Some journalists in Peru have interpreted as velied threats against freedom of expression the words of president-elect Ollanta Humala during a visit to Ecuador when he met with Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa, who has a tense relationship with the press, which he has characterized as "corrupt."
"Disturbing statement from Humala about press freedom," was the headline in the newspaper Correo, while Perú21 wrote that Humala had gone on the attack against the media. Humala, who assumes the presidency on July 28, said in Ecuador that the media do not rule in Peru, adding that freedom of expression is a right "of everyone, not just of a few, the elite, but also of those from below," according to Correo.
During the electoral campaign, Humala said that if he were elected president, he would not limit freedom of expression. Perú21 said that Humala had abandoned his conciliatory image in Ecuador to make way for a more confrontational discourse, warning that his alignment with Correa is a "dangerous friendship".
Congratulating Humala after the elections, Correa advised him of possible future problems with the "corrupt press."
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
