(IPYS/IFEX) – Supporters of the Loreto Patriotic Front (Frente Patriotico de Loreto, FPL) have attacked the studios of La Karibeña radio station, in Iquitos, department of Loreto. During two separate incidents, which occurred within one week of each other, the studio suffered damages and one of the radio station’s employees received death threats. According to […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Supporters of the Loreto Patriotic Front (Frente Patriotico de Loreto, FPL) have attacked the studios of La Karibeña radio station, in Iquitos, department of Loreto. During two separate incidents, which occurred within one week of each other, the studio suffered damages and one of the radio station’s employees received death threats.
According to Mary Pérez Cora, IPYS’ correspondent in Iquitos, the first incident occurred during the night of 25 February 2001. FPL members, who call themselves “disciplinarians”, went to La Karibeña’s studios. Their intent was to have electoral materials advertising Lourdes Flores Nano’s candidacy removed from the building’s facade. Flores Nano is the presidential candidate for the National Unity Movement (Movimiento Unidad Nacional) party. After those in charge refused to remove the advertisements, the FPL members threw rocks, breaking the studio’s windows. They also threatened to return and burn down the radio station if the electoral propaganda was not taken down.
During the second incident, which occurred on 28 February at 10:20 p.m. (local time), another group of FPL members arrived at the station, again looking to remove all materials advertising Flores Nano’s candidature. This time the attack resulted in greater damages. The assailants destroyed the building’s windows, painted its walls black and threw rocks and bottles at the broadcasting booth. They tried to enter the studios but did not manage to get past the front metal door, which is relatively sturdy. Teddy Morales Elescano, the operator on duty at the time, informed IPYS that he managed to escape unhurt as he was not in the studios at the time of the attack. Morales Elescano added that he had received death threats and that Walter Alva had been identified as one of the individuals leading the attack. Alva is a well known FPL leader.
It should be noted that the building which houses La Karibeña radio station is owned by Rocío Goncálvez, who is running for Congress for the National Unity (Unidad Nacional) party in the department of Loreto.
Américo Menéndez, FPL president, told IPYS that what had occurred “is an isolated incident” and that “it should not be held against the whole organisation.” He added that his presidency would not permit such an incident to reoccur and he promised to initiate an investigation into the matter.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the FPL president:
– calling for an immediate end to the hostilities and attacks against journalists
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Américo Menéndez
President in charge of the Loreto Patriotic Front
(As there is no telephone or fax number, send appeals via the Prefecture
Fax: +51 94 23 1072)
Send appeals to authorities:
– asking them to provide guarantees for the safety of the targeted journalists and media
– calling for a proper investigation so that those responsible are identified and punished
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
General PNP Antonio Ketín Vidal
Minister of the Interior
Fax: +51 1 224 2405
Antonio Padilla Yepes
Loreto Region Prefect
Fax: +51 94 23 1072
General PNP Aurelio Herrera Rubianes
Chief of the National Police’s Fifth Military Region – Loreto division
Fax: +51 94 23 1852
Dr. Walter Albán Peralta
Ombudsman (i)
Fax: +51 1 426 6657
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
