(IPYS/IFEX) – On 3 August and 29 July 1999, new editions of “Repudio”, a publication essentially dedicated to insulting and defaming the owner of the opposition newspaper “La República” and congressional representative Gustavo Mohme Llona, were released. Furthermore, “Repudio” attacked other journalists at the newspaper, particularly investigative journalists Edmundo Cruz and Ángel Páez. **Updates IFEX […]
(IPYS/IFEX) – On 3 August and 29 July 1999, new editions of “Repudio”, a
publication essentially dedicated to insulting and defaming the owner of the
opposition newspaper “La República” and congressional representative Gustavo
Mohme Llona, were released. Furthermore, “Repudio” attacked other
journalists at the newspaper, particularly investigative journalists Edmundo
Cruz and Ángel Páez.
**Updates IFEX alert of 28 July 1999**
“Repudio” denigrates Mohme Llona’s political trajectory, presenting him as
disloyal, self serving, weak and a failure. The publication also links him
to leftist extremists and the dictatorship of General Luis Velasco Alvarado,
during which period the press was repressed. In this way, “Repudio” destroys
the credibility of his discourse in favor of democracy and free expression.
The satirical magazine, first distributed on 26 July, accused Mohme Llona of
dishonesty and attempts to show his “true face for the public’s opinion.”
“Our only desire is to present the farce that is ‘La Republica'”, proclaimed
an article in the 29 July issue signed by the paper’s owner,
Arturo Cáceres.
According to “Repudio”, Mohme Llona’s intention is to “destabilise the
country” through his newspaper reporting. He has reported on presumed
illicit actions on behalf of the government and the armed forces, and a
growing movement to reject governmental activities, exhibited by recent
declarations by business and national industry representatives and a protest
movement promoted by “La Republica”, named the march of the “The Four
Friends.”
“Repudio” charges that Mohme Llona falsified documents, affirming that the
newspaper supports its arguments with these fake documents. In its first two
issues, “Repudio” refers to a supposed fax that mentioned a high level
meeting of the military to discuss the press’ political position and its
docility. The satirical magazine tries to prove that Mohme Llona is
committing fraud by depicting a public declaration by Peru’s President
Alberto Fujimori, stating that the above mentioned fax is false.
According to the pamphlet, Paéz and Cruz were ordered by Mohme Llona to fake
the existence of plans against independent journalism in Peru and to falsify
probationary documents, ostensibly to damage Peru’s international
reputation.
Because of their reports regarding irregular arms acquisitions by the
Peruvian military during their war with Equador in 1995, “Repudio” accuses
the above mentioned investigative journalists of being traitors to the
county, “yellow feathers” and “vulgar reptiles.” Cáceres defines Cruz as a
“notable communist who is trying to discredit the Armed Forces, the
country’s protection in the face of aggression.”
In this way, the director of the pamphlet asserts that Mohme Llona hates the
military. The title of the last issue of “Repudio”: “Communist Mohme Llona
against the heroes of Cenepa”, is a reference to this pejorative image of
the congressman. “The heroes of Cenepa” are the soldiers who fought against
the Ecuadorian Army in 1995.
With this headline, the satirical publication alludes to a critique
formulated by “La República” about the participation of soldiers disabled
during the war with Ecuador in the military parade during patriotic
celebrations, and the anti-subversive struggle, which the periodical views
as political manipulation.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to authorities:
identify and punish the authors
Appeals To
Alberto Fujimori Fujimori
President of the Republic
Fax: +51 1 427 6722 / 426 6535Martha Hildebrandt Pérez
President of the Congress of the Republic
Fax: +51 1 426 8290José Villanueva Ruesta
General Commander of the Armed Forces
Fax: +51 1 436 1423 / 435 4623Miguel Aljovín Swayne
Attorney General
Fax: +51 1 426 2474Jorge Santistevan de Noriega
Ombudsman
Fax: +51 1 426 6657
Please copy appeals to the source if possible.
