(IPYS/IFEX) – On 18 October 1999, journalist Angel Durán Leon received a one year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 5,000 nuevos soles (approx. US$1,450) in civil damages payable to Vice-Minister of the Presidency Fredy Moreno Neglia, who had accused him of contempt. Durán Leon is a journalist with Radio Quassar in Huaraz, Ancash […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 18 October 1999, journalist Angel Durán Leon received a one
year suspended prison sentence and a fine of 5,000 nuevos soles (approx.
US$1,450) in civil damages payable to Vice-Minister of the Presidency Fredy
Moreno Neglia, who had accused him of contempt. Durán Leon is a journalist
with Radio Quassar in Huaraz, Ancash department, in Peru’s northern
mountainous region.
**Updates IFEX alert of 16 September 1999**
The Second Criminal Chamber of the Ancash Superior Court, presided by Vilma
Ugaz Mera, heard the case. The details of the ruling against Durán Leon are
not known as his sentence was read out loud and he did not receive a copy of
the document.
For the past two years, Durán Leon has been in an ongoing battle with
Moreno, having had to face up to fifteen legal actions filed against him by
Moreno and having been cleared of the charges on fourteen occasions. In a
document submitted to IPYS, the journalist notes that during this most
recent case, strong political pressure was exerted and the judiciary acted
in a manner partial to the vice-minister.
On 16 September, Durán Leon arrived in Lima intending to start a hunger
strike for an indefinite period. He was seeking guarantees for his safety
following the Huaraz authorities’ failure to provide him with protection.
The journalist had been the target of death threats, attempted bribery by
Moreno and a campaign to discredit him carried out by certain media, some of
which were owned by the vice-minister.
Before beginning the hunger strike, Durán Leon filed a complaint with the
attorney general accussing Vice-Minister Moreno of corrupting officials,
misappropriation of funds, embezzlement and aggravated robbery of more than
10 million soles (approx. US$3000).
The journalist and his lawyer filed a motion with the Second Criminal
Chamber of the Ancash Superior Court appealing the sentence. Their appeal
will likely be transferred to the First Criminal Chamber in the upcoming
days.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Appeals To
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori
President of the Republic
Fax: +51 1 427 6722 / 426 6535Alberto Bustamante Belaúnde
President of the Council of Ministers
Fax: +51 1 447 1628 / 475 0689Edgardo Mosqueira Medina
Minister of the Presidency
Fax: +51 222 3678Martha Hildebrandt Pérez
President of Congress
Fax: +51 1 426 8290Miguel Aljovín Swayne
Attorney General
Fax: +51 1 426 2474Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax: +51 1 426 6657
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
