UA 389/90 - Peru: "disappearance": Emilio Lobaton Palomino, Timoteo Pinco Telio, Dina Tello Melgar, Bernardino Melgar Quispe, Delia Melgar Quispe, Irene Melgar Quispe, Julia Mendoza Gomez, Evaristo Huamancusi Barboza, Victoria Espinoza Cconislla
EXTERNAL (for general distribution) AI Index: AMR 46/59/90
Distr: UA/SC
UA 389/90 "Disappearance" 26 September 1990
PERU: Emilio LOBATON PALOMINO, aged 51
Timoteo PINCO TELIO, aged 56
Dina TELLO MELGAR, aged 13
Bernardino MELGAR QUISPE, aged 38
Delia MELGAR QUISPE, aged 15
Irene MELGAR QUISPE, aged 19
Julia MENDOZA GOMEZ, aged 21
Evaristo HUAMANCUSI BARBOZA, aged 48
Victoria ESPINOZA CCONISLLA, aged 20
Amnesty International is concerned about the reported "disappearance" after
detention of the above-mentioned peasants from the community of Pongullo,
district of San Pedro de Cachi, Huamanga province, Ayacucho department.
According to reports, they were all detained by members of the Committee
of Civil Defence (a type of defence patrol administered and controlled by the
military zone commander) and soldiers from the Castropampa military base on
22 September 1990. They are believed to be held at the Castropampa base in
Huanta province, Ayacucho.
When relatives went to the military base, the authorities denied any
knowledge of the detentions. A denunciation has been made to the Provincial
Prosecutor of Ayacucho.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
For the last eight years Amnesty International has received numerous reports
of "disappearances" from Peru. Most of them have occurred in rural areas and
have been preceded by detentions carried out by uniformed members of the security
forces, who refuse to acknowledge the detentions. Many of those detained by
the armed forces "disappear" indefinitely; others are released after days or
weeks in secret custody, during which time they may be subjected to torture.
Sometimes their detention is acknowledged, after prolonged secret detention
and interrogation. In these cases detentions are only acknowledged to have
occurred as of the date they are transferred from military to police custody,
when public prosecutors are informed of them. The armed forces as a rule never
acknowledge having held prisoners prior to their transfer to the police. This
is a major contributing factor to the continuing practice of "disappearance".
Human rights violations take place in a context of increasingly violent
activities by armed opposition groups, especially "Sendero Luminoso", which
has claimed responsibility for hundreds of execution-style killings of
government officials, leaders of left-wing political parties and members of
peasant communities believed to have cooperated with the armed forces.
2
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Telexes/telegrams/faxes/airmail letters:
- expressing concern about the reported "disappearance" after detention of
Emilio Lobaton Palomino, Timoteo Pinco Telio, Dina Tello Melgar, Bernardino
Melgar Quispe, Delia Melgar Quispe, Irene Melgar Quispe, Julia Mendoza Gomez,
Evaristo Huamancusi Barboza and Victoria Espinoza Cconislla.
- urging that their whereabouts and legal situation be immediately clarified;
- asking that while in detention they be humanely treated and given access
to lawyers and relatives.
APPEALS TO:
Presidente Alberto Fujimori
Presidente de la República Telegrams: Presidente Fujimori
Palacio de Gobierno Lima, Peru
Plaza de Armas Telexes: 20167 PE PALACIO
Lima 1, Perú 20331 PE SEC PRE
Faxes: +51 14 33 1945
General Jorge Torres Aciego
Ministro de Defensa Telegrams: Ministro Defensa Torres
Ministerio de Defensa Lima, Peru
Avenida Boulevard s/n Telexes: 25483 PE COMGREGJ
Monterrico Faxes: + 51 14 35 9997
Lima 33,Perú
Jefe Político-Militar de Ayacucho Telegrams: Jefe Político-
General Petronio Fernandez Dávila Militar Fernandez,
Cuartel Militar BIM 51 "Los Cabitos" Ayacucho, Peru
Huamanga Telexes: 64734 PI 32
Ayacucho, Perú 64735 PE PIP
COPIES TO:
Señores
COMISEDH
Apartado Postal 11-0247
Lima 11, Perú
and to diplomatic representatives of Perú in your country.
PLEASE SEND APPEALS IMMEDIATELY. Check with the International Secretariat,
or your section office, if sending appeals after
7 November 1990.