The president of the Cajamarca Urban RoundsJusto Vargas, referred to the kidnapping of the journalist Edward Quispe and the cameraman Elmer Valdiviezo, both from the Sunday “Fourth Power”, which happened last Wednesday, July 6, at the hands of a group of people who identified themselves as patrolmen of the district of Chadin (Chota).
Vargas rejected the actions of this group of people: “As central president of the Urban and Peasant Rounds of Cajamarca, this is unfortunate. The patrols are not here to do this kind of thing because all people — much more journalists — have the right to be anywhere to report on the bad actions that this government is doing, ”he said in dialogue for RPP Noticias.
Vargas also explained that the objective of the ronderos is to retain criminals or people who commit alleged criminal acts.
YOU CAN SEE: Rondas Campesinas deny the kidnapping of a journalist from “Fourth Power” in Cajamarca
“The work of the patrols is to arrest people as long as there are negative things or suddenly they are criminals who are stealing or committing crimes. But not with the journalists, who have the right to extract the information to inform Peru of the news of the day”, he stressed.
Patrolmen in coordination with the Police
Arguing the work of the patrolmen, Justo Vargas affirmed that this association coordinates directly with the National Police of Peru (PNP) so that it continues with the corresponding procedures with the detained persons who have carried out criminal acts.
To conclude, Justo Vargas added that the PNP and the Prosecutor’s Office are the institutions that take the legal measures. “The rondero’s work culminates when he hands over the alleged criminal to the authorities.”
What is the origin of the peasant rounds?
The peasant patrols are a communal defense organization, which are found in the rural areas of the Peru since the 1970s. The first to exist was in 1976, in the peasant community of Cuyumalca, in Chota, Cajamarca.
Minister of the Interior condemned the kidnapping of journalists from the “Fourth Estate”: “It is unacceptable”
Mariano Gonzalezowner of Ministry of Interior (Mininter), condemned the kidnapping of Eduardo Quispe and Elmer Valdiviezoreporter and cameraman for the Sunday newspaper “Cuarto poder”, respectively, by peasant rounds last Wednesday, July 6, in the district of Chadín, in the town of Chota, in Cajamarca.
The Minister of the Interior confirmed that this fact was “a kidnapping”. “Clearly, this has been an attack on freedoms. There has been a kidnapping against freedom of expression. We condemn these acts. Regardless of the investigations, it is unacceptable. From now on, receive our solidarity and total condemnation of these events. We are convinced that this should not happen”, he stated.
