The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom have reported the attacks on journalists in Peru

The US, Canadian and UK embassies in Lima condemned the attacks on Peruvian journalists Gustavo Gorriti, director of IDL-Reporteros, and Rosa María Palacios in a joint statement. The press release expresses the “concern” of the three nations for “the increase in threats and situations of violence in general against Peruvian and international journalists”.

“We condemn any attempt to hinder the exercise of one of the fundamental pillars of democracy such as this, and we reiterate the importance that all competent authorities guarantee the safety of journalists as they freely exercise their work”, reads the statement.

So far the Peruvian government has not expressed any reaction.

In turn, Michael Greenspon, president of the Inter-American Press Association (SIP), condemned the attacks against both journalists and urged the Peruvian government to “implement urgent measures to protect journalism, especially in times of political crisis, when the population needs to have different sources of information”.

The Committee for the Protection of Journalists has asked the authorities to investigate the harassment of Gorriti and Palacios perpetrated by ‘La Pestilencia’ – whose leader is Juan José Muñico, alias ‘Maelo’ – and gangs associated with it.

Michael Greenspon, president of the Inter-American Press Association (SIP), condemned the attacks against both journalists and urged the Peruvian government to “implement urgent measures to protect journalism, especially in times of political crisis, when the population needs to have different sources of information”.

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in turn, repudiated the attacks on IDL-R director and Rosa María Palacios, “which, far from being isolated incidents, appear to be a common practice for some violent groups in the country. “