Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Peru: Vladimiro Montesinos states he will not answer more questions

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Shortly after declaring that former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori was not responsible for the massacre of civilians at a barbecue and university students from La Cantuta University, former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos announced that he would make no further statements.

Upon arriving to the court where Fujimori was being tried, Vladimiro Montesinos clarified that he was not obligated to testify and could exercise his right to remain silent.

The former head of the country's intelligence agency stated he was willing to cooperate, however.

He set certain conditions when being questioned and affirmed he would only answer what he felt was pertinent to the case.

When he was finished testifying, Vladimiro Montesinos stated that he would not say another word and wanted to be taken back to his holding cell at the naval base in Callao - where he has been held for the past seven years.

He stated he would not return to testify during Fujimori's trial again.

Montesinos assured he would only testify on his behalf during his trial and stated that if lawyers wanted to use those transcripts they were welcome to do so.

In his concluding statements Montesinos said, "From this moment forward I will not answer any more questions".

Ronald Gamarra, a lawyer present at the trial claimed that Montesinos had come to "clear Fujimori" and then leave. He affirmed he was upset Montesinos had decided not to answer questions from other lawyers.

 | |

• Business : Mining pushes Peru Rail to invest US$ 300 million in railways
• Lima : Peru: Lima - Argentina make deal to boost cooperation programs
• Economy : Peru’s International Reserves amounted to $34.91 billion in August
• Education : Reading circles to be promoted in Chiclayo, Peru
• Travel and Tourism : Peru train to connect Iquitos with coast also to be used for tourism

# carl says :
1 July, 2008 [ 05:58 ]

The USA were planning the balkanization of our country. Fujimori saved Peru.

# Mark says :
1 July, 2008 [ 08:32 ]

It is always of concern to me when elected officials refuse to answer questions under oath and I'm not just talking about Montesinos here.

Why wont he answer any more questions?

Has he got something to hide?

Who is he protecting?

Fujimori or someone else?

Maybe the involvement of a foreign government agency?

Not good by any stretch of the imagination

Peace

Mark

# mericorps says :
1 July, 2008 [ 10:26 ]

Fujimori saved Peru.

I have more love and faith and respect and honor for Peru than you ever can have if you think killing innocent people is justified just because he killed guilty people to.

You are the verguenza of Peru, Carlos, Peru is a great and wondeful country with great and wonderful people but people like yourself will do anything and everything to try and pull it down.

You have a broken soul and I pity you.

# carl says :
1 July, 2008 [ 11:16 ]

I agree with you Peru is a great country without terrorists.

# mericorps says :
1 July, 2008 [ 12:53 ]

Changing one form of terrorism for another wins nothing.

# Rachel says :
1 July, 2008 [ 14:35 ]

And Montesinos is only serving a 20 year sentence b/c he sold weapons illegally to Colombian rebels.

Fujimori on the other hand is a mixed legacy. One man's hero is another man's enemy.

They seemed like old friends happily reunited in the courtroom.