José Abanto and Jhony Laurente, photographers with the Lima daily “La República”, were attacked by José Germana and an unidentified individual, who destroyed their photographic equipment. The journalists, who suffered bruises, reported the incident to the police. The attack occurred as the journalists were concluding their coverage of a shirt-making factory. According to “La República”‘s […]
José Abanto and Jhony Laurente, photographers with the Lima daily “La República”, were attacked by José Germana and an unidentified individual, who destroyed their photographic equipment. The journalists, who suffered bruises, reported the incident to the police.
The attack occurred as the journalists were concluding their coverage of a shirt-making factory. According to “La República”‘s investigations, the shirts were made with government funds and printed with the logo “Perú 2000”, which is the emblem of the political party of current president and candidate for reelection, Alberto Fujimori.
The incident occurred on the night of Tuesday 22 February 2000, twenty-four hours after the Public Prosecutor’s Executive Committee, chaired by Attorney Blanca Nélida Colán, ordered the “La República” daily to undertake the investigation. The investigative report was published on 20 February and included photographs which documented the use of garment factories, trucks and staff which, according to the daily, are at the service of the National Intelligence Service (Servicio de Inteligencia Nacional, SIN), and therefore at the service of Fujimoriâs presidential campaign.
The investigation was requested by President of the Council of Ministers and Justice Minister José Bustamante Belaúnde, who noted that the government wants to ensure that the electoral process is transparent.
The head of the SIN, Admiral Humberto Rozas Bonucelli, asserted that the information published in “La República” is false. However, further photographic evidence appeared in the Monday 21 February edition of the daily, and suggests that the SINâs participation was not an isolated case and that, furthermore, National Police officers and mobile units had played a role. In some of the photographs, the garments with the “Perú 2000” logo are shown as they are being transferred to SIN offices in the Santiago de Surco military barracks and in the Governmental Palace.
In its Tuesday 22 February edition, the daily published photographs showing retired General Fernando Gamero Febres, National Police chief of staff until December 1999, in a police van.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the president:
– asking for assurances that “La República” journalists will be able to freely carry out their investigation, as guaranteed by the Constitution, without being subject to threats or intimidation by government officials or unknown individuals
Send appeals to the president of the National Elections Jury and the president of the Public Prosecutorâs Executive Committee:
– urging them to ensure that journalistic investigations can be carried out in cases such as the one in question, whereby government funds are being used illegally to support a presidential candidate
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori
President of the Republic
Fax: 51 14 266 770 / 266 535
Alipio Montes de Oca
President
National Elections Jury
Fax: +51 14 286 161
Blanca Nelida Colan Maguiño
President
Public Ministryâs Executive Committee
Fax: +51 14 262 474 / 264 620
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
