Peru's Churches Welcome Fujimori's Decision to Call New Election
After riots and videotapes of bribes, Peru pushes its current president for the opportunity to vote again.
By Rebecca Howard | posted 9/01/2000 12:00AM
2 of 2
Bishop Bambaren also called for swift action against Montesinos. "Peruvian society is wounded and the cancer of corruption must be removed," he said.
However, Montesinos fled Peru late on Saturday, September 23, seeking asylum in Panama. The Panamanian government originally rejected his petition, but agreed to reconsider its decision after pressure was applied by the Peruvian government, other Latin American governments, the United States and OAS [Organization of American States] Secretary General, Cesar Gaviria.
Raphael Goto, coordinator of the Latin American Council of Churches (CLAI) peace project in Peru, welcomed the announcement of new elections, but expressed caution, particularly following Montesinos's departure.
"Fujimori's call for new elections is ambiguous, and seems to have been a way to buy some time in order to carry out actions such as Montesinos's departure."
Goto expressed surprise about the involvement of the national and foreign governments in Montesinos's request for asylum in Panama. "Enormous damage has been done to the country, in particular because Montesinos has left the country and gone to live out his impunity in comfort under the protection of the government and the OAS," he said, adding that the former spy chief should have been arrested and tried.
"This is a mockery and demonstrates the extent that impunity reaches," said Pastor Garcia. "How is it possible that the government helps a man who has committed these crimes?"
Copyright © 2000 ENI
Related Elsewhere
Other media coverage of Montesinos's escape to Panama includes:
Panama considers spy chief's asylum request—The Independent (Sept. 28, 2000)
Political crisis unnerves Lima—Financial Times (Sept. 27, 2000)
Long strange trip of Peru's spy chief—UPI News (Sept. 27, 2000)
Peru's Fujimori, ex-spymaster see troubles mount in bribe case—CNN (Sept. 27, 2000)
Previous Christianity Today stories about Peru include:
Imprisoned Peruvian Army Colonel Denied Parole | Evangelical convicted of drug trafficking continues fight for justice as hope fades. (Sept. 1, 2000)
Peru's Christians Oppose Presidential Vow to End Pardons | More than 300 unjustly accused of terrorist involvement will remain in jail, say critics. (Dec. 16, 1999)
Imprisoned Evangelicals Dispute Accusations of Terrorism | (Feb. 9, 1998)
Copyright © 2004 Christianity Today. Click
for reprint information.
RSS Feeds
Audio
Twitter
share this page
E-mail
Print
Post
Subscribe to Christianity Today magazine today!
