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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Fujimori 'regrets' rights abuses | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori has expressed regret over human-rights abuses committed during his decade in power. | |
| He is on trial in Lima, accused of ordering an army death squad to kill 25 people and kidnap two others in the early 1990's. | |
| Fujimori said the killings had hurt him deeply, but he denied authorising them as part of his campaign against rebels. | |
| He was earlier jailed for six years on separate abuse of power charges. | He was earlier jailed for six years on separate abuse of power charges. |
| 'Pained' | 'Pained' |
| Any abuses committed during his presidency pained his soul, he said. | Any abuses committed during his presidency pained his soul, he said. |
| THE FUJIMORI ERA 1990: Wins a surprise victory at polls1992: Dissolves Peru's congress with military backing, assuming greater control1995: Restores congress and overwhelmingly wins a second term2000: Re-elected for a third term amid allegations of ballot rigging2000: Flees to Japan after Montesinos scandal breaks2001-4: Japan refuses repeated attempts to extradite Fujimori2005: Fujimori arrested on arrival in Chile on Peru's request2007: Extradited from Chile to Peru | |
| But despite expressing regret, Fujimori denied giving orders for the killings. | |
| Activists and relatives of some of the victims accused Fujimori of being insincere. | Activists and relatives of some of the victims accused Fujimori of being insincere. |
| "He had more than 15 years to ask the relatives' forgiveness... but he didn't do it," said Gisela Ortiz, whose brother was among those killed. | "He had more than 15 years to ask the relatives' forgiveness... but he didn't do it," said Gisela Ortiz, whose brother was among those killed. |
| Fujimori, who was in power from 1990 to 2000, is accused of murder and kidnapping. | Fujimori, who was in power from 1990 to 2000, is accused of murder and kidnapping. |
| The charges relate to the activities of a death squad operating during the early 1990s, when the government was fighting a Maoist guerrilla group known as the Shining Path. | The charges relate to the activities of a death squad operating during the early 1990s, when the government was fighting a Maoist guerrilla group known as the Shining Path. |
| If found guilty in this trial he could face up to a further 30 years in prison. | If found guilty in this trial he could face up to a further 30 years in prison. |
| Journalist | Journalist |
| Fujimori's demeanour was in sharp contrast to the fiery outburst he made on the trial's opening day on 10 December. | Fujimori's demeanour was in sharp contrast to the fiery outburst he made on the trial's opening day on 10 December. |
| Then, after shouting for several minutes that he declared himself innocent and that he had "never ordered the death of anybody", he was asked to calm down by the judge. | Then, after shouting for several minutes that he declared himself innocent and that he had "never ordered the death of anybody", he was asked to calm down by the judge. |
| He argued that Peru was in a terrible state when he was president and under his governance it was dragged out of economic collapse and liberated from the terror of the Shining Path Maoist rebellion. | He argued that Peru was in a terrible state when he was president and under his governance it was dragged out of economic collapse and liberated from the terror of the Shining Path Maoist rebellion. |
| Denying that he was responsible for human rights abuses, he said on the contrary he was trying to protect the population. | Denying that he was responsible for human rights abuses, he said on the contrary he was trying to protect the population. |
| "As a result of my government the human rights of 25 million Peruvians are respected," he said. | "As a result of my government the human rights of 25 million Peruvians are respected," he said. |
| Fujimori's trial relates to two massacres carried out by a death squad known as La Colina, in which a total of 25 people died. | Fujimori's trial relates to two massacres carried out by a death squad known as La Colina, in which a total of 25 people died. |
| It is alleged the death squad was under the direct command of the Peruvian president. | It is alleged the death squad was under the direct command of the Peruvian president. |
| Fujimori is also charged with ordering the illegal detention and interrogation of a prominent journalist, Gustavo Gorriti, and businessman Samuel Dyer, also in 1992. | Fujimori is also charged with ordering the illegal detention and interrogation of a prominent journalist, Gustavo Gorriti, and businessman Samuel Dyer, also in 1992. |
| The trial is taking place at a police base on the outskirts of Lima, where Fujimori has been held since being extradited from Chile in September. | The trial is taking place at a police base on the outskirts of Lima, where Fujimori has been held since being extradited from Chile in September. |
| It is believed the proceedings could last for several months at least. | It is believed the proceedings could last for several months at least. |