(IPYS/IFEX) – Defence Minister Aurelio Loret de Mola and the Peruvian army’s commander-in-chief, General Roberto Chiabra León, denied the existence of a plan by the army’s Intelligence Service (Servicio de Inteligencia del Ejército, SIE) to spy on Frecuencia Latina Canal 2’s owner and reporters. On the 21 October 2003 edition of the television station’s “En […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – Defence Minister Aurelio Loret de Mola and the Peruvian army’s commander-in-chief, General Roberto Chiabra León, denied the existence of a plan by the army’s Intelligence Service (Servicio de Inteligencia del Ejército, SIE) to spy on Frecuencia Latina Canal 2’s owner and reporters. On the 21 October 2003 edition of the television station’s “En la boca del lobo” programme, journalist César Hildebrandt reported on the existence of a surveillance plan and presented as evidence a document allegedly produced by the SIE.
Minister Loret de Mola and General Chiabra León said the document presented by Hildebrandt was not authentic. The officials held a meeting with station owner Baruch Ivcher, during which they were shown the document in question. They subsequently called a press conference to announce that the document was false.
During the press conference, the officials presented three original SIE documents and demonstrated differences between those texts and the document Hildebrandt had presented. They noted approximately 20 details that they claimed proved the document was false.
Both Loret de Mola and Chiabra León stressed their utmost respect for freedom of expression as a fundamental pillar of democracy.
In a press release signed by Ivcher, which was read on the 22 October edition of “En la boca del lobo”, Frecuencia Latina announced that its investigative team would continue to research the matter to determine the authenticity of the document. They maintained that the investigative team had verified the information contained in the document.
Hildebrandt explained that he had received the information a few hours before his programme was to go on the air. He had been called into Ivcher’s officer, where the station’s head of security handed him the document. “He told me that the army had reacted to a photograph showing a high-ranking military official dressed in a wig and skirt, together with other military personnel, which had previously been revealed on the programme”, Hildebrandt said.
Hildebrandt ended by saying, “If the document is false, we will have to recognise that, and if it is authentic, some people will have to realise that plans like this are being made behind their backs.”
