Peru: Outrage over death squad decision

Jul 26

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Peru: Outrage over death squad decision

Peruvians hit the streets in opposition to a controversial Supreme Court ruling.

People holding a banner that reads: "Remember 20 years of murder" protest against a supreme court's decision to reduce the sentences of members of militant group "Grupo Colina", in front of the Justice Palace in Lima, July 23, 2012. (REUTERS/Mariana Bazo)

Last week the Peruvian Supreme Court announced a decision to reduce sentences for Colina death squad members who were involved in killings during the 1990s under the government of Alberto Fujimori. The Friday hearing dealt with 25 of these killings, including the slaying of an 8-year-old boy. Vladimiro Montesinos, 67, who ran the Colina death squad, had his sentence cut from 25 to 20 years.

Peruvians have reacted with widespread anger and are voicing their opposition in the streets of Lima. In this video victims' family members speak out against impunity. One woman interviewed said: "[The judge] says that it is not crime against humanity. But what about my son? He was eight years old and they shot him with seven bullets in his body and one in his face."

View the story "Peru: Outrage over death squad decision" on StorifyPeru: Outrage over death squad decisionPeruvians hit the streets in opposition to a controversial Supreme Court ruling.Storified by The Stream · Wed, Jul 25 2012 15:42:33Familia y población no olvida: Plantón contra sentencia de Javier Villa SteinlamulapePeruvians also expressed their dissatisfaction on Twitter:
@pricoaldia says: "The failure of this ruling is a slap in the face of victims of the Fujimori dictatorship".Simplemente el fallo al #Grupo Colina representa una vil cachetada a las víctimas de la dictadura Fujimorista...Priscilla Paredes24 July 2012- C (REUTERS)AJstreamPresident Ollanta Humala called the ruling an "unpleasant surprise" and announced that a state prosecutor would appeal the ruling. His wife, Nadine Heredia tweeted: "Crimes of the Colina group and their leaders should not be forgotten. This ruling stains the honor of our country!"Crímenes del grupo colina y sus mentores no deben ser ignorados ni olvidados. Fallo judicial mancilla la honra de nuestro país!Nadine HerediaJudge Javier Villa Stein, who wrote the majority decision, ruled that the killings were simply murders, not crimes against humanity. The court argued that the Colina members were following orders in a fight against "terrorists".

"To kill a child is a terrible crime but that doesn't convert it into a crime against humanity", Stein said.

Defendants convicted of crimes against humanity in Peru are not eligible for parole. By changing the definition of the crimes to murder, former death squad members will become eligible for parole after they complete two-thirds of their sentence. One member, Alberto Pinto, could be released immediately due to a shorter sentence of 13 years.
Others agreed with the court's decision:
@GastonMedina tweeted: "The reduction in sentencing is legally correct...[said Peruvian politician] Martha Chavez on RPP [news]"La rebaja de penas es jurídicamente correcto... Martha Chavez en RPPGastonMedinaMeanwhile Ronald Gamarra, a lawyer who helped prosecute Fujimori in 2009, was outraged by the decision. In a recent tweet he called Villa Stein a donkey.
Many critics fear that this ruling will set a precedent for impunity and might even lead to the release Fujimori in the near future. Fujimori is currently serving a 25-year sentence for crimes against humanity.
@joquigaitan says: "This is the first of many that will be released thanks to the Fujimori supporter Villa Stein".@RPPNoticias #Colina este es el primero de una lista que iran saliendo gracias al fujimorista villa stein que tal ostra...Jose Quintana GaitánFor more information on the Colina murders, check out the 2011 documentary, La Cantuta en la Boca del Diablo:
La cantuta en la Boca del Diablo [documental completo]frikispe

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