Peru President: We will not sacrifice anti-corruption fight to avoid confrontation

12:44 | Lima, Oct. 30.

President Martin Vizcarra has reaffirmed his stance on opening a dialogue and finding common ground with the opposition.

"We cannot sacrifice the fight against corruption just for the desire to avoid confrontation," the Head of State told foreign reporters on Monday.

Concerning Fuerza Popular opposition party and its leader Keiko Fujimori, the top official indicated the proposals for dialogue were suggested by the Executive Branch and not by the counterpart.

"This proposal has been on the table for seven months, and after all this time, now they say it is valid," he said in this sense.

The statesman recalled that —while Fujimori was requesting a meeting— the Inca country's citizens found out about Fuerza Popular's Telegram chats and their mistreatment towards the Head of State.

However, the top official reaffirmed his willingness to set the foundations for dialogue with the opposition.

He also addressed other political subjects, such as the annulment of the pardon granted to former President Alberto Fujimori last Christmas and Congress' attempts to pass a bill intended for his release.

In this sense, the top leader seemed to be in favor of a bill allowing elderly inmates to serve their sentence under house arrest.

Last week, Vizcarra said he believes the Inca country does need a statute that authorizes elderly people —with health issues— to serve their sentence under that premise. On that occasion, he added this should be debated in depth to prevent people —who are deemed as a danger to society— to be released under such law.

As is known, Fujimori was granted a humanitarian pardon by ex-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski on December 24, 2017. He had served 12 years of the 25-year sentence for the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta cases, which involved human rights abuses.

Last June, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ruled the Peruvian State should —constitutionally— review the clemency granted to the ex-president, which was questioned by the victims' families, among others.

In August, the Judicial Branch admitted the request of La Cantuta and Barrios Altos victims' relatives to review the process, in accordance with a resolution issued by the Court.

Earlier in this month, the Peruvian Preparatory Investigation Court annulled Fujimori's pardon and issued search, as well as arrest warrants against him.

(END) FHG/DTK/MVB

Published: 10/30/2018

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Peru President: We will not sacrifice anti-corruption fight to avoid confrontation

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