2000: Yehude Simon Munaro

2000

Yehude Simon Munaro - Peru

Imprisoned

Yehude Simon Munaro, born in July 1947 in Lima, Peru, is a writer, politician and former Prime Minister of Peru He was imprisoned between 1992 and 2000 on false terrorism charges. After his release he returned to politics and became governor of the Lambayeque region in 2003. He became Prime Minister in October 2008 and remained in office until July 2009.

Munaro was active in Peru's political life throughout the 1980s, but it wasn't until 1991, when he founded the Movimiento por una Patria Libre (Movement for a Free Nation) that he became a target for the government. The movement was accused of being a branch of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA), a terrorist organisation. On 11 June 1992, Munaro was arrested together with other members of the Movement for a Free Nation and charged with acts of subversion. The evidence presented against him was altered and intentionally misunderstood. In a trial that lasted no more than five minutes, Munaro was sentenced to 20 years in prison and ordered to pay US$3,000 million to the state for collaboration with a terrorist group.
During his eight and a half years in prison Munaro was subjected to deplorable conditions and allowed minimal contact with his family. The media and international organisations, including PEN, took up the case and constantly called for his release.

It was not until the end of the Fujimori regime that Munaro's case was reconsidered. In 2000, President Valentín Paniagua Corazao's transitional government granted Munaro a pardon and cleared him of all charges. Munaro declared his intention to work on behalf of innocent prisoners languishing in Peru's jails. In 2002 President Toledo issued a public apology as indemnity for Munaro having been wrongly imprisoned.

Munaro's publications include El grito de la Agonía (The Scream of Agony) (2000), an essay and various poems on imprisonment as seen through the eyes of an inmate, El Pasajero y otros cuentos (The Passenger and other tales) (1998), a compilation of testimonials by fellow inmates, Hablar una vez más (To Speak Once More) and his first published book State and guerrillas in Peru During the 80s (1989).

Writing Sample:

Prison, May 2000

Dear all,

I would simply like to tell you how grateful I am to each of you for the support you have given me and my family. It is horrific to spend eight years in prison without having committed any crime... you don't know how much I need you!
I was one of the first victims of this government, which in the just fight against terrorism committed serious excesses, imprisoning hundreds of innocent people. Today, everyone is aware of the methods the government used to eliminate its opponents, taking advantage of a "hijacked" press, blackmailed in order to survive.

When I was arrested, 12 June 1992, while this press listened only to my captors, it reduced me to silence. I was sentenced in record time by faceless temporary judges, and with no guarantee of due process. Of the fourteen people arrested, twelve were freed because they were considered innocent.

The government knows I am innocent: under pressure from human rights organisations a Government Commission was formed to defend innocent people in prison. This Commission was chaired by Father Hubert Lanssiers, to whom I owe the breath to live and fight with. This commission took on and defended my case. It found me innocent and President Fujimori's representative stated this publicly. Subsequently a special commission chaired by the human rights ombudsman (who was appointed by the executive branch of the government to present cases of innocent people), in October 1998, presented the government with a recommendation for pardon to have me freed. Since this date, this recommendation has been in President Fujimori's office, just waiting for him to sign it.

The most despicable evil has possessed my captors. Pride, and people loitering in the darkness hold me prisoner. I was born free and fought with all my heart so that all my people could have this freedom. Freedom based on respecting human rights, that is to say the right to life, work, health and dignity. There's my sin.
...

The darkness shall not triumph over the light! I am sure you will not leave my call unanswered. I AM A CITIZEN OF THE WORLD SEEKING SUPPORT FROM MY FELLOW CITIZENS. I know that all humanity has to defeat tyranny, however much it disguises itself as democracy.
HELP ME, DO NOT ABANDON ME.

Yours,

Yehude Simón Munaro