On 21 December 1999, the judiciary police attempted to prevent the new daily “Liberacion” from being distributed, by arguing that they had a right to seize assets used as colateral by a company that previously operated from the dailyâs premises. The daily is under the direction of journalist César Hildebrandt, and, together with the “La […]
On 21 December 1999, the judiciary police attempted to prevent the new daily “Liberacion” from being distributed, by arguing that they had a right to seize assets used as colateral by a company that previously operated from the dailyâs premises. The daily is under the direction of journalist César Hildebrandt, and, together with the “La República” newspaper, has become one of the regimeâs strongest critics.
The legal action was initiated by the Bank of Commerce. Government funds are held in the bankâs largest accounts and the bank is slated to take over the FINSUR company which has been linked to the Military Police Holdings. One of the bankâs lawyers, a secretary of the 59th Lima Civil Court, and a number of police officers arrived at the offices of Impresora Lea (Lea printing company )with two cranes and a front loading carrier. Their intent was to enter by force and seize some of the companyâs assets because of an outstanding debt owed by the propertyâs owner, businessman Abraham Hochman Bilbao, since 1995. However, although Hochman owns the building, he does not own the “Liberacion” printing presses, which were the “target of the seizure”.
Using heavy machinery, the officers of the court broke down the printing companyâs main door but were prevented from seizing any assets by Hochman and the companyâs employees. After an hour and a half of discussion between lawyers for the two sides held before the local press, the courtâs secretary, Mariela Tapia, was forced to suspend the operation.
Hildebrandt remarked that only thirty-four days after the dailyâs first appearance, a legal case against the owner of the premises “which had been dormant for three years was âresuscitatedâ and they have tried to seize a printing press that was not relevant to the case.”
According to Hilderbrandt, this action is connected to articles published in recent weeks about the million dollar accounts held by presidential advisor and chief of the National Intelligence Services (Servicio de Inteligencia Nacional, SIN) Vladimiro Montesinos. The accusations against Montesinos have sparked a public debate and have led to a number of other investigative media reports. Hildebrandt noted that “this information and our view that an uprising may even be called for, given that Fujimoriâs candidature is marked by such highly illegal activities, has caused an uproar.”
Luis Iberico, “Liberacion”âs assistant director, noted that given the governmentâs emphasis on re-election, their action was not that surprising. “Nevertheless, we are going to continue fighting for democracy and press freedom,” he stated.
The action, initiated by a bank heavily dependent on state funds, comes amidst a current round of questioning about the governmentâs control of the legal system.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– protesting the harassment of “Liberacion”
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori
President of the Republic
Fax: +51 1 427 6722 / 426 6535
Alberto Bustamante Belaunde
President of the Council of Ministers
Fax: +51 1 447 1628 / 475 0689
Edgardo Mosqueira Medina
Minister of the Presidency
Fax: +51 222 3678
Miguel AljovÃn Swayne
Attorney General
Fax: +51 1 426 2474
Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax: +51 1 426 6657
Martha Hildebrandt Pérez
President of Congress
Fax: +51 1 426 8290
VÃctor Raúl Castillo Castillo
President of the Peruvian Supreme Court
Fax: +51 1 428 0803
Dionisio Eleuteriio Castro Fierro
Judge of the 59th Lima Civil Court
Fax: +51 1 426 5010, extension 1009
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
