(IPYS/IFEX) – On Thursday 18 May 2000, Mary Pérez Cora, IPYS correspondent in Iquitos, reported that several male and female press workers, most of whom are opposing the government, have been victims of physical and psychological attacks. The victims include Raúl Celis and Luis Ugaz Espinoza (see IFEX alert of 6 April 2000), from Radio […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On Thursday 18 May 2000, Mary Pérez Cora, IPYS correspondent in Iquitos, reported that several male and female press workers, most of whom are opposing the government, have been victims of physical and psychological attacks.
The victims include Raúl Celis and Luis Ugaz Espinoza (see IFEX alert of 6 April 2000), from Radio Astoria; Armando Murrieta (see IFEX alert of 28 January 2000) and Nancy Villacorta, from Radio 10; Carlos Martínez (see IFEX alert of 6 April 2000) and James Beuzeville from Radio Arpegio; Santiago Gonzales Coronado and Carmen Rosa Bardales, from the newspaper “La República”.
The lastest case of terrorism involved Gonzales. He received death threats fifteen days ago from Pablo Cumary Ashanga, the official Mayor of the district of Putumayo. According to Gonzales, he received the threat through a third party. He also said that the threats were responding to condemnations which were published in the newspaper “El Popular” (the popular version of the newspaper “La República”), which revealed irregularities allegedly committed by the Mayor.
Gonzales stated that in the last few days he has been pursued by unknown individuals on foot and while in his car. According to IPYS correspondent Pérez, the journalist also attributes this persecution to published condemnations of Professor Cirilo Torres Pinchi, the current Regional Director of Education, and his wife Nery Salinas, a potential member of Peruvian congress. Previously, they were allegedly linked with the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
- calling on them to set-up an in-depth investigation with a view to locating and punishing those responsible
- asking that they provide journalists and the press with the necessary guarantees to exercise their free right to inform the public
Appeals To
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori
President of the Republic
Fax: +51 1 427 6722/426 6535
Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax +51 1 426 6657
César Saucedo Sánchez
Minister of the Interior
Fax: +51 1 224 2405
Fernando Dianderas Otonne
Director General of the National Police
Fax: +51 1 225 1775
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
