Peru
Guards fire on journalistsPosted Oct 20 2007
Employees of the National Penitentiary Institute fired breech-loading guns at journalists during a prison hunger strike on Sept. 14 in Chimbote, a town in northern Peru reported the International Freedom of Expression Exchange.
From guard towers, prison personnel shot at six journalists: Shirley Oliva Cuevas of La Industria de Chimbote, Alex Martínez Pajuelo of Diario de Chimbote, Abigail Díaz Moncada of El Trome, Patricia Cárdenas Ávalos of Correo, and camera operator Rody Idrogo Puelles and reporter Julio de Dios Farroñán, both from UCV satellite television station.
Pellets hit Abigail Díaz Moncada in the left leg, but Diario de Chimbote reported that the injury was not serious.
Local authorities investigated the incident. Prison Authorities admitted that the shots were intentional and said that the journalists should not have been photographing the prison.
By law, prison employees are justified in firing upon strangers who walk within 200 meters (656 feet) of the prison. Authorities claim that the law is common knowledge.