(IPYS/IFEX) – IPYS reported on 23 November 1998 that in the two days prior, journalists from several media outlets in the city of Pucallpa, department of San Martín, Ucayali region called IPYS to report a series of attacks on the press by government authorities in that region. According to the journalists, any journalist who has […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – IPYS reported on 23 November 1998 that in the two days prior,
journalists from several media outlets in the city of Pucallpa, department
of San Martín, Ucayali region called IPYS to report a series of attacks on
the press by government authorities in that region. According to the
journalists, any journalist who has criticised the government or denounced
corruption is affected by variety attempts by authorities to silence them.
Among the corruption cases reported is that of Melita Guerrero, the former
mayor of Pucallpa who has become the Ucayali regional administrator
(prefect) even though she faced legal action for misusing public funds while
she was mayor. The journalists also reported another corruption case
involving government official Tomás Gonzales Reátegui, who reportedly
granted public works projects to companies which were thrown out of Iquitos
because of complaints from CAPECO-Iquitos; in awarding the contracts,
Gonzales Reátegui reportedly favoured family and friends.
The journalists told IPYS the independent press has been subjected to death
threats, harassment, being followed, legal harassment, verbal and physical
assault and pressure on advertisers.
Paul Garay Ramírez, editor-in-chief of the “Quincenario del Pueblo”,
reported that on 13 November, while he was driving his motorcycle, another
motorcycle came up beside him and a person riding behind the driver hit him.
The journalist lost his balance and he fell hard on the pavement. Garay
Ramírez identified his assailant as Walter Ortiz Meza, a leader of a
Pucallpa municipal workers’ union. The next day, while he was waiting at a
corner, he was assaulted again — hit hard in the head by the same person,
who was in a car. The other passengers were yelling insults and death
threats at the journalist.
Eduardo Cenepo Elajarrat, editor-in-chief of the weekly “El Clarín”,
reported that on 20 November alderman-elect Belinda Iparraguirre and her
husband burst into the editorial offices of the weekly to protest the
publication of a report which alluded to her. As well, the newspaper has
been faked on two occasions. The fake editions were thought to have been
financed from the public purse in order to undermine the stability and
credibility of the real “El Clarín”. Cenepo Elajarrat also said he was
facing legal harassment; in a case against him, he has already been declared
in contempt of court even though the investigative phase of the case is not
even completed.
Other journalists called to report similar attacks in Pucallpa and other
towns in the Ucayali region.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities below:
continue
exercising their profession freely
Appeals To
Dr. Jorge Velásquez Portocarrero
President of the Ucayali Region
Fax: +511 64 57 1506Dra. Sylvia Mirella Astete Benavides
President of the Superior Court of Ucayali
Fax: +511 64 75 5634National Police Commissioner Major Roberto Padilla Miovich
Chief of the National Police – Pucallpa
Fax care of the Ucayali Superior Court: +511 64 75 5634Dr. Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Lima, Peru
Fax: +511 426 6657
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
