(IPYS/IFEX) – IPYS reported on 20 November 1998 that, in a controversial presentation in front of a working group of the committee of Congress which deals with issues of internal control (the Comité de Fiscalizacion,) former Radio Siglo XXI journalist Isaac García Villanueva retracted accusations he made against government minister Tomás Gonzales Reátegui. He had […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – IPYS reported on 20 November 1998 that, in a controversial
presentation in front of a working group of the committee of Congress which
deals with issues of internal control (the Comité de Fiscalizacion,) former
Radio Siglo XXI journalist Isaac García Villanueva retracted accusations he
made against government minister Tomás Gonzales Reátegui. He had charged
that Gonzales Reátegui campaigned on behalf of his nephew and Tarapoto
mayoral candidate Rolando Reátegui and other Vamos Vecino party candidates
(see IFEX alerts.) García completely contradicted his initial stance when
he said that Gonzales Reátegui had “acted like a good …[person from San
Martín] who seeks only the well-being of his people,” adding that the help
the minister offered to the people of Tarapoto was never conditional on
voting for Vamos Vecino candidates.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 19 November, 19 October and 30 September 1998**
The intimidation and efforts by ruling party members of the sub-committee
to discredit the journalist’s initial accusations are evident. García did
admit to being pressured, but he would not say by whom. Later, the
journalist also recanted on his comments which were published in the 25
September edition of the “El Comercio” daily newspaper; however, when
Congressman Fernando Olivera had García listen to a tape of himself saying
he had been coerced and pressured to hand over his own tape which
compromised Gonzales Reátegui, García very nervously admitted to having
been pressured. He also revealed that, on the day he decided to travel to
Lima to appear before the congressional committee, his father was
unexpectedly detained on a mixed up abortion charge; he was held for four
days and (as of 20 November) the charges still had not been dropped.
Opposition Congressman and member of the committee Javier Velázquez said
García has most certainly been pressured to deny everything and to not say
that it is those he accused who are responsible for the intimidation. For
his part, Olivera said Gonzales Reátegui would not hesitate to intimidate
anyone who might have proof against him.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities below:
intimidated
Appeals To
Dr. Miguel Velit Núñez
President of the committee of Congress which deals with issues of internal
control (the Comité de Fiscalizacion)
Congress
Lima, Peru
Fax: +511 426 2088Dr. Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Lima, Peru
Fax: +511 426 6657National Police Colonel Carlos Abel Farfán Izquierdo
Chief of the San Martín Police – Huánuco
Fax: +511 94 52 3518
Please copy appeals to IPYS.
