Ministerial protocol “not a gag, but not agreed”, said the dean of the journalistic union

This week, a controversy erupted over a project promoted by the Ministry of the Interior (Mininter) called “Protocol of interdepartmental actions” for journalists and social communicators “in the context of disturbing the public order”, which was published last Wednesday in the Official Gazette Peruvian man.

In the development of this protocol, according to the document, participated, in addition to mintergovernment sectors such as Ministry of Health (Minsa)He Ministry of Justice (Minyus) And National Police; and, as a representative of journalists, College of Journalists of Peru (CPP).

However, institutions such as the Peruvian Press Council and the Institute of Press and Society (IPYS) warned that the protocol “does not guarantee journalistic work carried out during civil protests”, but, on the contrary, “is intervention which jeopardizes the necessary independence which a journalist must have in exercising his right of expression”.

Given the criticism, yesterday, Friday, Deputy Minister of Public Security Minister, Fidel Pintadonoted that it was a “pre-publication” subject to “contribution from all journalistic associations” to be judged by their sector.

Faced with this situation, the dean of the CPP, Ricardo Burgosand Dean of the College of Journalists of Lima, Louis Tipaktiin dialogue with RPP Newsnoted that the protocol “it’s not a joke”but that “it wasn’t agreed”. In addition, they emphasized that the involvement of their institution in the development of the document was “misinterpreted”.

Protocol “not agreed”

Burgos explained that when the incumbent President of the Republic took office, they met with her in government palace and they proposed “a matter of prevention and safety for journalists” given the violations of the rights of those in the profession by the leadership of former President Pedro Castillo.

“Last year, when he suggested Lock, it was something else. These were constant attacks on journalists who were on the streets. How CPPwe sent a communiqué, we came out to denounce it (…) When the change Government“The first thing the president did was change this kind of policing and government work,” the national dean said.

In this sense, it is indicated that they participated in the development of this protocol, as well as other associations of journalists.

“He CPP decided to participate in the meeting and proposed to draw up a protocol (…) The protocol is not the Bible, it is management and it exists in the world, it is not a panacea, an invention for the Peruvians (…) The only action that CPP this fact is to protect and ensure the physical and mental safety of all people belonging to our profession,” he stressed. Burgos.

However, he indicated that the document was published minter until completion.

“This is a guide published minter it is incomplete. He CPP He also expressed his disagreement, and today we are sending a letter to the ministry protesting the publication of this guide. Trade unions, institutions submitted our proposals. UNESCOfor example, presented a series of observations under the profile of an international organization, and none of these recipes were assimilated into this guide,” he said.

“The government sets a 10-day deadline for citizens, trade unions to submit their proposals. This is a very short period,” he added.

Burgos emphasized that there were “gaps” in the protocol and that College of Journalists “defends freedom of speech.”

“(There are) gaps that need to be filled, because this protocol is not only to protect us from vandals, but also to protect us from the forces of law and order themselves, when, for example, they confiscate your material, you are beaten ( .. .) CPP defends freedom of expression (…), the fact that the protocol being worked on was published incomplete is a problem and we do not know why minter He did it,” he said.

“We will continue to work on the protocol”

Despite his criticism of the actions minterdean CPP He stressed that his department will continue to work on the development of the protocol, but if the government does not accept his proposal, they will respond.

“We remain in the group of people who are working on this protocol, but with a caveat (…) We want to fight from within. There are two ways to counter things in the game, either you are on the field or you are screaming. from the podium. CPP He decided to stay on the field,” he said.

In this regard, he pointed out that his institution’s participation in the protocol was “misinterpreted” because it was not established that people involved in trade should be associated with the protocol. CPP.

“(Education) is free, it is freedom for everyone. Here in the country education is not compulsory, in other countries it is (…) It is not a limitation, it is a misinterpretation coming from our own sectors How we differ from IPYbelonging ANPbelonging Peruvian Press Councilbelonging SNRTV or any club of friends of journalists? Not with anything. We all strive for the same thing: to ensure the safety of our colleagues, to protect freedom of speech, to seek the truth, ”he said.

“However, there are different interpretations. There are some institutions that say, “I don’t want to sit with this government.” CPP no such problem, our members they are not politiciansWe just want the best for the union,” he added.