(IPYS/IFEX) – On 20 September 1999, Catholic Priest Pedro Anccori, of the San Juan Bautista parish which owns Radio La Voz de Allinccapac, in the Macusani district, was summoned by the chief of police for Carabaya province, department of Puno, that oversees the district’s affairs. Anccori was asked to present “the radio station’s documentation,” after […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 20 September 1999, Catholic Priest Pedro Anccori, of the
San Juan Bautista parish which owns Radio La Voz de Allinccapac, in the
Macusani district, was summoned by the chief of police for Carabaya
province, department of Puno, that oversees the district’s affairs. Anccori
was asked to present “the radio station’s documentation,” after Radio La Voz
denounced the assassination of a youth by officers of the Peruvian National
Police (PNP).
On 20 September, at approximately 10:00 a.m. (local time), the following
people arrived at the radio station’s offices to demand the presentation of
the station’s licences and other relevant documents: Attorney Ondina Román
Ortiz; Police Major René Cabrera Medina; the governor of Macusani, Mariano
Álvarez Cahua; and two police officers.
Anccori responded to the citation in a 22 September official letter to
Lieutenant Juan Chávez, Carabaya commissioner, informing him that the
station’s documentation was in order. This could be verified by examining
the Ministry of Transport and Communications’ files, Anccori said, further
stating that he would only submit the requested documentation if he received
an official subpoena from a judge.
The priest further explained that the station is recognised as a legal
entity, under the auspices of the Catholic Church. As such, the
presentation of the station’s documentation would have to be approved by
Bishop Juan Godayol Colom, highest authority of the Ayaviri diocesis, which
oversees the San Juan Bautista parish. Anccori added that he was not
planning to present the commissioner’s request to the bishop, unless he was
given a justification of why these documents were required.
In his letter, the priest expressed his wonderment as to why La Voz del
Allinccapac was the only radio station in the Carabaya province ordered to
show its documentation to the police. Finally, Anccori stated that if
Lieutenant Chávez could not justify his request, he was abusing the power of
his office. If this was the case, Anccori said, the station’s managers would
take this matter to the legal authorities and, with the assistance of
institutions that support press freedom, alert national and international
organisations of the incident.
In a press release, the San Juan Bautista parish described the police order
as an attack on press freedom and an intimidation tactic, as a result of the
broadcast of reports implicating the police department in an assassination.
The parish also criticised Attorney Román Ortiz for not having played a
stronger role in his investigation of the case.
Background Information
On 30 August, during a celebration held by the Macusani PNP in honour of
Santa Rosa de Lima, the PNP’s patron saint, technician Hugo Quispe and
lieutenant Jorge Silva severely beat the cook, eighteen-year old Moisés
Pacco Mayhua, despite the attempts of his uncle, Ricardo Quispe Calvanti, to
defend him. On 1 September, Pacco passed away in a local hospital, after
having been detained at the police station on the previous evening, during
which time he had complained of strong pains.
Radio Allincapac journalists reported on the crime, as did stations Radio
Onda Azul de Puno and Radio Programas del Peru. One of the Allincapac
reporters is a correspondent for these stations. The victim’s father, Juan
Pacco Quispe, filed a complaint with the Carabaya Provincial Attorney’s
office against the police officers, accusing them of torture and inflicting
serious injuries, resulting in the death of the victim. He is represented by
the Solidarity Vicary, of the Ayaviri, Puno catholic diocesis.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
Appeals To
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori
President of the Republic
Fax: +51 1 427 6722 / 426 6535Martha Hildebrandt Pérez
President of Congress
Fax: +51 1 426 8290Edgardo Mosqueira Medina
Minister of the Presidency
Fax: +51 1 222 3678César Saucedo Sánchez
Minister of the Interior
Fax: +51 1 224 2405Lieutenant General Fernando Dianderas Otonne
General Director of the Peruvian National Police
Fax: +51 1 225 1775Miguel Aljovín Swayne
Attorney General
Fax: +51 1 426 2474Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax: +51 1 426 6657
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
