(IPYS/IFEX) – The free practice of the journalistic activity has been officially guaranteed after the President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori, promulgated Law 26937, which was approved in the legislature on 12 March 1998. **Updates IFEX alerts of 21 November 1997 and 27 and 16 February 1998** The polemic which gave rise to this law originated […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – The free practice of the journalistic activity has been
officially guaranteed after the President of Peru, Alberto Fujimori,
promulgated Law 26937, which was approved in the legislature on 12 March
1998.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 21 November 1997 and 27 and 16 February 1998**
The polemic which gave rise to this law originated from an unconstitutional
judicial decision which convicted Ruben Zurita Vilela, a journalist at a
radio station in Madre de Dios, of supposedly practicing illegally as a
journalist because he was not registered with the College of Journalists.
Following this sentence, after a request from the Peruvian Press Council,
Attorney General Jorge Santistevan formulated a bill which was immediately
picked up by the president of the Congress, Carlos Torres y Torres Lara. The
legislation was approved unanimously. It states that paragraph 4 of Article
2 of the Constitution guarantees the full extent of freedom of expression of
thought. As well, it states that the right to free expression can be
exercised freely by any person and it specifies that “membership is not
required in order to practice the profession of journalism.”
Recommended Action
Send letters to authorities:
the profession of journalism
Appeals To
His Excellency Alberto Fujimori
President of the Republic
Government Palace
Lima, Peru
Fax: +511 426 6770
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
