Alfonso Chávarry lashes out against the press because they don't publish his achievements as Minister of the Interior

Interior Minister Alfonso Chávarry reported on Tuesday a significant amount of drugs seized by DIRANDRO. At the beginning of his statements at the press conference, he expressed disappointment in the media because they had not covered “the good” of his management and the work of the Peruvian National Police.

“What a disappointment. Yesterday, 16,300 kilos of drugs seized by our National Police were (presented) and almost none of the newspapers, the newspapers, have released this information,” he said.

“Look at what pettiness. We are subject to criticism, that's right. The press has the right to criticize us when we are doing something bad, but it also has the right to get the good out of our work,” he added.

Minister Chavarry pointed out that this recent seizure represented a record in the two months that the administration was being drawn up. He reported that from 24 March to 18 April, the PNP had seized 5,400 kilograms of drugs and 1,500 chemical inputs used to make cocaine hydrochloride.

Thus, the official rebuked the media to report on these achievements and actions of the PNP because “this too has to go abroad, and in this way, people know that Peru is working in the fight against drugs”.

He then proceeded to comment that the governor of Amazonas, involved in acts of corruption, had been captured. And he ended his participation by asking for a press release to be sent to international media. “Mr. General of DIRANDRO, send a press release to the journalists, send a press release abroad so that they can suddenly take it out, because here our press does not want to release it”, he concluded, and left the place without giving further statements.

RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GOVERNMENT OF PEDRO CASTILLO AND THE PRESS

Pedro Castillo's government has not maintained a friendly relationship with the press. From physical abuse with on-site reporters to criticizing and questioning their work directly, freedom of the press and treatment of the media has been questioned since before the beginning of his administration.

On May 19, 2021, during a campaign event in the town of Yanama, in Huamanga (Ayacucho), Pedro Castillo questioned the “terruqueo” campaigns against him and assured that they will give know how much they earn and who pays the hosts of television programs.

“In due course we are going to send some reports that have just reached our hands, how much do those who host television programs earn and who pays them. Let's make knowledge. It is necessary for the people to be informed about so many things, where so much is coming from that and why there is so much terrucheo,” he said at the rally.

On the other hand, as president of Peru, Castillo threatened to leave the media without State publicity, which, according to him, misinform and distort reality. He criticized that several media outlets broadcast videos of his visit to Arequipa, where some people insulted him, rebuked him and demanded his removal.

“I must condemn some nefarious attitudes of some media that have edited that I was alone and that people were asking for vacancy, when it is not true,” Castillo said during his visit to the Chopcca community on November 23, 2021.

On February 21, 2022, the president called the press 'a joke' after a reporter from Radio Exitosa questioned him for double which he gave to the Public Prosecutor's Office in the Provias cases and promotions in the Armed Forces.

“This press is a joke. We are talking about Peruvian education, why do not focus on the important issues. (...) Why don't you come with me to see how things are. I give them mobility and we leave like you. Get out of Lima, Lima is not Peru. Let's see what the country is doing,” he said.

There are also attacks by members of the president's security on reporters, such as what happened on August 18, 2021. Security personnel from the Presidency branded TV Peru reporter, Tifanny Tipiani, to prevent her from asking questions to the president. The same thing happened on September 15, 2021, when a press worker from the Presidency prevented the RPP Noticias reporter, Hellen Meniz, from passing and tried to remove her microphone.

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