Attempted murder of journalist

(IFJ/IFEX) – Early in the morning on Thursday 18 March 1999, there was an attempt on the life of José Luis Linares Altamirano, journalist and producer for Radio Maranon, in Jaen. This occurred at 1:10a.m., in the journalist’s home, located in the tenth block, Maranon street, in the Santa Beatriz neighbourhood. The assailants, two hooded […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – Early in the morning on Thursday 18 March 1999, there was
an
attempt on the life of José Luis Linares Altamirano, journalist and
producer
for Radio Maranon, in Jaen.

This occurred at 1:10a.m., in the journalist’s home, located in the
tenth
block, Maranon street, in the Santa Beatriz neighbourhood.

The assailants, two hooded armed men, forced their way into the home and
after having identified Linares, they shot him various times, injuring
his
left kidney and his small intestine.

At the time the victim had been in the process of cleaning his house,
which
had been flooded as a result of the heavy rains. He had been accompanied
by
two family members, whose names are kept in confidence while the police
investigation continues.

The criminals swore at those present and then escaped. They returned a
few
minutes later, however, to grab an old black and white television set,
thus
trying to give the impression that robbery had been the motive for their
forced entry.

Linares works with Radio Maranon, a radio station that works in
collaboration with the Solidarity Vicary (Vicaria de la Solidaridad),
which
in turn provides them information on human rights violations in the
region.

The victim is the director of the widely distributed music and
information
programme “Punto Corazon”, on which he merges news, interviews and
solidarity campaigns in support of those whose civil and political
rights
have been affected.

Two months ago Linares was threatened over the telephone and warned to
stop
denouncing human rights violations. Similar threats have been received
by
the producers of other Radio Maranon programmes, which tend to report on
human rights.

In the last few days, the radio station had been reporting on the
situation
in which thousands of peasants, especially rice farmers, find themselves
as
a result of heavy rain damage to the irrigation canals and the flooding
of
their lands. Thus far the authorities have not offered any substantial
assistance. The radio station had also been calling for citizens to
support
the campaign initiated by the Catholic church in favour of cancelling
the
external debt.

Linares underwent emergency surgery in the Social Security Institute
hospital (public hospital). His state of health is still considered
unstable.

Recommended Action

Alberto Fujimori Fujimori

President of the Republic

Government Palace

Lima, Perú

Fax: +51 14 266 770 / 266 535

Jorge Santistevan de Noriega

Ombudsman

Lima, Perú

Fax: +51 14 267 800
Miguel Aljovin Swayne

Attorney General

Lima, Perú

Fax: +51 14 262 474
Gral. Ep. José Villanueva Ruesta

Minister of the Interior

Lima, Perú

Fax: +51 14 224 2407
José Camus Vargas

Jaen Provincial Public Prosecutor

Fax: +51 44 731 324