(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 26 April 2002 IAPA press release: IAPA criticizes court’s decision to take over Peruvian newspaper MIAMI, Florida (April 26, 2002)-The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) said today it was alarmed and surprised by a request for the courts to order a takeover of a newspaper in Peru, saying such […]
(IAPA/IFEX) – The following is a 26 April 2002 IAPA press release:
IAPA criticizes court’s decision to take over Peruvian newspaper
MIAMI, Florida (April 26, 2002)-The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) said today it was alarmed and surprised by a request for the courts to order a takeover of a newspaper in Peru, saying such a move would “compromise freedom of expression” in the South American country.
State Attorney Luis Vargas Valdivia asked Judge Sara Maita Dorregaray to appoint a trustee to take over the management of the Lima daily Expreso. The petition came after the judge ruled that the newspaper should be held liable in a case against its former executive editor, Eduardo Calmell del Solar. The editor is accused of being involved in acts of corruption with former intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos during the administration of ousted President Alberto Fujimori.
IAPA President Robert Cox said in a letter to Justice Minister Fernando Olivera that a newspaper’s editorial independence and news policy are inextricably linked to its financial and managerial independence, which means that any takeover would be tantamount to measures “used by dictatorships in Latin America to curtail press freedom.”
Following is the full text of the letter:
“Mr. Minister:
“We have received with alarm and surprise the news that State Attorney Luis Vargas Valdivia requested the takeover of the management of the daily Expreso newspaper. This request came as a result of the case being pursued against its former executive editor, Eduardo Calmell del Solar, who has not yet been convicted. The organization has already expressed its concern to the Peruvian authorities over certain aspects of the case.
“The takeover of the newspaper, in which the accused is understood to own only 13% of the shares, implies a penalization of the company’s majority shareholders. This is contrary to the stance taken by the Peruvian government in other cases. In fact, however impartial the intent, this precedent-setting action recalls ones used by dictatorships in Latin America to curtail press freedom.
“The argument that this is an administrative intervention is irrelevant. Without entering into further detail, we find it difficult to understand the justification for this shared financial liability. We are even more perplexed by the fact that this action is being taken against a newspaper.
“We insist that the use of an administrative intervention does not change the situation, as it is well known that a newspaper’s editorial independence and policies are inextricably linked to its financial and managerial independence, in the face of any outside interference. At the same time, the newspaper’s administrative and financial management should be in accordance with its editorial line.
“We believe that were this action to be carried out, this would be a bad decision that would compromise Expreso newspaper’s freedom of expression and that of the entire country. In light of the stance the government has taken and its efforts in the past to defend press freedom in Peru, IAPA takes the liberty to warn them of the dangers that pursuing such a course would entail. Through this decision, the government and the judiciary would assume a very serious responsibility.”
