(IPYS/IFEX) – On 9 November 2006, a plenary session of the Peruvian Congress decided to postpone, due to lack of consensus, the second vote on the law that modifies the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (Agencia Peruana de Cooperación Internacional, APCI) by granting it control over funds received by NGOs, including those […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 9 November 2006, a plenary session of the Peruvian Congress decided to postpone, due to lack of consensus, the second vote on the law that modifies the powers of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (Agencia Peruana de Cooperación Internacional, APCI) by granting it control over funds received by NGOs, including those that defend freedom of expression, and establishing severe penalties for those organizations that do not follow its guidelines.
After several international organizations that defend civil rights issued declarations, representatives of several non-governmental organizations met with Congress President Mercedes Cabanillas and with the law’s proponent, the Congress’s foreign affairs committee chair, Rolando Souza, on 8 November. The meeting was called by Cabanillas, at the request of President Alan García. After the meeting, Souza promised to present a new version of the amendments in question to be discussed in a plenary session of Congress. No consensus was reached, however, and the debate was postponed until 16 November.
Although these events, along with government declarations that diverge from the law’s perceived original intent, may be interpreted as a softening of the government’s position, IPYS will continue to closely monitor the situation and will inform the international networks for the protection of the freedom of expression of any moves made by Congress.
IPYS appeals to the public to continue putting pressure on Peruvian authorities and legislators in order to stop a law that would bring under the control of the national government the funds sent by international cooperation agencies and received by NGOs that do not follow the government’s policies.
