IV
106TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. RES. 57
Expressing concern over interference with freedom of the press and the
independence of judicial and electoral institutions in Peru.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 11, 1999
Mr. GILMAN (for himself and Mr. GEJDENSON) submitted the following
resolution; which was referred to the Committee on International Relations
RESOLUTION
Expressing concern over interference with freedom of the
press and the independence of judicial and electoral insti-
tutions in Peru.
Whereas the independence of Peru’s legislative and judicial
branches have been brought into question by the May 29,
1997, dismissal of 3 Constitutional Tribunal magistrates;
Whereas actions related to efforts to authorize President
Alberto Fujimori to seek a third term in office have
raised questions about the independence of the National
Council of Magistrates and the National Election Board
in Peru;
Whereas the Department of State’s Peru Country Report on
Human Rights Practices for 1997, dated January 30,
1998, found that ‘‘[i]ncidents of harassment of media
representatives increased to such an extent as to create
•HRES 57 IH
the perception of an organized campaign of intimidation
on the part of the Government, specifically, on the part
of the armed forces and intelligence services’’;
Whereas the Department of State’s Peru Country Report on
Human Rights Practices for 1997 states that Channel 2
television station reporters in Peru ‘‘revealed torture by
Army Intelligence Service officers; the systematic wire-
tapping of journalists, government officials, and opposi-
tion politicians; and the income tax return of Vladimiro
Montesinos, President Fujimori’s senior intelligence ad-
viser’’;
Whereas on July 13, 1997, Peruvian immigration authorities
revoked the Peruvian citizenship of the Israeli-born owner
of the Channel 2 television station, Baruch Ivcher;
Whereas Baruch Ivcher subsequently lost control of Channel
2 under an interpretation of a law that provides that a
foreigner may not own a media organization, leading the
State Department’s Report on Human Rights Practices
to conclude that ‘‘the Government’s action in this case
was widely interpreted as an attempt to prevent the sta-
tion from broadcasting any more negative stories about
the regime’’;
Whereas the Peruvian Government empaneled a special court
to prosecute Baruch Ivcher for alleged tax offenses em-
ploying judicial procedures described by Peruvian legal
experts as completely irregular and as constituting politi-
cal interference in the independence of the judiciary; and
Whereas 
the 
Peruvian 
Government 
has 
issued 
an
INTERPOL warrant for Baruch Ivcher’s arrest and has
initiated investigations aimed at prosecuting members of
Baruch Ivcher’s immediate family: Now, therefore, be it
•HRES 57 IH
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Rep-
resentatives that—
(1) the erosion of the independence of judicial
and electoral branches of the Government of Peru
and the blatant intimidation of journalists in Peru
are matters for concern by the United States; and
(2) the United States should seek an independ-
ent investigation and report on threats to press free-
dom and judicial independence in Peru by the Inter-
American Commission on Human Rights of the Or-
ganization of American States.
Æ