(IPYS/IFEX) – In the last three weeks of April 2004, Miguel Ramírez, an investigative journalist for “El Comercio” newspaper in Lima, received several threatening calls, both on his mobile phone and at his parent’s house. The threats consisted of insults and recordings of prayers at mass. In addition, Ramírez says that he is constantly being […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – In the last three weeks of April 2004, Miguel Ramírez, an investigative journalist for “El Comercio” newspaper in Lima, received several threatening calls, both on his mobile phone and at his parent’s house. The threats consisted of insults and recordings of prayers at mass.
In addition, Ramírez says that he is constantly being followed by individuals in vehicles. He suspects that those who are following him are trying to identify his sources.
Since 1995, Ramírez has been investigating the case of Fernando Zevallos, a businessman who has been linked to drug trafficking. Zevallos has interests in the airline industry and is a founder of the Aerocontinente company. In April, investigations into Zevallos’s actions were re-opened and information on the case was published in “El Comercio” based on the discovery of new evidence that points to Zevallos’s links to drug trafficking.
Recently, while Ramírez was gathering information on the Zevallos case in the country’s interior, several individuals broke into his house and took his computer’s hard drive, on which the journalist had stored valuable information about the case. Nothing else was taken.
On 28 April, Zevallos launched a defamation complaint against the head of “El Comercio”‘s investigative unit, Fernando Ampuero. In the complaint, Zevallos asked for US$5 million in compensation.
Thus far in 2004, Zevallos has launched complaints against three journalists for commenting on his alleged links to drug trafficking and money laundering. The other journalists are Sally Bowen and Jane Holligan, the authors of a book entitled, “El espía imperfecto” (“The Imperfect Spy”). The book contains statements by drug trafficker Oscar Benítes Linares regarding drug trafficking links between Vladimiro Montesinos and Zevallos. Montesinos was an advisor to former president Alberto Fujimori.
The case against Ampuero will be heard in Lima’s 35th court. Zevallos is alleging that Ampuero damaged his “honour and good reputation” in statements made on a television programme broadcast on 7 April.
Ampuero has said that all of his statements, including the opinions he expressed, are based on information from police and judiciary sources, in addition to documents in the position of Peruvian and international organisations, such as the United States Drug Enforcement Administration. According to Ampuero, the complaint against him is unfounded since the law does not cover the “crime of opinion”.
“El Comercio” has decided to provide security guards to both journalists to avoid possible attacks against them.
