IFJ protests infringement on Prensa Libre journalists? rights

Peru

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This article is more than 25 years old

20 December 1999

2 minute read

(IFJ/IFEX) – In a 17 December 1999 letter to President Alberto Fujimori, Roberto Mejía Alarcon, president of the Peruvian National Association of Journalists (Asociacion Nacional de Periodistas del Perú, ANP) expressed his preoccupation over the measures adopted by various state organisations against ANP’s colleagues in the journalists’ association Prensa Libre, and in particular those against […]

(IFJ/IFEX) – In a 17 December 1999 letter to President Alberto Fujimori, Roberto Mejía Alarcon, president of the Peruvian National Association of Journalists (Asociacion Nacional de Periodistas del Perú, ANP) expressed his preoccupation over the measures adopted by various state organisations against ANP’s colleagues in the journalists’ association Prensa Libre, and in particular those against Guillermo Gonzales Arica, a director of the weekly “Caretas”. These measures are a detriment to constitutional rights supporting freedom of expression in Peru.

It is general knowledge that the Public Ministry has allowed the case for alleged crimes against legal authorities who authenticate documents and the legal process to proceed. The case was presented to the National Elections Jury by the Supreme Court of Military Justice, without taking into consideration Prensa Libre’s previous assertion that they fulfilled their civic obligations.

The occurences attract particular attention because Prensa Libre specialised in informing people, through film documentaries, about the alleged presence of National Intelligence Service (Servicio de Inteligencia Nacional) and Army Intelligence Service (Servicio de Inteligencia del Ejército) agents in the political actions of presidential candidates Alberto Andrade Carmona and Luis Castañeda Lossio, respectively. Furthermore, when the Supreme Court of Military Justice was investigating the complaints prepared by the accused, they did not examine the aforementioned documentary testimonials, and instead, without any credible proof, proceeded to denounce the journalists before the Public Ministry.

Recommended Action


Send appeals to the president:
  • stating that in the face of this new attack against press freedom, and journalists’ ability to work professionally, we look to him to use the proper channels to guarantee the civil rights of the members of Prensa Lible, and especially those of Gonzáles Arica
  • urging him to recognise the significance that the case holds, and that freedom of expression forms the basis for all freedoms

    Appeals To



    
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori
    
President of the Republic
    
Fax: +51 1 427 6722 / 426 6535

    Please copy appeals to the source if possible.

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