UPDATE: Fujimori’s Trial Prosecution Implicates the Ex-President to Dirty War Killings with new Evidence

By Oscar J Barbosa
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

LIMA, Peru – Ex-President Alberto Fujimori’s trial in charges of corruption and human rights abuses continues in Lima. During Friday’s hearings, the prosecution introduced evidence to implicate Fujimori into two massacres occurred in Peru during his Government.

Fujimori governed from 1990 until 2000, he was charged with various atrocities including two massacres in 1991 and 1992. These were blamed on the Colina Group, and elite army squad. The squad leader was army major Martin Rivas, and the allegedly committed over 50 selective and massive killings. Previously, Fujimori had denied the existence of the group, but witness statements did link Fujimori to the group and its acts.

A first set of evidence introduced on Friday included to military manuals, one of which was secret due to its content. The document known as ME 2830, allowed the Service of National Intelligence (SIN) to create its own parallel strategy to combat dissident movements, and the Peruvian Guerrillas.

It was also argued, that under the rules established by ME 2830, Fujimori ordered the creation of the Colina Group. Furthermore, Fujimori was accused of driving the group into a Dirty War strategy, to persecute and eliminate the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru guerrilla groups.

Fujimori’s attorney, Cesar Nakasaki argued that the documents presented to not implicate Fujimori directly, and also fail to prove a government polity to effectuate a Dirty War.

The former president was extradited in September 2007, 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 2007. Prosecutors are seeking a 30-year jail sentence for Fujimori who has been taken to the Hospital multiple times due to his health.

Peru has been divided over the trial; pro-Fujimori groups demand his release while human rights groups approve of the trial and sentence.

For more information, please see:

El Patagonico - DENUNCIAN QUE FUJIMORI PLANEO TAREA DEL GRUPO COLINA – 04 October 2008

El Regional de Piura - Manuales del Ejército sustentaron “guerra sucia” durante régimen de Fujimori, afirma Fiscal – 04 October 2008

La Jornada - Documentos desclasificados de EU confirman que Fujimori sabía de la represión en Perú - 01 October 2008

IW - Alberto Fujimori’s Trial – 12 March 2008

Fujimori on Trial – www.fujimoriontrial.org – 03 October 2008