(IPYS/IFEX) According to a 22 October 1998 report by IPYS, the mayor of Satipo province, Arturo Durand Pañez, has made a clear attempt to intimidate journalists who criticise his administration and its frequent irregularities. On 21 October, Durand Pañez announced, through the municipalityâs legal counsel, Raúl Robles, that he would initiate legal action against journalist […]
(IPYS/IFEX) According to a 22 October 1998 report by IPYS, the mayor of
Satipo province, Arturo Durand Pañez, has made a clear attempt to intimidate
journalists who criticise his administration and its frequent
irregularities. On 21 October, Durand Pañez announced, through the
municipalityâs legal counsel, Raúl Robles, that he would initiate legal
action against journalist Santos Rojas, director and host of the radio news
programme “Press Freedom” (“Libertad de Prensa”) which airs on the local
radio station Radio Studio 99. Rojas is also president of the Satipo local
of the National Journalistsâ Association (Asociacion Nacional de
Periodistas.) Robles said charges would also include other journalists, but
he did not give any names.
Over the last two years, Durand Pañez has maintained his confrontation with
the local press. On 13 October, on Radio Nueva Señal, a radio station he
owns, he told Santos Rojas in a threatening tone that he should “pack his
bags and go back from where he came, because there is no room in Satipo.”
Santos Rojas is from Tingo MarÃa, but he has been working in Satipo for
three years.
Background Information
This is not the first time the mayor has attempted to intimidate Santos
Rojas and other journalists who are critical of his administration and who
report on irregularities Durand Pañez is said to be involved in, such as
abuse of power, irregular purchases of various equipment and lack of
accountability.
In November 1997, municipal police officers arbitrarily tried to occupy and
close the radio station Sideral and silence its owner, journalist Jorge Luis
Romero Mendoza.
Also, this year, journalist Mary Santiago, director of the radio news
programme “El Regional” and a correspondent of the regional daily newspaper
“Primicia”, and Santos Rojas publicly reported they were being threatened
for their critical reporting on the provincial mayor. Santos Rojas even said
he had been pushed by the mayor, who denied it.
The mayor’s attitude against the press intensified during the campaign
culminating in 11 October municipal elections. The mayor was plagued by
reports of his alleged use of funds, vehicles, equipment, infrastructure and
staff for his reelection campaign. Durand Pañez ran for the Satipo al Futuro
party and was reelected by a slim margin (0.76 percent of the vote) over the
second place Vamos Vecino party candidate. Recently the situation worsened
with allegations from Vamos Vecino and the Somos Peru party that Satipo al
Futuro benefited from irregularities and electoral fraud. IPYS says
journalists have simply been reporting these allegations made by others.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to the provincial mayor:
ensure
the case proceeds with fair, due process
Appeals To
Arturo Durand Pañez
Mayor
Satipo province, Peru
Tel/fax: +511 6 4 545002
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
