Lori Berenson on the Decision of the IACHR and its Ramifications
Huacariz Prison, Cajamarca, Peru, July 2002
English version
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights pronounced favorably about my case and once again the Peruvian public is being bombarded with the supposed dangers of terrorism that would be brought on if the government complied with the recommendations. Once again my case is being used as a smoke screen -- I am a representative figure of "terrorism" used to create concern or fear, or perhaps just to entertain people so they forget about the low popularity of the government. The Inter-American Commission's criticism of the antiterrorism legislation in Perú evoked the images of opening hell's doors and unleashing of three-headed monsters that would harvest pain and hell. And I symbolize such a monster. And all of us detained in a context of political violence are regarded as such. But we aren't beasts -- we are human beings.
I don't know how long it will take for Peruvian society to come to terms with and be able to examine the period of political violence in its real, true dimension and on a human level. The Fujimori dictatorship designed a propaganda campaign that magnified political violence, calling it "terrorism" and using antiterrorist strategies as a pretext for violating human rights and, in general, distracting attention from other issues. I understand the past is very painful, especially when the media and politicians keep blaming violence for all society's ills. There have been so many unfortunate victims - so many deaths, disappearances, and detained. Thousands of people have been detained, mistreated, tortured and tried and sentenced to long, harsh jail terms within the framework of the unconstitutional Fujimori antiterrorist legislation that the Inter-American Commission wants modified.
Over the past year, particularly in the past two weeks, I've seen those who've tried me - the prosecutor, state defender, and judges -- removed from their posts. This is a tacit recognition by the judicial authorities of the need for change after a decade in which there was direct government control of the judicial system. In six public hearings of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, the speakers agreed on the need to change the antiterrorism legislation because its use in itself violated the human rights and due process of those tried under it. These changes are even more necessary if Perú is supposedly a democratic society and not a dictatorship.
... I am happy to say that since the Commission's pronouncement on my case at least Peruvian officials can speak about changing these laws, although with difficulty and awful propaganda. But at least the subject can be addressed and that's a big first step. A year ago, or even a month ago, that would have been impossible. I think something positive will come about because of the Commission pronouncement. I do not refer to what the ruling said about me since so many absurdly say that I had a fair trial simply because it was "public," and if there is an admission for the need to change the laws, I'm somehow disconnected from that need. But my personal situation aside, just touching this topic is a step toward understanding the social process lived. And certainly the necessary changes will not lead to social chaos as so many Peruvian officials have declared. To the contrary, they will bring Perú closer to the truth about its past.
Saying these things doesn't mean I am not aware that this is a very sensitive topic, but one cannot allow this topic to be transformed into a smoke screen again as occurred during the Fujimori dictatorship. Discussing the topic doesn't mean awakening the sleeping monster. That isn't real nor is it fair. Magnifying these problems is a political act that far from dignifying the victims and the people who deserve dignity creates confusion, fear, and hate, reliving so many years of propaganda in which the dictatorship hid its faults behind the danger of violence. Repeating that "show" today doesn't help to resolve the real problems in the country, the economic and social crisis. Right now, that economic and social crisis is being worsened with the disastrous winter storms in the southern departments that should receive the attention of everyone in Perú. Social processes are complex and difficult. It is my hope that Peruvian society can come to understand what has happened and that politicians and everyone help to achieve that understanding instead of repeating old habits. A just society and a better future for all in Perú depend upon it
en castellano
En estos dias se conoció que la CIDH opinó nuevamente sobre la necesidad que se cambie la legislación antiterrorista, rezago de la dictadura fujimontesinista, por no ajustarse a las normas intenacionales de respeto al debido proceso y a los derechos humanos. Esa decision de la CIDH se transformó en un nuevo escandalo político. El supuesto peligro de "terrorismo" saltó a las primeras planas, dando a entender que la modificatoria de dicha legislación inconstitucional equivaldría a abrir las puertas del mismísimo infierno y cual cuadro medieval sobre el apocalipsis, los monstruos de tres cabezas sembrarían el caos. Es así como nos pintan y nos consideran a los presos, como monstruos, pero no somos bestias, somos seres humanos y los que fuimos detenidos en el marco de la violencia política y procesados bajo esa legislación inconstitucional también lo somos.
No sé cuanto tiempo tomará para que la sociedad pueda examinar el tema de la violencia política en sus verdaderas dimensiones y a nivel humano. El pasado es doloroso y son muchas las víctimas; muertos, desaparecidos y detenidos. Según estadisticas de IDEELE, mas de veinte mil personas pasaron por detención al amparo de la legislación que CIDH pide se modifique.
Durante el ultimo año y en particular en los ultimos días he visto como los que me juzgaron(Fiscal, Procurador, magistrados) han sido retirados de sus cargos en el Ministerio Público y en el Poder Judicial. Esto es un tácito reconocimiento de parte de las autoridades judiciales de la necesidad de cambio luego de la década de control del sistema judicial por parte de la dictadura fujimorista. El que en la sexta audiencia de la Comisión de la Verdad los ponentes concordasen en la necesidad de cambiar la legislación antiterrorista que amparó tanto abuso, es la admisión que dicha legislación tiene que modificarse, más aún si se supone que ésta es una democracia y ya no una dictadura. De eso se habla hoy con dificultad pero se habla y eso es un gran avance para que la sociedad pueda ver y entender el proceso de lo vivido,y se vera que estos necesarios cambios en las leyes no significan el caos social.
Esto no niega tener conciencia de que el tema de la violencia despierta mucha susceptibilidad pero tampoco hay que permitir que este tema se vuelva a convertir en una cortina de humo como ocurría durante la dictadura. Tocar este tema no es despertar al monstruo dormido, eso no es real ni tampoco justo. Magnificar estos problemas es una acción política que lejos de dignificar a las víctimas y a un pueblo que lo merece, cra confusión, temor y odios, reviviendo la propaganda de tantos años en que la dictadura se escudó en esta. Y hacerlo hoy no ayuda a resolver los verdaderos problemas del país como la tragedia climatica que afecta al sur peruano, que requieren de la atención de todos empezando por los políticos.
Los procesos sociales con complejos y dificiles. Es mi mayor esperanza que la sociedad peruana pueda llegar a comprender lo sucedido y que los políticos y todos coadyuven a ello en vez de repetir los manejos propagandisticos del pasado. Una sociedad justa y un futuro mejor para el Perú depende de ello.