Journalist harassed in run-up to appeal hearing in major defamation case

A Lima court is due to begin tomorrow to hear an appeal by Lima Airport Partners CEO Jaime Daly Arbulú against a court ruling in March ordering journalist Herbert Mujica to pay him 2,000 soles (660 dollars) in damages for alleging serious irregularities at Lima’s Jorge Chávez International Airport. Daly appealed because he thought the damages award was too low. The hearing will be the latest stage in drawn-out legal battle for Mujica, a writer and political analyst who edits the Páginas Libres website and writes the Señal de Alerta column for the site. He is also the author of the 2007 book ¡Estafa al Perú! ¡Cómo robarse aeropuertos y vivir sin problemas! (Conning Peru: how to steal airports and live comfortably). The suit that the powerful Lima Airport Partners (LAP) brought against Mujica accused him of “aggravated defamation” in various articles and investigative reports about alleged irregularities in LAP’s management of the Lima airport concession, which it was awarded by the government. Mujica and his family claim they have been the target of various forms of harassment throughout the legal battle. “We are concerned about the harassment and threats that Mujica says he has received in connection with this lawsuit,” Reporters Without Borders said. “We also fear that an excessive damages award would encourage self-censorship and deter journalists from risking a major scandal.” The press freedom organisation added: “We urge the judicial authorities to be reasonable and to take account of the relative strength of the parties to this dispute. We also call on the authorities to guarantee Mujica’s protection regardless of the outcome of this appeal.” Raúl Wiener of the daily La Primera and César Lévano, the newspaper’s editor, are also awaiting trial in connection with their coverage of LAP. Wiener was questioned on suspicion of terrorism 16 months ago when he reported that terrorism charges had been brought against 13 leading leftists.