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Alberto Fujimori shouts his innocence
Tuesday, 11 December, 2007
Former Peru's President Alberto Fujimori is seen gesturing on a screen during the first day of his trial on charges of alleged human rights violations and corruption during his government at a police base in Lima
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Peru's former president, Alberto Fujimori, has angrily shouted his innocence at the start of his trial.
The former leader is facing accusations of murder and kidnapping stemming from a 1990s "dirty war" against communist rebels.
"I declare myself innocent," he said in a fiery outburst in the court on Lima's outskirts when asked how he pleaded.
"I don't accept the charges against me.... I never ordered the death of anybody," he said, gesticulating wildly in the specially renovated room in a police building fitted with new wood panels, carpet and two television cameras.
Fujimori complained of feeling sick after his dramatic affirmations, and a court doctor diagnosed high blood pressure requiring at least a days rest.
The presiding judge called a recess until Wednesday, when the court is to continue examining charges that Fujimori ordered abductions and killings by death squad when his government was putting down a bloody insurgency.
The 69-year-old faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. It is the first time a Peruvian ex-head of state has been tried for actions carried out while he was in office.
The trial is the culmination of an extraordinary series of events since the former president fled his country at the end of 2000, after 10 years in power, as his regime was imploding amid a corruption scandal.
Support grows for former leader
Meanwhile supporters of Fujimori were vocal in hailing his fight against the "terrorists" of the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru communist movements, and in calling for him to be freed.
Around 100 of them held vigils outside the gates of the complex where the trial is being held and carried placards saying: "Fujimori, innocent."
Others let off firecrackers in the dirt streets while riot police stood watch.
Fujimori is accused of ordering an army death squad to kill 15 people at a party in a Lima suburb in 1991 and 10 people -- nine students and their professor -- taken from La Cantuta University in the capital in 1992.
The former leader also faces charges over the 1992 abduction and interrogation of a prominent journalist and a businessman opposed to his regime, and several counts of corruption.
The prosecution is demanding he pay $33 million in damages to the victims' families as well as serve 30 years behind bars if convicted.
Source: AFP
The former leader is facing accusations of murder and kidnapping stemming from a 1990s "dirty war" against communist rebels.
"I declare myself innocent," he said in a fiery outburst in the court on Lima's outskirts when asked how he pleaded.
"I don't accept the charges against me.... I never ordered the death of anybody," he said, gesticulating wildly in the specially renovated room in a police building fitted with new wood panels, carpet and two television cameras.
Fujimori complained of feeling sick after his dramatic affirmations, and a court doctor diagnosed high blood pressure requiring at least a days rest.
The presiding judge called a recess until Wednesday, when the court is to continue examining charges that Fujimori ordered abductions and killings by death squad when his government was putting down a bloody insurgency.
The 69-year-old faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted. It is the first time a Peruvian ex-head of state has been tried for actions carried out while he was in office.
The trial is the culmination of an extraordinary series of events since the former president fled his country at the end of 2000, after 10 years in power, as his regime was imploding amid a corruption scandal.
Support grows for former leader
Meanwhile supporters of Fujimori were vocal in hailing his fight against the "terrorists" of the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru communist movements, and in calling for him to be freed.
Around 100 of them held vigils outside the gates of the complex where the trial is being held and carried placards saying: "Fujimori, innocent."
Others let off firecrackers in the dirt streets while riot police stood watch.
Fujimori is accused of ordering an army death squad to kill 15 people at a party in a Lima suburb in 1991 and 10 people -- nine students and their professor -- taken from La Cantuta University in the capital in 1992.
The former leader also faces charges over the 1992 abduction and interrogation of a prominent journalist and a businessman opposed to his regime, and several counts of corruption.
The prosecution is demanding he pay $33 million in damages to the victims' families as well as serve 30 years behind bars if convicted.
Source: AFP
