Alberto Fujimori dodges justice yet again
A Chilean judge ruled this week that Peru's former president Alberto Fujimori should not be extradited back to the country he once ruled to face charges of human rights abuses and corruption.
Peru's government immediately said it would appeal against the judge's decision, which also has to be confirmed by Chile's Supreme Court. Fujimori told the BBC, "My family and I take this resolution with joy, but at the same time with caution."
Others were not so sanguine at the news.
"I am very bitter," Raida Condor told the Washington Post after the judge's ruling was announced. "I am no longer sure that there can ever be justice. All these years, 15 years of fighting, and they tell us that he is not coming back to stand trial."
Condor's son was one of nine students killed in 1992 at the La Cantuta teacher's college in Lima. Their abductions and murders were later linked to the notorious Colina Death Squad working under direct orders of Fujimori's right-hand-man, Valdimiro Montesinos.
It's another confusing twist in the bizarre story of Fujimori's rise and fall from power. Although his 10-years as Peru's head of state is credited with restoring the economy, making peace with neighboring countries and quelling a bloody internal conflict it also was a period of authoritarianism and the worst of excesses that can bring.
It seems almost beyond belief that there is not sufficient evidence for extradition against a man named the 7th most corrupt leader in the last 20 years. And the record of human rights abuses that occured under his watch seems pretty solid as well.
Fujimori was forced to flee Peru in 2000 when the extent of Montesinos' crimes came to light. Japan repeatedly refused efforts by the Peruvian government to extradite him but in November 2005 he flew to Chile where he was arrested. He returned to South America saying he planned to run for the Peruvian presidency in 2006. And, although under house arrest in Santiago, he will be running for a seat in the Japanese senate next month.
While the Chilean judge's ruling isn't the last word in this strange story and certainly doesn't mean Fujimori will be able to escape justice, it does enforce the fact that nothing, when it comes to Fujimori, will play out like anyone expects it to.
If you have not had the chance, make the effort to see Ellen Perry's documentary on Fujimori, The Fall of Fujimori (which I have posted the trailer for above) to get a sense of the scope of the impact this judge's decision may have.
Find out more about Peru, South America and my varied interests over on Klephblog.
Technorati Tags: Peru, Alberto Fujimori, extradition, Vladimiro Montesinos, The Fall of Fujimori, Chile, Colina Death Squad
Peru's government immediately said it would appeal against the judge's decision, which also has to be confirmed by Chile's Supreme Court. Fujimori told the BBC, "My family and I take this resolution with joy, but at the same time with caution."
Others were not so sanguine at the news.
"I am very bitter," Raida Condor told the Washington Post after the judge's ruling was announced. "I am no longer sure that there can ever be justice. All these years, 15 years of fighting, and they tell us that he is not coming back to stand trial."
Condor's son was one of nine students killed in 1992 at the La Cantuta teacher's college in Lima. Their abductions and murders were later linked to the notorious Colina Death Squad working under direct orders of Fujimori's right-hand-man, Valdimiro Montesinos.
It's another confusing twist in the bizarre story of Fujimori's rise and fall from power. Although his 10-years as Peru's head of state is credited with restoring the economy, making peace with neighboring countries and quelling a bloody internal conflict it also was a period of authoritarianism and the worst of excesses that can bring.
It seems almost beyond belief that there is not sufficient evidence for extradition against a man named the 7th most corrupt leader in the last 20 years. And the record of human rights abuses that occured under his watch seems pretty solid as well.
Fujimori was forced to flee Peru in 2000 when the extent of Montesinos' crimes came to light. Japan repeatedly refused efforts by the Peruvian government to extradite him but in November 2005 he flew to Chile where he was arrested. He returned to South America saying he planned to run for the Peruvian presidency in 2006. And, although under house arrest in Santiago, he will be running for a seat in the Japanese senate next month.
While the Chilean judge's ruling isn't the last word in this strange story and certainly doesn't mean Fujimori will be able to escape justice, it does enforce the fact that nothing, when it comes to Fujimori, will play out like anyone expects it to.
If you have not had the chance, make the effort to see Ellen Perry's documentary on Fujimori, The Fall of Fujimori (which I have posted the trailer for above) to get a sense of the scope of the impact this judge's decision may have.
Find out more about Peru, South America and my varied interests over on Klephblog.
Technorati Tags: Peru, Alberto Fujimori, extradition, Vladimiro Montesinos, The Fall of Fujimori, Chile, Colina Death Squad
Labels: alberto fujimori, human rights, peru, vladimiro montesinos
posted by kleph at
9:59 PM
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