(IPYS/IFEX) – IPYS reports that journalist Isaac García Villanueva has been the victim of an attack campaign launched by public servants and sympathisers of the governing party. On 18 August 1998, a representative of the President’s Office, González Reategui, visited the province of Tarapoto (in the jungle region of Peru). At a public demonstration, Reategui […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – IPYS reports that journalist Isaac García Villanueva has been
the victim of an attack campaign launched by public servants and
sympathisers of the governing party.
On 18 August 1998, a representative of the President’s Office, González
Reategui, visited the province of Tarapoto (in the jungle region of Peru).
At a public demonstration, Reategui gave a speech in which he announced that
he had not come in hypocrisy and that he had “come to ask them to vote for
the current mayor and candidate for [the] Vamos Vecino [political party,]
Rolando Reategui Florez”, saying if the latter were not elected, the
government would not invest in public works projects in the region. González
Reategui’s speech was recorded by García, who, at the end of the
demonstration, was instructed by González Reategui’s bodyguards to turn over
the tape. In the face of García’s refusal, González Reategui himself
instructed the journalist to turn over the tape. Finally, “escorted” by the
bodyguards, García was obliged to go to a house where he was made to erase
the tape. However, during a moment of inattention by the bodyguards, García
had switched the tapes, keeping the recording of González Reategui’s
statements.
On 11 October, municipal elections will be held in Peru. Although the
government has denied supporting Vamos Vecino candidates, there is much
evidence of a connection. In the face of numerous accusations regarding the
use of public funds to support Vamos Vecino municipal candidates throughout
the country, the Congressional Finance Committee summoned González Reategui.
During that meeting, which was held on 25 September, an opposition member of
Parliament presented the tape of González Reategui’s speech in Tarapoto.
González Reategui denied having made the comments, despite the evidence on
tape. That same day, a popular news show reported the incident, and
presented the tape and García on air.
On 27 September, García returned to Tarapoto. Since then, public servants
and sympathisers of the governing party have initiated a campaign to attack
and discredit him. In the majority of media outlets in Tarapoto, ads in the
form of articles and editorials have been running on a daily basis; in them,
García is accused of being a traitor and responsible for the government’s
failure to support the region.
García, his family and his colleagues are concerned that the journalist
could become the victim of physical aggression by enthusiastic government
sympathisers on the eve of municipal elections.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the authorities below:
Appeals To
Jorge Santisteban de Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax: +511 4266657
Email: defensor@ombudsman.gob.peTomás González Reategui
President’s Office
Fax: +511 2223666
Email: muega@pres.gob.peRolando Reategui Florez
Mayor of Tarapoto and Vamos Vecino candidate in the municipal elections
Fax: +51 94 522564
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
