(IPYS/IFEX) – Miguel Velit Nuñez, who is President of the committee of Congress which deals with issues of internal control (the Comité de Fiscalizacion) and is heading up a small group to look into accusations made against President of the Council of Ministers (an official of the President’s Office) Tomás Gonzales Reategui, announced that Radio […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Miguel Velit Nuñez, who is President of the committee of
Congress which deals with issues of internal control (the Comité de
Fiscalizacion) and is heading up a small group to look into accusations
made against President of the Council of Ministers (an official of the
President’s Office) Tomás Gonzales Reategui, announced that Radio Siglo XXI
journalist Isaac García Villanueva was to appear before the sub-committee
on 18 November 1998. The Tarapoto-based journalist witnessed and recorded a
rally at which Gonzales Reategui made a speech openly supporting Rolando
Reategui, the government-supported party’s candidate in the local mayoral
elections (see IFEX alerts). Velit, who is a Congressman for the ruling
Cambio 90-Nueva Mayoría party, explained that García was being summoned
under Article 88o of Congress’s internal regulations, since the journalist
never showed when he was first summoned for 3 November.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 19 November and 30 September 1998**
García sent a letter acknowledging receipt of Velit’s 11 November missive
(No. 257-98-CF/CR). He told him he was willing to travel to Lima to give a
statement, as instructed, in a room number five in the Congress building,
but he asked that his travel costs be covered since he did not have the
means to pay for such a trip. IPYS spoke to a woman who identified herself
only as Claudia in the Congressional committee’s office. Claudia said the
committee was making the travel arrangements for García.
