Journalist threatened and intimidated

(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Juan Sánchez Oliva, the director of the news radio programme “Quassar en la Noticia”, broadcast on Radio Quassar, in Huaraz, the capital of the department of Ancash, informed IPYS that, for approximately six months, he and his family have been the victims of constant threats and acts of intimidation. On his programme, […]

(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Juan Sánchez Oliva, the director of the news radio
programme “Quassar en la Noticia”, broadcast on Radio Quassar, in Huaraz,
the capital of the department of Ancash, informed IPYS that, for
approximately six months, he and his family have been the victims of
constant threats and acts of intimidation.

On his programme, Sánchez exhibits an independent attitude and is critical
of government policy and of some institutions and companies that have set up
operations in the region, as some mining companies have done. His programme
constantly reports on abuses and irregularities committed against the
public, particularly in smaller towns that often find themselves at the
mercy of the arbitrary decisions of mining company executives.

According to the journalist’s statement to IPYS, the most serious act, which
was intended as a warning, occurred on the night of 27 August 1999.
Sánchez’s brother, César Augusto, was intercepted on the street by six
individuals whose faces were covered, were dressed in military fatigues, and
were carrying high powered weapons. Augusto was brutally beaten and had to
be hospitalised.

This attack occurred a few hours after Sánchez had a telephone interview
with Alberto Borea and Member of Congress Anel Towsend, both known opponents
of the government. Sánchez believes that the attack came in response to the
broadcast of these interviews. The following day, another of the
journalist’s brothers received death threats over the phone. Then, on 30
August, as Sánchez was heading home, individuals sitting in a 4×4 pickup
with no license plates warned him that he could “disappear” at any time. He
was unable to recognise any of the perpetrators. Finally, early on the
morning of 6 September, unknown persons broke all the windows on the second
floor of his sister’s house. In Sánchez’s view, these acts are meant to
intimidate him, curb his freedom and limit his right to inform. Thus far,
despite the threats, he has continued reporting in his independent style.

Sánchez told IPYS that he has asked that necessary measures be taken to
ensure his and his family’s safety. However, so far he has not received any
protection. As a result, he was forced to hire a private security company to
prevent any further incident that he would later come to regret. Meanwhile,
he continues to receive threatening phone calls.

Recommended Action

Alberto Fujimori Fujimori

President of the Republic

Fax: +51 1 427 6722 / 426 6535

Martha Hildebrandt Pérez

President of Congress

Fax: +51 1 426 8290
Miguel Aljovín Swayne

Attorney General

Fax: +51 1 426 2474
Jorge Santistevan de Noriega

Ombudsman

Fax: +51 1 426 6657
Lieutenant General Fernando Dianderas Otonne

General Director of the Peruvian National Police

Fax: +51 1 225 1775
Edgardo Mosqueira Medina

Minister of the Presidency

Fax: +51 1 222 3678
Waldo Ríos

Mayor of the Provincial Municipality of Huaraz

Fax:+51 44 72 1471
Prefect of the Ancash department

Fax +51 44 72 1011