RIGHTS-PERU: Fujimori Rewarded Death Squad

[Judi Lynn]

RIGHTS-PERU: Fujimori Rewarded Death Squad
By Ángel Páez

LIMA, Mar 31 (IPS) - Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori personally encouraged and rewarded the leaders of a secret army intelligence service squad for the kidnap and murder of 25 civilians in 1991 and 1992, according to secret military documents.

Fujimori, who governed this South American country from 1990 to 2000, is currently on trial for corruption and human rights violations, and the documents in question form part of the evidence.

The documents indicate that on Aug. 15, 1991, army commander Pedro Villanueva received a personal communication from Fujimori to "congratulate" a group of officers and agents of the army intelligence service (SIE).

In his message, Fujimori expressed his appreciation of their "efficient service in matters of national security and the defence of the high values of democracy, which is very useful to the National Intelligence System (SINA)."

The officers who received this accolade from Fujimori were Commander Fernando Rodríguez, the head of the "Colina group," which later perpetrated the crimes; Captain Santiago Martín, operational head of the clandestine group; Captain Carlos Pichilingüe, the administrative head; and the Colina group’s treasurer, Marcos Flores.

On Aug. 22, 1991, seven days after Fujimori’s congratulations, the head of the army intelligence directorate (DINTE), General Juan Rivero, had weapons and equipment distributed to the Colina squad, according to the secret documents which IPS was able to examine.

Among the weapons received by the death squad were 12 HK P5 and P7 semi-automatic pistols which, according to forensic experts, were used in the massacre of 15 residents of the Lima neighbourhood of Barrios Altos on Nov. 3, 1991. Rodríguez, Martín and Pichilingüe were subsequently promoted.
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"The documents confirm that the leaders of the Colina squad who were congratulated by Fujimori acted with the encouragement, virtual consent and protection of the former head of state," the source said.

"The secret papers destroy the defence counsel’s argument, which is that Fujimori did not know about the army’s clandestine intelligence operations. They prove not only that he was perfectly aware of the operations, but also that he promoted the criminals," the source said.

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