The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) hailed the transparency and fairness of the judicial proceedings that culminated today with the announcement by a chamber of Peru’s Supreme Court that former president Alberto Fujimori has been found guilty of serious human rights violations, including killings and kidnappings. Given the gravity of the crimes, the court sentenced Fujimori to 25 years in prison, the maximum applicable penalty.
Press Release
WASHINGTON OFFICE ON LATIN AMERICA
Promoting Human Rights, Democracy, and Social and Economic Justice in Latin America
Washington, DC
April 7, 2009
The Washington Office on Latin America (WOLA) hailed the transparency and fairness of the judicial proceedings that culminated today with the announcement by a chamber of Peru's Supreme Court that former president Alberto Fujimori has been found guilty of serious human rights violations, including killings and kidnappings. Given the gravity of the crimes, the court sentenced Fujimori to 25 years in prison, the maximum applicable penalty.
The Fujimori trial and today's verdict constitute a landmark in the pursuit of justice and the application of the rule of law.
"Peru has proven to itself and shown the world that nobody is above the law," said WOLA Senior Associate John Walsh.
The independence and impartiality with which the court has conducted the trial ensure that today's verdict will reverberate throughout the region and the world.
"In a region long bedeviled by impunity," said Walsh, "the Fujimori trial and verdict have already made history."
WOLA also congratulated all those in Peru and beyond who have worked tirelessly to ensure that justice be done in the case of Fujimori – especially the families of the victims and Peru's courageous human rights organizations.
For more information on this historic trial, please see the rapporteur's report of an October 2008 symposium, "Human Rights Tribunals in Latin America: the Fujimori Trial in Comparative Perspective," organized by the Center for Global Studies at George Mason University, the Lima-based Instituto de Defensa Legal (IDL), and WOLA.
WOLA representatives are in Lima to be on hand for the verdict, and will be available to the media.
Contacts
In Lima
Coletta Youngers, Senior Fellow, WOLA
Jo-Marie Burt, Associate Professor of Political Science, George Mason University
Tel: 011 (511) 994-335-264
In Washington
John Walsh, Senior Associate, WOLA
Tel: (202) 797-2171
