Men and women in the press, from Lima and provinces across Peru, denounced acts of criminalization they face in the exercise of journalism. The meeting took place at the Forum “Concentrated Press and Criminalization of the Alternative Press” held yesterday, Monday the 12th, in the office of Senator Humberto Morales, from the Juntos por el Perú (JP) parliamentary group.
The event took place in Senator Humberto Morales’s office and was attended by senators Ruth Luque and Iber Maravi, as well as Tania Pariona, former congresswoman and executive secretary of the National Human Rights Coordinator (CNDDHH).
Meanwhile, the alternative communicators were represented by Pavel Yabar (Yachay Wasy), Timoteo Cutipa, José Luis Manrique (Provincial Press Federation), Jorge Mendivil (Unancha Tv), Carlos Anaya (Combi TV), Miguel Angel (Conexión Directa), Jesica Rosario (Cusco en portada.com), among others.
“We are tremendously uncomfortable for those in power”
Jesica Rosario (from the outlet Cuscoenportada.com) stated that “in practice, we are being prosecuted, we have to defend ourselves by hiring lawyers, using our own financial resources, and that is what is happening to all the media outlets, Hildebrandt en sus trece, Yachay Wasy, and many of those present. Therefore, I ask you, Senator, that this not be just a formality, but that concrete actions be taken to establish a support network. We are also targets of hackers because we are tremendously uncomfortable for those in power. We also need that technological support to protect ourselves and our independent media outlets. To protect this bastion of journalism”.
“There is a lack of protection for the role of informing”
For his part, communicator Miguel Angel (from Conexión Directa) thanked the organizers for the invitation and emphasized that “the people have always wanted to express their opinions, but now they have channels that did not exist before. The other thing is being aware that we are living in an era with very unique characteristics. The alternative press has a difficult time because there is a lack of protection for the role of informing. Communication is important because now not only does one have the opportunity to express an opinion, but we alternative communicators also capture the sentiments of the people. That is an informational asset that must not be wasted”.
At the end of the event, Senator Humberto Morales highlighted the possibility of a legislative initiative involving alternative communicators and stated that “our people need to know the truth, a truth that is sometimes only partially shown, or that is constructed through a narrative that does not correspond to reality, which is falsifying the truth. One of the objectives of having journalists like you is to call this into question, to report on events that threaten democracy, not only for those who create this reality, but also for those who listen and those who act, because it leads us to violence”.
The Forum “Concentrated Press and Criminalization of the Alternative Press” can be viewed at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/live/9X4QDpfEiao