LETTER FROM CUZCO
At the end of March, disturbing news awaited the famous and respected Peruvian investigative journalist Gustavo Gorriti, 76 years old. A letter informed him of the opening of an investigation by the public prosecutor’s office against him and asked him to hand over his phone to identify his sources, in violation of the Inter-American Convention on Human Rights and the Constitution of his country. His fault ? An alleged corruption offense linked to magistrates. An accusation based on dubious testimony, according to his supporters, who believe that justice would above all criticize him for excess zeal in his coverage of several emblematic cases. A way to silence him and access their communications, according to media defense associations.
Gustavo Gorriti, known for having exercised his profession with great seriousness – he is considered one of the greatest Latin American journalists – and not without difficulty – he was sequestered in 1992 under the presidency of Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) –, was not surprised. His work has often led to the exposure of corruption scandals, notably in the so-called “Odebrecht” affair, which exposed Peru’s top leaders. Impeccable shirt and appearance, despite treatment for cancer, he had been denouncing for months a “discredit campaign” against him.
The journalist has been constantly harassed in recent years by radicalized ultra-right groups, some close to “Fujimorism”, such as La Resistencia. They accuse him of being in the service of “terrorists”, term inherited from the Peruvian armed conflict referring to the extreme left and, by extension, to any protest movement.
La Resistencia and other organizations regularly stand in front of the modest headquarters of its online media outlet, IDL Reporteros, whose offices are located on the street. Therefore, the journalist works with the shutters closed and has increased his personal security. But what is disturbing in this latest episode is the role played by the authorities.
“We are witnessing a war of the prosecution against investigative journalism”, says Rodrigo Zimmermann, director of the Press Council, an entity responsible for ensuring the proper functioning of the media. “It includes espionage, infiltration, requirements to reveal sources, harassment and a ban on covering certain facts of public interest”, he adds.
“Constant deterioration since 2016”
The Press Council published a report at the end of April, pointing out the harmful action of the public prosecutor and its “alarming role in attacks against the press”. The authors of the report particularly emphasize the initiatives of a civil servant, Patricia Benavides, who became attorney general in 2022, believing that she “endorses the opening of investigations against journalists for their critical coverage”. Mme Benavides, now suspended, is the target of an investigation for influence peddling.
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