Masked men made an horrific attack on the owner and editor of a Bolivian radio station by pouring petrol on him and setting him ablaze. Fernando Vidal, 78, is now in intensive care after suffering severe burns to his head, chest, stomach and arms.
Staff at Radio Radio Popular in Yacuiba, near the Argentine border, told how four men wearing masks burst into the offices with canisters of petrol. After pouring the fuel on station equipment, they then threw it on to Vidal.
He was conducting an interview with two women on drug smuggling in the border region when the attack occurred.
One of the station's journalists, Esteban Farfán - who is Vidal's son-in-law - said Vidal had been critical of politicians in Gran Chaco province. He believed the attack was politically motivated.
The following day, police said three men had been arrested in connection with the attack on Vidal, a former major of Yacuiba.
Described as being in a serious, but stable condition, Vidal was able to speak to reporters in hospital: "I deeply thank the solidarity of all my friends, colleagues, co-workers and journalists and ask them to keep up the work of bringing forth the evidence and revealing the truth."
