(IPYS/IFEX) – On 2 November 2004, journalist Raúl Vela Carhuas, of the daily “El Pregonero”, based in Huánuco, central Perú, received a threatening call on his mobile phone. The unknown caller demanded that the newspaper stop reporting on the trials of terrorists who are currently behind bars and the possibility that some of them may […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 2 November 2004, journalist Raúl Vela Carhuas, of the daily “El Pregonero”, based in Huánuco, central Perú, received a threatening call on his mobile phone. The unknown caller demanded that the newspaper stop reporting on the trials of terrorists who are currently behind bars and the possibility that some of them may be eligible for release from prison. Otherwise, Vela told IPYS, the caller warned that “the daily’s director and the whole staff” risked attack.
Immediately afterwards, Vela asked a source at the local telephone company to determine the origin of the call. The source was able to ascertain that the call was made from inside the Potracancha prison, where some of the alleged terrorists are being held.
Vela explained to IPYS that since September the paper had published a series of articles alerting local people about the possible release of individuals imprisoned for terrorism and of continuous delays in their trials.
“El Pregonero” became interested in the topic in August after members of the National Penitentiary Institute (Instituto Nacional Penitenciario, INPE) found propaganda of the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) guerrilla group in Germán Campos Mallqui’s prison cell. Campos is one of the individuals facing a prison sentence for terrorism charges. At the time, Campos sent a letter to the daily discounting INPE’s information.
Nevertheless, the daily continued to publish articles about possible upcoming releases of terrorists. Most of the prisoners have been incarcerated for 10 to 12 years and, once sentenced, could be eligible for certain benefits, including conditional release.
The journalist told IPYS that a number of human rights non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Huánuco had received threats from alleged terrorists still at large. The various groups are now trying to take joint decisions on the matter.
During the war against terrorism in Peru, which began in 1980, Huánuco was one of the most violent regions in the country.
