PERU
WHEREAS
Antonio de la Torre Echeandía, a journalist at Radio Órbita
in Yungay, was murdered February 14 for reasons related to his work, and specifically
for reporting on political and administrative corruption in Yungay, a city
located in Ancash province
WHEREAS
even though two people have been arrested for having carried out the murder,
the judiciary took only three days to rule out Yungay Mayor Amaro León
y León from the investigation, even as a witness, although he was the
main suspect of having masterminded the crime
WHEREAS
this murder has stunned the community and sparked popular protests demanding
the mayor’s resignation, which already have left thirty people dead;
and this situation has forced the ombudsman to step in and establish a special
forum for reconciliation between residents and the authorities
WHEREAS
Principle 4 of the Declaration of Chapultepec states, “Freedom of expression
and of the press are severely limited by murder, terrorism, kidnapping, intimidation,
the unjust imprisonment of journalists, the destruction of facilities, violence
of any kind and impunity for perpetrators. Such acts must be investigated
promptly and punished harshly”
THE MIDYEAR MEETING OF THE IAPA RESOLVES
to urge the prosecuting
authority, the judiciary and the police not to limit their investigation to
identifying and arresting those who carried out the murder, but that they
investigate the masterminds behind the crime as well
questions
or comments?