PERU'S POLITICAL PRISONERS
= [The following manifesto, written in the name of all the | political prisoners in Peru, has been issued by the Asociacion de ~ Centros.de la Universidad Nacional de Ingenieria (ACUNI -- Central Association of the National. University of Engineering). Many organizations and public figures are supporting it, according to the May, 25.dssue of Revolucién Peruana, from which it has been translated; by World. Outlook.
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Our. country is going through one of the most critical periods in its history. The. number of those imprisoned, detained or under prosecution,<in Lima and the interior, is above 1,000. Throughout the length and breadth of the country, more than 1, 600 men and women are being held incommunicado, under harassment, submitted to humiliating and inhuman. conditions in the prisons of Lima, Cuzco, Arequipa, Chiclayo, Piura and other departmental and provincial capitals.
--.. Phe great majority of them have not been brought to trial ~ yet, or they are awaiting questioning which is postponed in ‘order to block their early release. ;
There are hundreds of Peruvians under "provisional freedom," a precarious freedom that converts them into second-class citizens living under permanent threat of being jailed. And there are many others, hunted by the ‘police, who have been compelled to go underground.
In the countryside,. the repressive forces have tortured and shot peaceful villagers for the "crime" of sympathizing with guerrilla fighters, or because of mere suspicion, or the word of informers.
It is public” knowledge that Luis de la Puente Uceda, M&aximo Velando, Luis Zapata Bodero and other guerrilla leaders and fighters were submitted to unspeakable abuse and torture in order to wring confessions out of them. When they didn't succeed, the butchers shot them without a trial, without respecting their status as prisoners. of war, without ‘observing even the drastic repressive laws passed by the government.
We socio-political prisoners are denied the right to defend ourselves, since we are turned over to arbitrary military tribunals and have been: placed under the unconstitutional Code of Military ~ Justice making illiterate military men both our prosecutors and
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judges. This violates specific ‘articles of the tcountry' s constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of which Peru is a Signatory country.
All this is going on while the president of the republic continues to affirm that Peru is enjoying economic prosperity, democracy and respéét for human rights and freedoms. How can one speak of economic prosperity in a country suffering from a shocking rise in the death rate, the cost of living, sickness and illiteracy? Where is the respect for rights and freedoms when ‘the organizations of the people are systematically destroyed and their leaders arrested and hounded even if they go abroad? Where is the democracy when Peruvians are dailed for publicly advancing their ideas?
“We are’ living today, not ina ‘democratic but a dictatorial atmosphere , not with respect for the human person but -with shocking = violations of their most elementary rights; not with freedom but with repression and McCarthyism.
This ‘situation is systematically kept from the people by a venal press and a servile parliament. The government is in deep fear of being definitively rejected by the people and condemned by international public opinion.
In view of this situation we appeal to the intellectuals, the workers, students and peasants to mobilize together to win repeal of the unconstitutional Code of Military Justice, Law 15590 and. Supreme Decree “78 (which authorizes the prosecution of people who visit the socialist: countries ) in order to demonstrate their solidarity with the political prisoners and to win their freedom; in order to demand that the government grant a full general amnesty.
* For a_genéral amnesty.
For repeal of the Code of Militar Justice, “Law 15590 and Supreme Decree 78.
For the release of all the political prisoners.
FIR