Radio journalist killed in Aucayacu

(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Félix Haro Rodríguez has been found dead several days after having disappeared. Haro Rodríguez was a photographer and host of a programme featuring folkloric music, which was broadcast on Radio 1160’s affiliate in Aucayacu, district of Huánuco (in northern Peru). The journalist was killed brutally with machetes, his body having been dismembered. […]

(IPYS/IFEX) – Journalist Félix Haro Rodríguez has been found dead several
days after having disappeared. Haro Rodríguez was a photographer and host of
a programme featuring folkloric music, which was broadcast on Radio 1160’s
affiliate in Aucayacu, district of Huánuco (in northern Peru). The
journalist was killed brutally with machetes, his body having been
dismembered. The manner in which he was killed is the same as that used by
the subversive movement “Sendero Luminoso” (the “Shining Path”), leading to
the assumption that they are responsible for his death.
IPYS was able to confirm information about the murder with Felipe Páucar, a
local journalist. Páucar stated that on the afternoon of 2 June 1999, two
unknown individuals arrived at Haro Rodríguez’ home by taxi under the
pretense of hiring him to take photographs at a social event.

Félix Haro had not been seen since 2 June, and his wife and family initiated
an intensive search in the surrounding area. The search was called off when
the journalist’s body was discovered in an area called Cotomonillo, three
kilometers from Aucayacu, where six villagers were recently assassinated by
a brigade of the Shining Path.

According to Felipe Páucar, it appears that although Haro Rodríguez’ radio
programme featured traditional music and was targeted at local villagers, –
he nevertheless informed listeners about some of the problems in the region.
He focused on issues such as corruption among political authorities, the
police and the military, as well as the violence of terrorists and
narcotraffickers. Due to his comments on narcotraffickers, the possibility
that they were responsible for the murder should not be discounted.

Recommended Action

Alberto Fujimori Fujimori

President of the Republic

Fax: +51 1 426-6535

Dr. Miguel Aljovín Swayne

Attorney General

Fax: +51 1 426-2474
Dr. Jorge Santistevan de Noriega

Ombudsman

Fax: +51 1 426-6657
Dr. Víctor Raúl Castillo Castillo

President of the Supreme Court of Justice

Fax: +51 1 428-0803
Lieutenant-General Fernando Dianderas Otonne

Director General of the National Police of Peru

Fax: +51 1 225-1775