Peru's Seized Press Shows New Freedom; Wide Press Uncertainty Circulation Has Grown Acknowledges Dangers Labor Agitation Alleged Against Its Own Interest Foreign Agencies Unaffected
Date: 06 September 1974
By MARVINE HOWESpecial to The New York Times
many people in Peru approve of press law employed by Govt in its takeover of media, which decrees that country's main daily newspapers, owned by families or special-interest groups, will be turned over to orgns of workers, professional people and peasants; there is widespread uneasiness over heavy-handed manner in which newspapers were siezed by police squads on July 27, and over arrests of more than 500 people who demonstrated against action and over naming of pro-Govt coms to run papers until they are handed to new orgns; Pres Juan Velasco Alvarado has guaranteed freedom of expression and to prove it has allowed widespread criticism since takeover; never before in recent times has Peruvian press appeared so free, publishing pol debates, sharp attacks on Govt's press policy and even campaign charging police torture; editors and publishers commenting on press situation include Enrique Zileri Gibson (Caretas), Francisco Iguarta (Oiga), Luis Miro Quesada (El Comercio), Alajandre Miro Quesada Garland (El Commercio) and Walter Penaloza Ramella (La Prensa); foreign news agencies rept they have encountered no censorship; Peruvian Times has not been affected by new press law and is pursuing careful, objective course