"innocent" of treason, following the release of a recently detained evangelical church leader, a human rights watchdog said Monday, March 21. UK-based Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) told BosNewsLife that Lucio Vilca Galindo was arrested in April 1995 for "treason against the state", although he was acquitted on the same charges two years earlier.
In 1993 a Naval Court accused the pastor and a group of other defendants of being part of the
Shining Path militant group and participating in subversive acts. He was reportedly soon
acquitted when the co-accused denied they met Lucio.
Apparently angered by his release law enforcement officials gathered false evidence against
him so the pastor could be tried again by the armed forces, CSW claimed.
FALSE WITNESS
The "denunciation" by a false witness described as "a repented terrorist" was "the only evidence against him," CSW said. "But he was still found guilty and sentenced to life in prison leaving his wife and five children destitute."
CSW’s partner in Peru took up the case five years ago "and fought for his freedom," the
organization said.
"CSW has been campaigning hard for Lucio’s release and we are very pleased to learn that after so many years, the Peruvian justice system has finally recognized his innocence and he is now to be reunited with his family in freedom," said its Chief Executive Mervyn Thomas.
ANOTHER RELEASED
The other Christian released was Peruvian evangelical pastor Jose Garcia Pena, who was arrested on March 3 in the capita Lima, on terrorism charges, CSW reported. On March 11 the pastor "was released by order of Judge Ana Vasquez," the organization added.
"Pastor Garcia, from Cuzco, was visiting Lima when he was informed there was a warrant for his arrest and was promptly arrested and imprisoned. [But] it appears that he was a victim of mistaken identity, as the warrants carry only a name and no other identifying information…"CSW claimed.
"His name, which is fairly common in Peru, apparently appeared on wanted lists for crimes of terrorism issued by courts in the northern cities of Piura and Lambayeque. Pastor Garcia denied he ever visited the area, which is hundreds of kilometers to the northwest of Cuzco, and said he has never been involved in any terrorist activity," the organization said.
INNOCENT PEOPLE
Human rights watchers have linked the arrest of innocent people to former President Alberto Fujimori’s controversial anti-terrorism campaign, which they claim has yet to be addressed by the government.
Over 12,300 Peruvians are believed to be on warrants for their arrest on terrorism charges, but many have no idea their names are included on these lists, said CSW’s sister organization in Peru ‘Paz y Esperanza’, or Peace and Hope.
However Pastor Garcia did apparently not waste time while in prison. "He was able to share the Word of God with the other prisoners. [After his release] he gave thanks to the Lord for all of the people who in one way or another interceded on his behalf," ‘Paz y Esperanza’ said in a statement to BosNewsLife News Center. (With BosNewsLife News Center, BosNewsLife Research, reports from Peru, CSW)
