Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


José García Belaunde, Peru's Minster of Foreign Affairs, affirmed on CPN Radio Monday morning that Bolivia's Supreme Court had made a "political decision" when ruling on the extradition of Walter Chavez.

Peru's government had requested that Walter Chavez, a former advisor for President Evo Morales, be extradited and taken to court to face terrorism charges.

Bolivia's Supreme Court ruled on Friday that Walter Chavez, also the head of Morales' presidential campaign in 2005, would not be extradited because he had been a political refugee since 1990.

"I think Bolivia's Supreme Court has made a political decision and not a judicial one, this is very lamentable. In Evo Morales' case we have made known that we disagree with what that country's Supreme Court has done," said Belaunde.

Peru's Minster of Foreign Affairs assured that Walter Chavez had been a participant in the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA), a communist guerrilla movement in Peru.

According to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chavez took part in the kidnapping and extortion of a Bolivian businessman.

"If these are not crimes that should be taken to court then I don't know what should be taken before the court," said Belaunde in disbelief.