Miami (April 28) - The Inter American Press Association demands transparent elections in Peru, and along with other international organizations, calls for the "guarantee of a completely free press so that the electorate can make its decision with all the necessary information."
During a meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, the Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations noted with concern the Peruvian electoral process in which candidates Alberto Fujimori and Alejandro Toledo seek to become this nations president.
The Coordinating Committee is comprised of the following institutions: Committee to Protect Journalists, Commonwealth Press Union, Inter American Press Association, International Association of Broadcasting, International Federation of the Periodical Press, International Press Institute, North American Broadcasters Association, World Association of Newspapers, and the World Press Freedom Committee.
The following is the text of the official resolution:
The Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations, during its meeting on Friday, April 28, 2000 in Boston, considered the situation in Peru, where in the coming weeks there will be the second round of presidential elections. The Committee noted with concern irregularities found during the first round of elections, including attacks on individual journalists and media organizations.
The Committee strongly believes that without freedom of the press, there cannot be free elections in a democracy.
The Committee demanded that the Peruvian government provide every guarantee to assure clean and transparent elections, and in particular, that there exists the guarantee of a completely free press so that the electorate can make its decision with all the necessary information.
FUENTE: nota.texto7
