Bolivia: arrest and tear gas at journalists

This is the freedom of the press in Latin America 1:04

(CNN Spanish) -

The National Association of Journalists of Bolivia and the Association of Journalists of La Paz condemned the arrest of journalist Carlos Quisbert, of the Pagina Siete newspaper, and the gassing of cameraman Santiago Limachi and his son Sergio Limachi, of an international news agency, when they covered the conflict in the Departmental Association of Coca Producers of La Paz.

The coca-growing conflict, which dates back months, led to fractions related to the government of the Movement for Socialism and opposition coca growers to clash over the seizure of the sector's headquarters and leadership.

This Tuesday, the police had to intervene and the events that affected the press workers were raised.

For its part, the International Press Correspondents Association, also in a statement, expressed its "most energetic protest at the aggression suffered by" its affiliates and demanded from the government "a timely and thorough investigation to clarify what happened and activate the mechanisms legal to prosecute those responsible ".

Hours later, the Minister of Government, Carlos Eduardo Del Castillo, through his Twitter account stated: "in relation to the latest events that occurred today, as the Ministry of Government we announced an investigation and guaranteed the work of the press in all corners of the country. "

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Until the end of the afternoon, the journalist from Pagina Siete was released with the intervention of the Vice Ministry of Communication.

However, his case went to the Prosecutor's Office.