Alberto Fujimori’s Trial

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LIMA, Peru – Albert Fujimori, Peru's president from 1990 until 2000, was charged with various atrocities including two massacres in 1991 and 1992, blamed on an army hit squad known as the Colina Group. The group leader was army major Martin Rivas. The Colina Group allegedly committed over 50 selective and massive killings. 

A witness in trial announced that the former president met in 1991 with the head of a military death squad that killed at least 25 people, despite previous statements made by Fujimori denying any knowledge of the Colina Group.

Pino Benamu, retired head of Peru's military intelligence, told the court that Fujimori's close aide Vladimiro Montesinos, military generals, and colonels specialized in fighting the Maoist guerrilla Sendero Luminoso and attended the 1991 meeting with Rivas.

Rivas testified two weeks ago that the Colina Group "never existed" and was made up by the anti-Fujimori media. Other members of the groups testified the action committed against university students and insurgents commanded by Rivas.

Vladimiro Montesinos had allegedly structured and maintained paramilitary groups that deviated from the formal structure of the military and acted under his command, violating countless international norms. The massacres could not have happened without his explicit authorization.

The former president was extradited in September from Chile to Peru. His trial for his alleged role behind the Colina Group's murder of 15 people in 1991 and nine university students and a professor in 1992 began in December. Prosecutors are seeking a 30-year jail sentence for Fujimori.

For more information, please see:

AFP - Peru's Fujimori linked to death squad chief – 12 March 2008 

AFP - Perú: testigo dice que Fujimori se reunió con jefe de escuadrón de la muerte - 12 March 2008

24 Horas Libre - Montesinos fue el vocero de las Fuerzas Armadas ante Fujimori, reconocio ex jefe de la Dinte – 12 March 2008