Peru's Justice Will Review Pardon Granted to Alberto Fujimori

Peru's supreme court allowed a request to review the “humanitarian” pardon granted by former President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski (PPK) to former president and convicted criminal against humanity Alberto Fujimori.

RELATED: 
Peru's President Seeks Referendum On Political, Judicial Reform

The request was filed by the family of the victims of the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta massacres after the Inter American Court of Human Rights ruled the pardon had to be constitutionally reviewed by the country’s judicial system to ensure it complies with the principles, norms, and obligations enshrined in the American Convention on Human Rights.

According to Fujimori’s lawyer, Miguel Angel Perez, the review should not apply because there is no open judicial process. Gloria Cano, representative of the victims’ families argues the review was requested in the framework of the 25-year sentence against Fujimori for the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta crimes, which was interrupted by the pardon.

In December Kuczynski, who was facing impeachment proceedings after being investigated over links with Brazilian construction giant Odebrecht's network of corruption, announced he was granting Fujimori a presidential pardon.

RELATED:
 Peruvians Protest Corruption, Call for Total Political Reform

The pardon was later revealed to have been a product of a political pact between former legislator Kenji Fujimori, son of Alberto Fujimori, and the disgraced President Kuczynski, to avoid impeachment. The pact served its purpose, but only briefly. In March PPK had to resign and in June Kenji lost his congressional seat.  

The pardon was followed by sustained massive protests against corruption and impunity. Recently the judicial system has experienced a deep credibility crisis after recordings revealed judges discussing plans to trade favors, help convicted criminals and secure jobs for friends.

In February, Fujimori was ordered to stand trial for the Pativilca case, which involves the murder of at least six Campesinos in the central Peruvian town of Pativilca on Jan. 29, 1992.

Fujimori is not only responsible for the deaths in Cantuta and Barrio Alto but is also linked to forced disappearances and extrajudicial killings in the war against insurgent groups Shining Path and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement as well as the forced sterilization of approximately 300,000 women between 1996 and 2000. Crimes for which he has not yet been convicted.