Miami (June 13, 2025) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) has once again expressed deep alarm at the accelerated deterioration of press freedom in Peru, marked by a hostile climate that directly impacts independent journalism. The organization warned of a persistent pattern of attacks, threats, restrictions, and stigmatization campaigns coming from political power, public figures, and institutions.
In recent days, journalist Rosmery Tapara from the Investigative Unit of the newspaper La República was subjected to threats, hacking of her personal accounts, and blockage of her phone lines. These acts of intimidation occurred following the publication of a report on June 7 about businessman Aniceto Argüelles, owner of Industrias Argüelles, one of the main waste collection contractors in Lima.
Similarly, journalist and columnist René Gastelumendi and his family received death threats after publishing an article linking Mayor Franco Vidal of the Avanza País party to the alleged improper use of his personal networks for self-promotion. In an Opinion piece, La República warned that 'the Peruvian press is under criminal siege.'
The IAPA President José Roberto Dutriz stated, 'It is crucial that civil society, democratic institutions, and political leaders mobilize to defend journalists. Harassment of the press not only risks lives but also weakens the citizens' right to be informed.' Dutriz, CEO and General Director of La Prensa Gráfica from El Salvador, added, 'We must firmly denounce every attempt at intimidation and censorship aimed at silencing investigative and critical journalism.'
Other recognized journalists have also been targets of judicial harassment and defamation campaigns for their investigative work, including Gustavo Gorriti, director of IDL-Reporteros; Rosa María Palacios, columnist for La República; and Pola Ugaz, correspondent for the Spanish newspaper ABC.
In addition to direct attacks, there is an official lack of transparency. Recently, officials from the Presidential Office accused the press of causing 'distorted perceptions and social confusion' by reporting on President Dina Boluarte's salary increase. Media outlets like El Comercio published investigations on this matter, which were dismissed by the executive branch.
Mayor of Lima, Rafael López Aliaga, continues to be one of the main figures in stigmatizing the press. He repeatedly makes unfounded accusations and disqualifying speeches against journalists and media investigating his administration, feeding a climate of hostility that transcends institutional boundaries.
Martha Ramos, President of the IAPA's Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and Editorial Director of the Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM), condemned 'the systematic attacks and climate of hostility faced by journalists and media in carrying out their oversight duties. The press has a duty to report on public affairs, and any attempt to silence it weakens democracy.'
Last March, a delegation from the IAPA visited Peru and noted an increasingly adverse environment for journalistic work, including judicial persecution of critical journalists, misinformation campaigns from the state, stigmatization of dissenting voices, restrictions on access to public information, and legislative proposals directly threatening informational freedoms. “All this creates a hostile environment for the press and a serious setback for citizen rights,” warned the organization. It also cautioned that the situation could worsen in the context of the general elections scheduled for April 2026.
In its Freedom of Expression Report, the Peruvian Press Council (CPP) noted that 'journalism in Peru is currently facing one of its most dangerous moments.'
The Chapultepec Index 2024 from the IAPA also reported “a serious setback of freedom of expression and press” in the country. “This deterioration is the most critical point of a decline that has occurred in recent years,” the report stated. It added that “the Executive Branch had the most unfavorable influence on the right to freedom of expression, closely followed by the Legislative Branch.” Peru dropped from 12th to 16th place in the regional ranking and was classified at the level of “high restriction' of freedoms."
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.