Verdict due for Peru's authoritarian antihero

[L. Coyote]

Verdict due for Peru's authoritarian antihero
Frank Bajak, AP – Sat Mar 28 - http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090328/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/peru_fujimori_trial;_ylt=AnJ_DgaXfAPGMNnFwl6Xj6VvaA8F



LIMA, Peru – The man who energetically led Peru back from the brink of economic collapse and crushed a fanatical Maoist insurgency during his 1990s presidency is now a much diminished figure. The once-leonine Alberto Fujimori shuffles wearily in and out of a courtroom, awaiting what most Peruvians believe will be his conviction on murder and kidnapping charges.

After hearing from 80 witnesses and 20 outside experts in his 15-month trial, a three-judge panel is nearing a verdict in the case, an example of strengthening judicial authority in a region where democratic rule has a precarious tradition.

The 70-year-old former strongman remains remarkably popular, but Fujimori is also ailing, visibly downtrodden and discredited. Two-thirds of Peruvians polled recently approve of his rule, but 71 percent also think he'll be found guilty.

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[EFerrari]

1. Oh, barf. Vivanco is still director of HRW - Americas.

That's disgusting.

And who is likely to answer the poll in the OP? Is that pragmatism or just whacky?

[Judi Lynn]

2. Unbelievable that even if this scum is found guilty of these hideous murders,

it can be used to increase popularity for Fujimori's daughter's race for the next Presidency. How ugly can politics get, anyway?

He should go away after a career as a professional, pompous, murdering a-hole, and spends some quality time in prison. Hope his daughter will NOT be elected as any thing close to Peru's President. I hope they won't even let her go through the Presidential Palace on tours. Why is she even a Senator?

Thanks for the Fujimori update.