Posted on 04/07/2009 4:46:28 PM PDT by mojito
The former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori was today convicted of kidnapping and murder and sentenced to 25 years in what was described as a landmark ruling for human rights cases in Latin America.
A three-judge panel found the 70-year-old guilty of authorising a military death squad during the state's "dirty war" against Maoist rebels in the 1990s.
The 15-month trial, held at a special forces police base just outside the capital, Lima, was the first time a democratically elected Latin American leader had been tried on home soil for human rights abuses.
"This court declares that the four charges against him have been proven beyond all reasonable doubt," Judge Cesar San Martin told the courtroom.
Observers said the marathon case – involving 80 witnesses, 160 sessions and a 711-page ruling – continued a trend towards bringing rogue former heads of state to book.
"After years of evading justice, Fujimori is finally being held to account for some of his crimes," Maria McFarland, a Human Rights Watch researcher who attended, said.
"With this ruling, and its exemplary performance during the trial, the Peruvian court has shown the world that even former heads of state cannot expect to get away with serious crimes."
Outside the tribunal, violent clashes flared between rival groups of supporters and opponents of the accused, underlining Peru's split over whether he was a hero or villain.
A university chancellor and political outsider who unexpectedly won power in 1990, Fujimori crushed a terrorist insurgency and tamed rampant inflation, paving the way for stability.
(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...
Oh wait, it already has (See Ted Stevens).
Remember only Rightists can commit human rights abuses. If leftist governments slaughter half their population in the name of the People, you only need a “truth and reconciliation committee” and few years before they can take positions in governments again. Bonus points if the UN works out a “power sharing” agreement.
What a crock of shiite. He was saving the country from commie scumbags.
Whom did he kidnap? Whom did he murder?
This is absolutely ridiculous.
Without him, they would be under the Shining Path or Amaru thugs.
Let us NEVER forget how many people the Shining Path murdered!
The once cowering liberals will now dispense justice by punishing the man that provided them with stability.
This is how brave men tend to be rewarded in this day and age. It’s downright pitiful.
How can a government anti-terrorist squad killing murderous terrorist commies be considered a “death squad”? The real death squads were the fascist red thugs trying to seize power the way they always do, at the barrel of a gun.
If only he’d obeyed his country’s constitution and accepted it’s term limits. He would be a National hero today.
But he decided to cling to power...
His daughter will be elected the next President of Peru and pardon him, if the opposition doesn’t do it sooner to win votes.
Lilliputians pronounce judgement on the guy who saved their butts.
Sendero Luminoso probably picked the jury....
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.