DATE=8/5/97
TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT
NUMBER=2-218158
TITLE=PERU WIRETAP (L ONLY)
BYLINE=GEORGE MEEK
DATELINE=RIO DE JANEIRO
CONTENT=
VOICED AT: 

INTRO:  FORMER UNITED NATIONS SECRETARY GENERAL JAVIER PEREZ DE 
CUELLAR, A POLITICAL LEADER IN HIS NATIVE PERU, HAS FORMALLY 
CHARGED THE PERUVIAN ARMY'S NATIONAL INTELLIGENCE SERVICE WITH 
EAVESDROPPING ON HIS TELEPHONE CONVERSATIONS.  WE HAVE DETAILS 
FROM CORRESPONDENT GEORGE MEEK IN OUR SOUTH AMERICA BUREAU.

TEXT:  MR. PEREZ DE CUELLAR WENT TO THE NATIONAL PROSECUTOR'S 
OFFICE TO DELIVER HIS COMPLAINT, BACKED UP WITH DOCUMENTS AND 
AUDIO TAPES. 

HE ALLEGES THAT THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE WIRETAPPED HIS PHONE FOR
SEVERAL MONTHS IN 1994 AND 1995, WHEN HE RAN UNSUCCESSFULLY FOR 
PRESIDENT AGAINST ALBERTO FUJIMORI.  

THE FORMER U-N LEADER, WHO HEADS THE LARGEST OPPOSITION GROUP IN 
PERU'S CONGRESS, SAYS HE WILL ALSO TAKE THE WIRETAPPING CASE TO 
THE INTER-AMERICAN HUMAN RIGHTS COURT. 

A LIMA TELEVISION CHANNEL, LATIN FREQUENCY, REPORTED LAST MONTH 
THAT THE INTELLIGENCE SERVICE HAS USED SOPHISTICATED LISTENING 
DEVICES AT ARMY AND AIR FORCE INSTALLATIONS TO SPY ON 197 PEOPLE,
INCLUDING LAWMAKERS, DIPLOMATS, BUSINESS EXECUTIVES, ARTISTS, AND
JOURNALISTS. 

SOME LAWMAKERS AND JOURNALISTS HAVE ALREADY FILED SUIT TO ORDER A
STOP TO THE ALLEGED EAVESDROPPING. 

JUST BEFORE MR. PEREZ DE CUELLAR PRESENTED HIS ACCUSATION, 
INTERIOR MINISTER JOSE VILLANUEVA AUTHORIZED A SPECIAL PROSECUTOR
TO INVESTIGATE THE MATTER.  THE GOVERNMENT HAS REPEATEDLY DENIED 
ANY INVOLVEMENT, AND SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS ARE POLITICALLY 
MOTIVATED. 

THE LATIN FREQUENCY TELEVISION CHANNEL HAS ALSO RUN EXPOSES OF 
GOVERNMENT TORTURE AND CORRUPTION.  THE STATION'S OWNER, A 
NATURALIZED CITIZEN OF ISRAELI ORIGIN, BARUCH IVCHER, HAD HIS 
PERUVIAN CITIZENSHIP REVOKED ON TECHNICAL GROUNDS.  THIS MAKES 
HIM UNABLE, UNDER PERUVIAN LAW, TO CONTINUE OWNING THE STATION.  
HE HAS APPEALED THE RULING.  (SIGNED)

NEB/GM/LWM

05-Aug-97 7:30 PM EDT (2330 UTC)
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Source: Voice of America
.