"The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned the kidnapping and extortion of a group of journalists from América TV, Peru. They were forced to read a live statement as a condition for their release. The organization urged the authorities to investigate, identify the culprits and bring them to justice to prevent these acts from being repeated and going unpunished.
Journalist Eduardo Quispe, cameraman Elmer Valdiviezo and a driver of América TV were intercepted yesterday and threatened by members of rural self-defense organizations, locally called "ronderos." The kidnappers forced Quispe of the Sunday program Cuarto Poder to read a live statement as a condition for their release. The journalistic team traveled to the community of Chadín, in the department of Cajamarca, to gather information on a case involving Yenifer Paredes, sister-in-law of President Pedro Castillo. The statement of the ronderos denounced the "false accusation" against Paredes. The América TV crew was released shortly after the broadcast, but their cameras and cell phones were retained."
