PERU I

PERU-I WHEREAS the government of Peru has decided to call new general elections in 2001 to reestablish full democracy WHEREAS the election observation missions of the Organization of American States, the Carter Center and the National Democratic Institute agreed that the past elections were not fair or free, under international standards, because of a combination of irregularities and the lack of transparency and electoral fairness WHEREAS among the serious electoral failings found by these international observation missions, the cases of television channels 2 and 13 are particularly important in view of better elections where press freedom prevails fully and effectively without any kind of restriction, taking into consideration that the independent journalistic positions of both stations have been seriously affected by judicial abuses that have affected the property rights of their majority stockholders WHEREAS these cases have been included on the agenda for the strengthening of democratic institutions in Peru concerning press freedom WHEREAS if there is not an adequate, prompt and comprehensive solution to the situation of these television stations in which freedom of press and information and property rights are compromised, the next elections also will not satisfy the minimum requirements of international standards WHEREAS there has been impunity favoring those responsible for common crimes against the media and journalists in order to intimidate them and restrict freedom of press and expression WHEREAS the IAPA mission in August 2000 verified these developments WHEREAS Principle 1 of the Declaration of Chapultepec states that, “no people or society can be free without freedom of expression and of the press; the exercise of this freedom is not something authorities grant, it is an inalienable right of the people,” Principle 5 states that, “prior censorship, restrictions on the circulation of the media or dissemination of their reports, forced publication of information, the imposition of obstacles to the free flow of news, and restrictions on the activities and movements of journalists directly contradict freedom of the press” THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE IAPA RESOLVES to address the OAS through its secretary general, César Gaviria, and to Eduardo Latorre, the permanent secretary of the mission in Peru for the strengthening of democratic institutions, to say that if there is not a prompt, adequate and comprehensive solution to cases threatening the press freedom and property rights of channels 2 and 13, the next elections will not be free or fair to urge the government and judiciary to bring to justice those responsible for the crimes committed against the media and journalists.