Peru: Update to PER40695.E of 10 January 2003 on the treatment of party members or supporters of former president Fujimori since his departure (2003)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 2 May 2003 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PER40164.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Peru: Update to PER40695.E of 10 January 2003 on the treatment of party members or supporters of former president Fujimori since his departure (2003), 2 May 2003, PER40164.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3f7d4df523.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
References to the treatment of Fujimori supporters outside the context of judicial cases is limited among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
Country Reports 2002 stated that
Many individuals associated with the Fujimori administration were the targets of criminal investigations. Anticorruption legislation enacted in 2000 gave judicial authorities expanded powers to detain witnesses and suspects. Many of those detained under these laws complained that the cases against them were politically motivated (31 Mar. 2003, Sec. 1d).
Among those threatened with "judicial sanctions" were "opposition journalists and those formerly with the Fujimori regime" (ibid., Sec. 2a). TV and newspaper executives were imprisoned while investigations about their complicity in manipulating media coverage for the Fujimori administration were carried out (ibid.). Reporters Without Borders was also concerned about the measures being taken to deal with TV magnates who were "bribed with large sums of money to support Fujmori's candidacy in the presidential elections of spring 2000" (23 Apr. 2002). In addition, two journalists were attacked by members of the Loreto Patriotic Front in the northeastern city of Iquitos for their alleged support of Fujimori (Reporters Without Borders 23 Apr. 2002). The Front was also responsible for the dismissal of five pro-Fujimori employees of the cable TV station Canal 6, after the political group threatened to damage the station's equipment (ibid.).
Gestion reported on a case that involved some Mayors who had been denounced for supporting Fujimori in the municipalities of the Lambayeque region north of Lima (15 Jan. 2003). According to Julio Lazo Gallo of the Aprista Party (Partido Aprista), a delay in the judicial proceedings against the Mayors will allow them to finish their mandates without being sanctioned (Gestion 15 Jan. 2003). In an article of April 2002, the Peruvian Congress voted to lift parliamentary immunity for one active and 18 ex-legislators who stand accused of receiving money from Fujimori collaborator, Vladimiro Montesinos, in exchange for supporting Fujimori's cabinet or for financing their own electoral campaigns (El Norte 7 April 2002). The denounced politicians have been suspended from working in any public function while the judicial proceedings take place (ibid.).
Nevertheless, sources reported that a group of about 20 Fujimori supporters attacked human rights lawyer, Gloria Cano, at the offices of the Association for the Defence of Human Rights (Asociacion por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos, APRODEH) (Peru Indymedia 27 Jan. 2003; AI 29 Jan. 2003). In addition, APRODEH reported that posters promoting their anti-impunity and corruption campaign, which focused on Alberto Fujimori, were apparently taken down and destroyed by Fujimori supporters (fujimoristas) on 23 January 2003. In response, Fujimori supporters, led by Martha Chavez Cossio and Luz Salgado, planned to launch legal action against APRODEH for violating the right to presumption of innocence for Alberto Fujimori by accusing him of commiting crimes without proof (Amigos de Villa 2 Feb. 2003).
In 30 April 2003 correspondence, an assistant professor of government and politics at George Mason Universitystated that she was not aware of incidents of intimidation or "persecution" of Fujimori supporters. The professor noted that, on the contrary, important members of the Fujimori-Montesinos regime are still "encrusted in positions of power, particularly in the judiciary and are attempting to derail the country's effort to combat corruption" (30 Apr. 2003).
An article of March 2003 reported on a video announcement by Alberto Fujimori indicating that he would run as a candidate for Peru's presidential elections in 2006 (El Universal 31 Mar 2003). Broadcast to a crowd of 500 supporters in the town of Huancayo, Fujimori stated that he wanted to return to Peru and build his party into being a "primary political force" (la primera fuerza politica) (ibid.). 's political party from becoming president of the country (Star-Telegram 18 Apr. 2003). The new law appears to compliment an earlier decision by Congress to disqualify Fujimori from any public position in Peru for the next 10 years (ibid.).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Amigos de Villa [Lima]. 2 February 2003. Vol. 6, No. 5. "Fujimoristas alistan ofensiva." Amnesty International (AI). 29 January 2003. "UA 31/03 Fear for Safety/Beating and Intimidation." (AI Index: AMR 46/003/2003) Asociacion por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (APRODEH). 23 January 2003. "APRODEH denuncia intolerencia de fujimoristas." Assistant Professor of government and politics, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia. 30 April 2003. Correspondence.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2002. 31 March 2003. "Peru." U.S. Department of State. Washington, DC. Gestion [Lima]. 15 January 2003. "Alcaldes fujimoristas denunciados acabaron sin sanciones." El Norte [Barcelona, Venezuela]. 7 April 2002. "Congreso levanta inmunidad a legisladores fujimoristas." Peru Indymedia. 27 January 2003. "Fujimoristas agreden a la abogada de APRODEH." Reporters Without Borders. 23 April 2002. "Peru: Annual Report 2002." Star-Telegram. 18 April 2003. "Impiden a los fujimoristas postularse a la presidencia." El Universal [Caracas]. "Fujimori lanza campana presidencial." Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
NEXIS
The Human Rights Commission of Peru (Comision de Derechos Humanos, COMISEDH) was unable to provide information within time constraints
Unsuccessful attempts at contacting the Legal Defence Institute (Instituto de Defensa Legal, IDL)
Unsuccessful attempts at contacting the Ombudsman's Office (Defensoria del Pueblo)
World News Connection (WNC)
Internet sites:
Cadena Peruana de Noticias [Lima]
El Comercio [Lima]
La Cuarta [Santiago]
Human Rights Watch
Orlando Sentinel
Search engine:
Google