(IPYS/IFEX) – On 13 June 1999, Amnesty International (AI) issued an international “urgent action” titled “Fear for Safety – Death Threat”, in which the organisation expressed its concern over recent attacks directed at Gustavo Mohme Llona, editor of the daily “La República”, Edmundo Cruz Vílchez, an investigative reporter with the newspaper and other journalists working […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 13 June 1999, Amnesty International (AI) issued an
international “urgent action” titled “Fear for Safety – Death Threat”, in
which the organisation expressed its concern over recent attacks directed at
Gustavo Mohme Llona, editor of the daily “La República”, Edmundo Cruz
Vílchez, an investigative reporter with the newspaper and other journalists
working for the paper.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 14 June, 8 June and 1 June 1999**
AI’s “urgent action” was sent to President Alberto Fujimori, Attorney
General Miguel Aljovín Swayne, Minister of the Interior José Villanueva
Ruesta, the National Coordinator of Human Rights and “La República”.
According to AI, President Fujimori’s condemnation of the satirical, “false”
newspaper “Repúdica”, which attacked journalists and politicians opposed to
his government, is insufficient. Furthermore, AI suggests that if he is to
take this campaign of intimidation seriously, he must guarantee the safety
of the journalists and demand that those responsible for publishing
“Repúdica” be brought to justice.
AI has been concerned since October 1998 with a pattern of intimidation and
threats against journalists, opposition leaders and human rights workers in
Peru. The intimidation campaign used the medium of an Internet web page,
which was allegedly connected to officials within the National Intelligence
Service (SIN). AI’s initial concern has now grown in response to new threats
being made against the same people.
The “urgent action” notes that the satirical version of “La República”
appeared on 31 May, and it accused Mohme and other journalists from the
newspaper of being sympathizers with armed opposition groups. AI also notes
in its “urgent action” that Cruz has received death threats.