Dr. Miguel Aljovín
Fiscal de la Nación
Fiscalia de la Nación
Av. Abanacay, 5 cuadre s/n
Lima 1, Peru

Sr. Fiscal de la Nación:

I wish to express my concern regarding the safety of Heriberto Benitez Rivas, a defense lawyer currently representing Leonor La Rosa Bustamente, an army intelligence agent allegedly tortured by members of the Servicio de Inteligencia (SIE).

On 22 March 1997 Heriberto Benitez Rivas received a death threat via an anonymous telephone call at his home in Lima. Two days later he reported this threat to the Ombudsman, Defensor del Pueblo. On 17 April he mentioned on television that he was being denied access to his client by the military justice system.

I understand that Heriberto Benitez Rivas is not the only person in Peru to have received death threats in recent months. The human rights organization, Amnesty International, has received numerous reports of incidents where people thought to be critical of the government have been targeted because of their opinions. I am concerned that Heriberto Benitez Rivas and his family -- his wife, Ana María Montejo Soto, and their 4-year-old son, Eric Benitez Montejo -- may be at risk because he is representing an army intelligence agent who has made accusations of torture against the SIE.

Dr. Aljovín, surely you know what history has clearly shown -- that human rights violations will continue to occur as long as they go unpunished. Therefore, I urge you as the Attorney General of your country to call for a prompt and effective investigation into the death threat made against the life of Heriberto Benitez Rivas. In addition, I urge that the findings from such an investigation be made public and those responsible brought to justice. I also ask that all necessary measures be taken to guarantee the safety of this man and his family.

Please do all within your power to bring an end to the cycle of human rights abuse that has plagued Peru for so long.

Respectfully yours,