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International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
________________________________________________________________
Date: 2 May 1994

PERU: Journalist Cesar Fortunato FLORES GONZALES detained

Originator: Federacion Internacional de Periodistas (OFIP, Lima)


Journalist Cesar Fortunato Flores Gonzales of "Radio Antena Uno"
of Lima was detained on 30 April 1994 in the city of Huanta in
the province of Ayacucho by soldiers stationed in the area.

Cesar Fortunato Flores had lodged a formal complaint with the
public prosecutor on 29 April against the military officer Elvis
Abad Morales of the Castro Pampa military base in Huanta,
accusing him of depriving him of his personal freedom, abuse of
authority, and restricting freedom of information.

Cesar Fortunato Flores had reportedly been threatened with death
by Elvis Abad Morales before his detention by this same officer.
He is reportedly still in detention in the Castro Pampa military
base.

Abad Morales is the same official who is alleged to have
assaulted journalist Saul Montero Villanueva in an attempt to
detain him on 25 April (see IFEX Clearing House alert dated 26
April).



International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
________________________________________________________________
UPDate: 2 May 1994

PERU: More information on case of journalist Cesar FLORES
GONZALES

Originator: Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS, Lima)

Journalist Cesar Flores Gonzales of the Lima radio station
"Antena Uno", currently in detention, was detained in broad
daylight when he left the Educational Services building in the
city of Huanta on 30 April. Witnesses saw an army jeep block his
path and four soldiers get out and beat him before driving way
with him. The witnesses also claim to have recognised one of the
soldiers as Sergeant Elvis Abad.

Friends and family members tried to locate Cesar Flores Gonzales
into the night, but were unable to determine his whereabouts.
officials at the Huanta military base, where he was suspected to
have been taken, denied that he or Sergeant Elvis Abad were
there.

According to Cesar Flores Gonzales' family, Sergeant Abad had
previously assaulted and threatened the journalist with death if
he continued to allege wrongdoing on the part of the local
military authorities.

In a statement prepared one hour before he was detained on 30
April Cesar Flores Gonzales appealed to his colleagues in the
area to make known to the national and international community
that Sergeant Abad wanted to assassinate him, as well as two
other journalists in the area, Saul Montero and Percy Valladares.
These latter two journalists have fled Huanta out of fear of
further reprisals (see IFEX alerts dated 26 and 29 April 1994
regarding the latter case).

This morning, 2 May, military officials told Cesar Flores
Gonzales' relatives that he was being held at their base because
he was being forced to complete his obligatory military service.
They indicated that they had already cut his hair. Family members
indicate however that this claim lacks credibility because Cesar
Flores Gonzales, 24 years old, already has received his military
papers.


International Freedom of Expression eXchange Clearing House
________________________________________________________________
UPDate: 3 May 1994

PERU: Cesar FLORES GONZALES remains in arbitrary detention; fear
of ill-treatment

Originator: Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS, Lima)

Journalist Cesar Flores Gonzales, detained on 30 April 1994 by a
military unit in Huanta, remains in detention at the regional
military base. Reports indicate that the only person who has been
able to visit him there was his mother, on 1 May. According to
her Cesar Flores Gonzales had been mistreated and beaten in
custody.

Military authorities have indicated that they have not "detained"
Cesar Flores Gonzales" but rather "recruited" ("levado") to serve
his obligatory military service. According to his employer,
"Radio Antena Uno", this is impossible because he already has his
military papers, issued only on the completion of military
service or in the case of exemption from service for medical
reasons. Without this document no Peruvian male over 18 can vote
or obtain any official document.

The Peruvian Military High Command has not replied to a letter
sent 2 May by "Radio Antenna Uno" concerning the case. The
Peruvian Journalists' Association has offered to send a
representative to the region today to try to negotiate Cesar
Flores Gonzales' release.


RECOMMENDED ACTION:
Please write Peruvian authorities protesting the arbitrary
detention of journalist Cesar Flores Gonzales; asking for an
investigation into reports that he has been mistreated; asking
for guarantees of his physical safety; and calling for his
immediate and unconditional release.

APPEALS TO:
Presidente Alberto Fujimori
Palacio de Gobierno
Plaza de Armas
Lima 1, Peru
Telegrams: Presidente Fujimori, Lima, Peru
Telex:      20167 PE PALACIO
Fax:        5114-337020
                -326535
                -336464

Attorney General:

Sra Blanca Nelida Colan
Fiscalia de la Nacion
Edificio Torre de Lima, 7 piso
Centro Civico, Lima Peru
Fax: 51 14 332 773


Joint Chiefs of Staff of the Armed Forces:

Comando Conjunto de las Fuerzas Armadas
General Nicolas de Bari Hermoza
Fax: 51 14 334679
Phone: 51 14 336886

COPIES TO:
Radio Antena Uno
Tel/fax: 51 14 706 710

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad (IPYS)
Juan de Aliaga 452
Magdalena del Mar
Lima 17 Peru
Fax: 5114 623 624


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* IFEX CLEARING HOUSE                                 *
* 490 Adelaide St. W. #205 Toronto ONT M5V 1T2 CANADA *
* tel: 416-867-1638 fax: 416-867-1034                 *
* e-mail: ifex@web.apc.org                            *
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