to do their work unimpeded.

Ecuador

Fundamedios and AEDEP challenge constitutionality of amendments to Democracy Code

They requested the provisional suspension of the challenged regulations, arguing that allowing them to come into force would constitute an affront towards the provisions of the Constitution and international treaties concerning human rights currently in force in Ecuador.

Venezuela

Journalists attacked by men at funeral

Six men attacked a group of journalists seeking information pertaining to the killing of a 16-year old girl.

Ecuador

Fundamedios condemns million-dollar fines against journalists Calderón and Zurita

"We alert the international community to this attempt to silence Ecuadorian journalists. This sentence is no more than a warning of what can happen to those who dare to investigate and denounce cases of corruption during the exercise of power," says Fundamedios.

Venezuela

Journalists' Twitter accounts hacked after posting controversial photos

Alberto Rodríguez and Orian Brito posted images of armed children on their Twitter accounts and have, in the past, been critical of President Chávez.

Peru

Journalist harassed by police after publishing interview with subversive leader

After he published the interview, Carlos Infante said that the former defense minister accused him of belonging to Sendero Luminoso (a terrorist group) and using his position as a journalist to act as a sounding board for terrorism.

Brazil

News site threatened with multiple lawsuits

The suits have been moved by civil servants in the Senate who were exposed by Congresso em Foco as having received wages higher than the ceiling for their positions.

Peru

Radio presenter attacked after criticising mayor

Carlos Monja Timaná, presenter of the Radio Limón program "El Investigador", was attacked by two individuals, one of whom allegedly works for the Olmos district municipality.

Peru

Three journalists defamed and threatened after investigating regional president

The journalists told IPYS that after they published the reports, mass circulation emails were sent in which their reputations were damaged and they were accused of belonging to the terrorist group Sendero Luminoso.

Peru

After publishing document on wiretapping, journalists experience harassment and threats

IPYS condemns the harassment suffered by these journalists and demands that the authorities identify and sanction whoever is responsible for the threats against the ATV+ investigations team.

Ecuador

Government attempts to discredit journalist and his investigation

The government broadcast two videos aimed at discrediting journalist Fausto Yépez of Teleamazonas and his investigation into alleged spying operations by government departments.

Venezuela

Journalist briefly detained after covering oil spill

Giselle Almarza and cameraman Dali Gomez had travelled to La Rica in Monagas state, in response to a complaint by local farmers who claimed to have lost part of their harvest because of an oil spill.

Peru

Journalist receives death threat after reporting on local administration

Moisés Campos received the threat after reporting on the alleged embezzlement of funds by Mayor Corina De la Cruz's administration.

Ecuador

Television correspondents threatened by unidentified individuals

Hubel and Alcibiades Onofre attribute the threats to a news report that linked a woman accused of being the mastermind behind a triple murder to a member of the national assembly.

Ecuador

Fundamedios condemns decision against precautionary measures on Democracy Code veto

The new regulations in the code would come into force on 4 February 2012, introducing preemptive censorship to the contents of the media and journalistic coverage of the upcoming electoral campaign.

Argentina

Journalist attacked, injured by political activists in Santa Cruz

Mariano Martinez, a journalist at Radio FM Popular, was severely beaten and left unconscious by activists linked to the mayor of Los Antiguos.

Venezuela

Globovisión news crew denied entry to swearing-in of defense minister

According to the Globovisión journalist, only state-owned, and therefore pro-Chávez media, were permitted to attend the ceremony.

Chile

Government scraps plan to force journalists to inform police

While a controversial section of the so-called "Hinzpeter Law" has been withdrawn, the bill is still in the hands of Congress.

Paraguay

Journalist targeted by drug traffickers may have to move abroad

Cándido Figueredo says he has no doubt who is behind the threats since he reported on the destruction of two underground routes used to smuggle drugs into Brazil and Bolivia.

Venezuela

Journalist threatened via Twitter

The hacker group "N33" claimed they would attack Luis Carlos Díaz because of his statements about cyber attacks.

Ecuador

President proposes restrictions to journalistic work during 2013 elections

The chief of state proposes prohibiting the media from broadcasting during the the 48 hours before the elections and until 5:00 pm on the day itself, "any kind of information issued by public institutions, as well as electoral propaganda, opinions or images."

Peru

Sentence against blogger overturned

The court decided that the convicting sentence had irremediable deficiencies caused by the lack of coherent and congruent arguments.

Ecuador

Government launches smear campaign against human rights organisations

A message by the Ministry of Culture invited employees to join a campaign against an alleged complaint presented by Fundamedios against Catalina Botero of the IACHR.

Ecuador

Judicial police and prosecutor's office close down radio station, seize its equipment

The measure may be in reprisal for Perla Orense's critical stance against the local government and the administration of the Guabo mayor, a member of the governing party.

Paraguay

Growing impunity for alleged instigators of radio journalist's murder

The latest blow to the Merardo Romero murder case came on 31 December 2011 when one of the suspected instigators, local official Fidel Duarte, was released on bail.

Ecuador

National Court of Justice ratifies three-year prison sentence against Emilio Palacio

The Second Criminal Division rejected an appeal for review of the case submitted by Palacio, former opinion editor of the newspaper "El Universo".

Argentina

Canal 7 journalist and camera operator attacked

The team was investigating the alleged labour exploitation of 15 Bolivian workers, most of them children.