Attempt to seize magazine, director receives death threats

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern further to a seizure attempt against the magazine “Informe R” and threats received by the publication’s director, Ruy Omar Suarez. According to RSF’s information, on Tuesday, 2 March 1999, on two separate occasions, men claiming to be police officers but who refused to present official documentation visited the offices […]

(RSF/IFEX) – RSF is expressing concern further to a seizure attempt
against
the magazine “Informe R” and threats received by the publication’s
director,
Ruy Omar Suarez.

According to RSF’s information, on Tuesday, 2 March 1999, on two
separate
occasions, men claiming to be police officers but who refused to present
official documentation visited the offices of the magazine “Informe R”.
They
claimed to have orders to seize the next day’s edition of the magazine.
The
individuals described the next day’s edition as a “subversive tract.”
The
publication’s management refused to comply with their order. The next
day,
Ruy Omar Suarez received several death threats by telephone. He is
currently
under police protection. In this issue, the magazine discusses the
Condor
Plan (the collaborative plan of a number of South American dictatorships
in
the 1970s designed to repress leftist opposition) and includes
information
regarding Bolivian political life during this period.

RSF has also learned that an inquiry has been opened to identify those
responsible for this seizure attempt and the threats against Ruy Omar
Suarez. This investigation was opened by the Interior Ministry, the
public
defender, Ana María Campero, the Government Commission, at the request
of
Parliament, and the Judicial Police, at the request of the magazine’s
management and a number of human rights organisations.

Recommended Action

Mr. Guido Nayar

Minister of the Interior

La Paz, Bolivie