WHEREAS the most emblematic case concerning impunity in those of the murder of journalists in Peru is that of Hugo Bustios, correspondent of the magazine Caretas, at the hands of members of the military in Huanta, Ayacucho, in 1988
WHEREAS the most emblematic case concerning impunity in those of the murder of journalists in Peru is that of Hugo Bustios, correspondent of the magazine Caretas, at the hands of members of the military in Huanta, Ayacucho, in 1988
WHEREAS the Third Superior National Public Prosecutor's Office has called for 25 year imprisonment of the current government's former Interior Minister, Daniel Urresti, as the perpetrator of the crime against life, body and health, that is the murder with great cruelty of journalist Bustios; at the time Urresti was serving as head of the Intelligence Service of the Castropampa Battalion in Huanta
WHEREAS in late September, despite the fact that the proceedings were about to end, the Executive Council of the Judicial Branch (CEPJ) decided to attend to a request to withdraw from the case for reasons of health made by Judge Marco Cerna Bazán, until a few weeks ago the presiding judge, head of discussions and in charge of coming up with the sentence in the Bustios case; as was denounced by the Human Rights Commission – COMISEDH – in charge of the legal defense by the journalist's family members, there exists great concern that the change of judge would result in the breakdown of the trial, above all considering that Judge Otto Santiago Verapinto Márquez, named by the CEPJ to replace Cerna Bazán, does not have experience in the judgment of violations of human rights and crimes against humanity in the context of violence
WHEREAS Principle 4 of the Declaration of Chapultepec establishes "Freedom of expression and of the press are severely limited by murder, terrorism, kidnapping, intimidation, the unjust imprisonment of journalists, the destruction of facilities, violence of any kind and impunity for perpetrators. Such acts must be investigated promptly and punished harshly".
THE IAPA GENERAL ASSEMBLY RESOLVES
to ask the Judicial Branch to act with due diligence and speed to punish those responsible for this abhorrent crime with an exemplary sentencing.
