Uruguay: Valeria Coronel Assaulted by Disgraced Mayor
Mayor Allende, who was convicted of rape, threatened and insulted Coronel, a reporter on assignment for Channel 12 of Melo
Location: Uruguay, Cerro Largo
Date: July 23, 2024
Women Press Freedom unequivocally supports Valeria Coronel, a journalist with Channel 12 of Melo, who was attacked by Humberto Allende, the disgraced mayor of Cerro de las Cuentas, during her coverage of his trial where he was convicted and sentenced to five years and two months in prison for the rape of an 80-year-old woman. Allende physically assaulted and verbally abused Coronel outside the courthouse as she sought to obtain his comments. We strongly condemn this aggressive behavior towards Coronel and consider it a clear violation of her right to press freedom. We call on the authorities to hold Allende accountable for intimidating Coronel.
On July 23, 2024, the mayor of Cerro de las Cuentas, Humberto Allende, was sentenced to five years and two months in prison for the rape of an 80-year-old woman.
The sentencing followed a tense courtroom scene, with Allende exiting the courthouse in a police car, though notably without handcuffs or a police escort. It was outside the courthouse where Allende threatened and insulted journalist Valeria Coronel, who was on assignment for Channel 12 of Melo.
Coronel recounts the incident to Women Press Freedom, explaining her intent was simply to get a statement from Allende, given his status as a public figure. "Personally, I believed that as a public figure, he had an obligation to speak, and he also had the right to publicly defend himself or remain silent. For that reason, I approached the other colleagues and asked him, 'Allende, any statement to the press?' to which the Mayor responded with a feint and a verbal insult," she says.
Coronel emphasizes that she had no prior interactions with Allende, although her media outlet had attempted to secure a statement from him through his lawyer, who told them that Allende would not speak until the sentence was issued.
"I was not the one who covered the story journalistically, nor have I had any contact with Mr. Allende, unlike other mayors,” she explains Coronel.
Despite the aggressive encounter, Coronel has decided not to file a formal complaint against Allende.
"I appreciate all the gestures of solidarity, and for me, this sets a precedent that I never want to be repeated again with any person exercising their right to work,” Coronel tells Women Press Freedom.
Women Press Freedom stands in firm solidarity with Valeria Coronel. We strongly denounce the aggressive conduct displayed by Mayor Humberto Allende towards Coronel, which represents a clear infringement on press freedom. We urge the authorities to ensure accountability for Allende's intimidation of Coronel. Journalists must be able to carry out their responsibilities without the threat of intimidation or retaliation.
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