Alberto Fujimori: women affected by forced sterilization say that pardon is an attack on victims

Latest news of Alberto Fujimori's release. Following the hearing of the ruling of the Constitutional Court (TC) providing for the release of the former president, there have been multiple reactions against this decision that has generated great disappointment among Peruvian women who were victims of forced sterilization, one of the crimes against humanity that marks the record of Keiko Fujimori's father.

In a recent communication with RPP, María Esther Mogollón, spokesperson for the National Association of Women Affected by Forced Sterilization. She said that this decision can only be considered as an attack on all those Peruvian women who suffered from these violent acts against them. In addition, he indicated that this generates indignation and disappointment towards the authorities who have made this decision, taking into account what it means for the country.

The representative mentioned that former President Alberto Fujimori, who is about to be released, is pending a trial by the a case of forced sterilization that marked the history of Peru. The association is coordinating with lawyers, both Peruvian and Chilean, in order to speed up the documentation of the request for an extension of extradition demanded by the victims.

SOBRE PEDRO CASTILLO

Mogollón took a few minutes in the dialogue with journalists to refer to one of the campaign promises made by Pedro Castillo, the current president of Peru and facing a vacancy request. The spokeswoman reminded the audience that, before assuming the position of president, the chotano teacher pledged to support women victims of forced sterilization.

“We have sent you four letters to meet and discuss the issues of comprehensive reparation, physical and mental health care for victims; and of course, public forgiveness and a policy of memory and dignity. We are still waiting,” he said.

FORCED STERILIZATION IN PERU

Between 1996 and 2000, Alberto Fujimori's government implemented a demographic control campaign in Peru in order to reduce poverty levels in the country. From this “project”, it was recorded that 272,028 women were sterilized by tubal ligation, an irreversible surgical method.

Official figures indicate that more than seven thousand of these Peruvian women, the vast majority of them peasants, indigenous and poor, were sterilized against their will. It is said that they were manipulated and deceived about the purpose of the president's campaign. They were forcibly taken and operated in precarious conditions, putting their health at risk.

Since this crime was known, the victims and their families have been in a constant struggle to demand justice for what they did to them.

“The government's aggressive Family Planning Program focused on increasing the number of sterilizations performed on Peruvian women, specifically low-income indigenous women, marginalized from society. In addition, government officials set annual numerical targets and targets for sterilization programs, and initiated a system of quotas to be compulsorily met by health care providers employed in the Program in order to retain their employment, obtain monetary compensation or receive monetary compensation promotions”, mentions the article 'Untold Truths', published by Boston College's 'Third World Lay Journal' magazine.

THE RULING OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT (TC)

The Constitutional Court informed the entire population that on March 17, at the plenary session, the case 02010-2020-PHC/TC, referring to the habeas corpus process promoted in favor of Alberto Fujimori against the president of the judiciary and others, was voted on.

“After the vote described and in accordance with the provisions of article 10-A of the Regulations of the Constitutional Court, which establish the decisive vote of the President of the Constitutional Court in cases where there is a tie in the voting, the judgment that declares the application founded was made up of the votes of the judges Ferrero Costa, Sardón de Taboada and Blume Fortini”, explains the TC statement.

This is how the lawsuit granting humanitarian pardon to the plaintiff was declared well founded and provides for his freedom.

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