Cases: Bolivia, Cases investigated by IAPA
Date : 2008-03-29
Place and date of birth: La Paz, July 9, 1976 Age at death: 31. Marital status: Single Occupation: He was a fifth-year student of communication sciences and while he ran the radio station he had been hired as a "university student teacher."
Place and date of birth: La Paz, July 9, 1976 Age at death: 31. Marital status: Single Occupation: He was a fifth-year student of communication sciences and while he ran the radio station he had been hired as a "university student teacher."
History
Carlos Quispe Quispe, Bolivia
Quispe died from a beating by unknown thugs who stormed the studios of Radio Pucarani, 50 kilometers from La Paz, Bolivia. While delinquents destroyed the radio station's equipment (sound mixer, the broadcast computer and the sound room), Carlos Quispe was beaten and hammered with poles and whips. The university Communications major, a senior in the radio's internship program, died two days later.
It all started in the street as a protest against the mayor, Alejandro Mamani. About 300 people had gathered near Town Hall. Amidst shouts and chants the mood became heated, angry...anonymous voices shouted their fury in a rising crescendo...until the frenzied group invaded the building. The radio station was on the ground floor.
Chaos reigned as the horde entered -- destroying everything before them. One of the leaders of the Pucarani Security Committee spotted the young reporter and signaled the go-ahead: "this is the mouthpiece!" he accused loudly. And they all jumped him. Afterwards Julio Quisberth denied he was involved, ignored the subpoena from El Alto's criminal court that accused him of being the ringleader, and disappeared from the community. Other defendants (including some council members) were accused of causing the damage, but not for the death of Quispe, and they confessed to "fearing for their lives."
The homicide investigation was described as a "delayed procedure" due to "jurisdictional conflicts" -- the crime occurred in Pucarani, the court of El Alto took over, and then transferred it to Achachi. Five prosecutors have been in charge of the investigation, but the crime remains unpunished.
The IAPA, in addition to holding a timely investigation of the facts through its Rapid Response Unit, presented the case before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) in the hope that a decision by the organization would influence the government of Bolivia to see that justice is done.
Case Summary
Date of death: March 29, 2008 How and where he died: He was beaten with sticks and whips at the place of his work, radio station FM 90.7 Radio Municipal de Pucarani, 30 miles from La Paz, as his assailants destroyed the station's equipment, among it the sound mixer, broadcast control computer and sound booth. He died two days later from his wounds. Possible motives: A demonstration by 300 people organized by the Vigilance Committee of that municipality against the mayor, Alejandro Mamani Quispe, led to the storming of the building and destruction of the radio station, which is located on the first floor of the municipal building, and other offices. Quispe Quispe was identified by the chairman of the Vigilance Committee, Julio Quisberth Quispe, who shouted "This is the mouth that talks!" Alleged perpetrators/persons implicated: Initially Quispe Quisbert, the main accused, ignored a call to present himself to testify before the El Alto 1st Criminal Court and disappeared from the community where he lives, Chijasivi. The others accused of smashing things in general, not of the attack upon Quispe Quispe in particular, are Efraín Ticonipa, a leader of the Vigilance Committee, and council members Edwin Huambo Espinoza, Nicolaza Cruz, Rufina Serna and Basilio Poma. Irregularities in the proceedings: In six months the case was handled successively by five public prosecutors. The latest one, located in La Paz, asked to be taken off the case "for territorial reasons." The family lawyer meanwhile finds himself facing the dilemma of slow proceedings in which he has no support in seeking to carry out his work.
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