Police assault journalist in San José de Chiquitos; union demands sanctions
Two police officers identified as Alanoca and Ocampo attacked journalist Darío Mendoza Ribera on 25 September during a vehicle check.
Press union seeks criminal and disciplinary sanctions against two police officers in Chiquitos
The Union of Press Workers of San José de Chiquitos, together with union representatives and the Office of the Ombudsman, formally demanded criminal and disciplinary sanctions against two agents of the Bolivian Police, according to El Deber. The officers, identified as Alanoca and Ocampo, were recorded physically and verbally assaulting journalist Darío Mendoza Ribera, of Municipal Educational Channel 13, during a vehicle check carried out on 25 September.
The incident occurred in the vicinity of the Bianca petrol station in the Chiquitos capital. Mendoza had stopped to answer a telephone call when a patrol intercepted him and requested his driving licence and safety helmet. Having neither at that moment, the journalist asked to be issued a traffic violation ticket in accordance with regulations. The uniformed officers instead attempted to arbitrarily confiscate his motorcycle.
In response to the insults and the attempt to seize the vehicle, Mendoza took out his mobile telephone to record the intervention. It was then that both police officers physically attacked him, pulling at him and attempting to snatch the device from him until throwing it to the ground.
"I take out my telephone to record and that is when they assault me physically. They pull me to take my motorcycle. I accept it if I have committed a traffic violation, but aggression from those who are supposedly supposed to protect us should not happen," Mendoza declared after filing a formal complaint with the Provincial Command with a copy to the Departmental Command.
Flavio Ulises Pesoa Justiniano, executive of the local union, confirmed the support of more than 30 press workers affiliated in the region and announced the activation of legal and institutional actions. The Office of the Ombudsman, with headquarters in Puerto Suárez, is acting ex officio and issued legal requirements. The union's legal counsel will file formal charges for abuse of authority and obstruction of the right to information.
The union based its demand on the Political Constitution of the State—articles 106 and 15—the 1925 Press Law and the Organic Law of the National Police (Law No. 734), which obliges officials to respect human rights in the exercise of their duties.
The press union of San José de Chiquitos declared itself in a state of emergency and warned that it would closely monitor police conduct. "Today it was Darío's turn, but tomorrow it could be any citizen. We ask the Regional Commander and the Commander of Chiquitanía to use their good offices, sanction these police officers and not return them to perform duties in this municipality," affirmed Pesoa.
Source: El Deber