Source:
Miami Herald/Associated PressPeru's Fujimori defends amnesty
On trial for murder and kidnapping, Alberto Fujimori defended his decision to grant amnesty to people who may have violated human rights.
Posted on Thu, Dec. 20, 2007
BY MONTE HAYES
Associated Press
LIMA -- Former President Alberto Fujimori, on trial for murder and kidnapping, on Wednesday defended his decision in 1995 to grant amnesty to human rights violators during his war against a brutal leftist insurgency.
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Fujimori, 69, is on trial for allegedly using the Colina death squad, which was composed of army intelligence agents, to fight the Shining Path during the early years of his 1990-2000 presidency.
If convicted, he faces up to 30 years in prison and a fine of some $33 million.
Fujimori has denied any knowledge of the squad's activities, and has said he never authorized Vladimiro Montesinos, his feared intelligence chief, to lead a dirty war against the Shining Path rebels.
When questioned about specific human rights violations, Fujimori frequently responded that he could not remember.
''Do you have memory problems?'' a frustrated Gamarra asked. ``You've always had a good memory. Do you have memory problems now?''
Gamarra then quoted from a book by one of Fujimori's former Cabinet ministers in which he commented on Fujimori's impressive memory for details going back decades.
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