(IPYS/IFEX) – According to an 8 September 1998 report by IPYS, that same day Peru’s Supreme Court annulled the 23 January 1998 verdict by a chamber of the Puno Superior Court which absolved six army officers and one civilian tried for the 17 October 1996 bombing of Radio Samoa and the Puno affiliate of Channel […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – According to an 8 September 1998 report by IPYS, that same
day Peru’s Supreme Court annulled the 23 January 1998 verdict by a chamber
of the Puno Superior Court which absolved six army officers and one
civilian tried for the 17 October 1996 bombing of Radio Samoa and the Puno
affiliate of Channel 13-Global Television. The seven had been acquitted of
terrorism charges, undisputed damages, illegal possession of arms and
supplying explosives. In its controversial decision, the Superior Court had
argued that offenses laid out in the charges could only, in the criminal
court sphere, be committed against the state — and not against private
property, as was the case in the dynamiting of the station.
**Updates IFEX alerts of 27 January 1998; 17 October and 7 April 1997; and
24 October 1996**
In its September decision, the Supreme Court rejected the Superior Court’s
argument, pointing out that, even though the offence of terrorism does
fundamentally affect the state, it can also harm individuals who suffer the
offence and its consequences. As such, the Supreme Court allowed 30 days
for further investigations and ordered a new trial of the accused, who are
all currently free.
IPYS says it is important to note that this case was one of those raised
with President Alberto Fujimori during a June meeting with a delegation of
international press freedom organizations invited by IPYS. In that meeting,
Fujimori said he was not familiar with the Puno Superior Court decision; he
said he would look into the case and questioned the verdict.
Several observers have welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision, while
expressing concern at the likely difficulties of finding and detaining the
accused anew.
