International
Trial of former president Fujimori for massacre begins in Peru
December 19 |
The trial against former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori, his former advisor Vladimiro Montesinos and 21 others investigated for the crime of aggravated homicide in the Pativilca massacre case began this Monday, according to local judicial sources.
According to the information, the hearing will be in charge of the Fourth National Superior Criminal Court.
At the beginning of the trial, Public Prosecutor Elsa Delgado Pérez stated that former president Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000) implemented an anti-terrorist policy that consisted of “eliminating presumed terrorist elements” through operations carried out by the Colina undercover detachment.
The Public Prosecutor explained that Fujimori developed this national policy with the issuance of new laws and the organization of the National Intelligence Service (SIN), through which he ordered special intelligence operations related to the fight against terrorism in the country.
“One of those operations was carried out by the Colina detachment,” which “assassinated six residents” of Pativilca, north of Lima, on Jan. 29, 1992, and proposed the appointment of trusted personnel in those entities of the Armed Forces, Delgado said.
According to the Public Prosecutor’s accusation, Colina is the undercover military group that was also responsible for the Barrios Altos and La Cantuta massacres, for which Fujimori was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2009, but now the former president is following this trial in freedom, after his pardon was reinstated this year.
However, the Public Prosecutor’s Office previously requested the preliminary detention of the former president and a new sentence of 25 years in prison, considering that crimes against humanity have been committed.
The former president was remotely connected to the hearing from his daughter Keiko’s house in Lima, accompanied by his lawyer, and his former intelligence advisor Vladimiro Montesinos was also connected from the Callao Naval Base, former military chiefs and the former members of Colina from the prisons where they are being held for having sentences in force, all of whom are involved in this trial for homicide, murder and forced disappearance.
In the case of Montesinos, the representative of the Public Prosecutor’s Office affirmed that he was the “de facto head of the SIN”, since he shared control of this entity with its director, Julio Salazar Monroe, and was in charge of designing “a policy of eliminating presumed terrorist elements”.
He was the one “in charge of implementing the illegal fight against terrorism, through these illegal operations,” orders that were carried out by the Colina detachment, he specified.
“He ordered, with Alberto Fujimori’s knowledge and consent, that Colina carry out this intelligence operation aimed at eliminating alleged terrorist elements,” said Delgado in his accusation against the defendants.
International
U.S. strike in Caribbean kills three suspected drug traffickers
A U.S. strike on a suspected drug-smuggling vessel in the Caribbean killed three people on Saturday, according to Pentagon Chief Pete Hegseth, marking the latest in a series of attacks in international waters.
The United States has deployed ships to the Caribbean and sent fighter jets to Puerto Rico as part of a large military force that Washington says is aimed at curbing drug trafficking.
“This vessel, like all the others, was known to our intelligence for being involved in illicit narcotics smuggling,” Hegseth stated on X. “Three narcoterrorists were aboard the vessel during the attack, which took place in international waters,” he added.
Experts argue that the attacks, which began in early September, amount to extrajudicial executions, even if the targets are known traffickers.
Washington has yet to publicly provide evidence that the targeted individuals were actively smuggling drugs or posed a threat to the United States.
Hegseth said the U.S. would continue “hunting… and killing” suspected traffickers. He also shared video footage of the strike, showing the vessel being hit and engulfed in flames. As in previous videos, sections of the ship were blurred, making it impossible to verify the number of people on board.
The United Nations called on Friday for Washington to halt its attacks.
International
At least 23 killed in Sonora supermarket blast, including minors
At least 23 people were killed and 11 others injured in an explosion at a supermarket in Hermosillo, in the northern Mexican state of Sonora, local authorities reported on Saturday.
“So far, there are 23 confirmed deaths and 11 injured, including minors,” said Sonora Governor Alfonso Durazo in a video message. He added that the injured are receiving treatment in various hospitals across the city.
“I have ordered a thorough and transparent investigation to determine the causes of the incident and assign responsibility where appropriate,” Durazo said.
The explosion occurred at a Waldo’s store in downtown Hermosillo. Local authorities confirmed that the incident was not an attack nor related to any violent act against civilians.
Meanwhile, Mexico City Mayor Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her condolences on X, offering sympathy to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.
International
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
The death toll from heavy rains and flooding in central Vietnam has risen to 28, with six people reported missing and 43 injured, local newspaper VnExpress reported Friday night.
More than 22,100 homes remain flooded, primarily in the cities of Hue and Da Nang. Floods and landslides have destroyed or swept away 91 houses and damaged another 181, the report added.
Around 245,000 households are still without electricity, particularly in Da Nang, where over 225,000 homes are affected.
Additionally, 80 stretches of national highways are blocked or disrupted due to landslides. Authorities expect the flooding to continue for another day or two in the region.
U.S. strike in Caribbean kills three suspected drug traffickers
At least 23 killed in Sonora supermarket blast, including minors
Floods in Central Vietnam leave 28 dead, thousands displaced
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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