Radio reporter becomes 36th journalist to be attacked this year in Peru

Reporters Without Borders reiterated its condemnation of violence against the Peruvian press today after Fidel Ilario Huamaní of Radio Huancavelica was attacked and injured in the central Andean city of Huancavelica on 5 September, apparently for criticising local health officials. “We strongly deplore this new attack and the apparent passivity, if not direct responsibility, of the authorities in this increase in threats and violence against journalists in Peru,” the press freedom organisation said. “The complaint filed by Huamaní at the Huancavelica police station must be properly investigated and his assailants must be brought to justice,” Reporters Without Borders added. Huamaní was returning home with two fellow journalists when he was attacked by three individuals. He identified two of them as Daniel Huaro and Edgar Chávez, employees of the Regional Department of Health (DIRESA). They hit and injured him in the face and insulted him, referring to a report he wrote a month ago about public health mismanagement that led to the dismissal of DIRESA chief Fidel Miranda Medina. This was the 36th case of a physical or verbal attack against a journalist in Peru to have been registered by Reporters Without Borders so far this year.