On 25 June 1996, Santa Cruz judge Luis Antezana Parra sentenced journalist Ronald Mendez Alpire to two years in jail for falsifying private documents, using a falsified legal document, violating private correspondence, revealing confidential information, defamation, slander and libel (“falsedad material de documentos privados, uso de instrumento falsificado, violacion de la correspondencia, violacion de secretos […]
On 25 June 1996, Santa Cruz judge Luis Antezana Parra sentenced
journalist Ronald Mendez Alpire to two years in jail for
falsifying private documents, using a falsified legal document,
violating private correspondence, revealing confidential
information, defamation, slander and libel (“falsedad material de
documentos privados, uso de instrumento falsificado, violacion de
la correspondencia, violacion de secretos no destinados a
publicidad, difamacion, calumnias e injurias”). Mendez Alpire was
also fined for damages to the state and to the defendant.
In a book titled “Financial Puzzle” (“Puzzle Financiero”), the
journalist had made allegations about former director Luis del Rio
Chavez’s management — several years earlier — of Bolivia’s
central bank (the Superintendencia de Bancos). Luis del Rio Chavez
first pressed charges against Mendez Alpire for libel and
defamation. During the trial, however, Luis del Rio Chavez was
forced to confirm the authenticity of the documents presented by
the journalist in his book. He then accused the journalist of
having stolen the documents.
The country’s treasury (the Contraloria de la Republica) has since
issued a report which contains charges about Luis del Rio Chavez
similar to those made in Mendez Alpire’s book.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Bolivian authorities:
against the journalist is a serious attack on press freedom, a
right guaranteed under Article 19 of the International Covenant on
Civil and Political Rights, to which Bolivia is signatory
Alpire, afforded a fair hearing
Appeals To
His Excellency President Gonzalo Sanchez de Lozada
Palacio de Gobierno
Plaza Murillo
La Paz, Bolivia
Fax: +519 2 371 308
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
