(IPYS/IFEX) – On 26 May 2000, IPYS reported that the second vice-president of Congress, Luis Delgado Aparicio, of the Cambio 90-Nueva MayorÃa party coalition, indicated that the Office of the Attorney General would take charge of Radio 1160, as a result of the stationâs having called for a boycott of the 28 May elections. According […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 26 May 2000, IPYS reported that the second vice-president of Congress, Luis Delgado Aparicio, of the Cambio 90-Nueva MayorÃa party coalition, indicated that the Office of the Attorney General would take charge of Radio 1160, as a result of the stationâs having called for a boycott of the 28 May elections.
According to a 24 May article appearing in the newspaper “Liberacion”, Delgado Aparicio announced that the Office of the Attorney General – chaired by Prosecutor Blanca Nélida Colán -would take charge of Radio 1160 “for inciting” its listeners to “not participate” in the election of 28 May. The newspaper considered the announcement to be an open threat to press freedom.
Delagado Aparicio stated that Articles 382, 384, and 385 of the Elections Law stipulate that “anyone who by violence or threats disturbs or impedes the development of the electoral process will be sentenced to no less than three years and no more than ten years”, pointing out that he was referring to the programme Ondas de Libertad (Waves of Freedom), which is broadcast through Radio 1160.
The Ondas de Libertad programme is directed by César Hildebrandt, and has recently reappeared after going off the air when Radio 1160 was closed down in February. An arbitrary embargo on the station was executed through a legal action against the stationâs directors (see IFEX alerts of 22 and 10 February 2000).
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
– protesting against the grave threats made by the Member of Congress
– demanding that they desist from any form of judicial action directed against Radio 1160 and press freedom
Appeals To
APPEALS TO:
Ing. 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
Blanca Nélida Colán Maguiño
Attorney General
Fax: +51 1 426 2474
Luis Delgado Aparicio
Second Vice-President of Congress
Fax: +51 1 426 5053 / 426 3087
Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax: +51 1 426 6657
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
