Pubdate: Tue, 28 Nov 2000
Source: New York Times (NY)
Copyright: 2000 The New York Times Company
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Section: Opinion
Author: Maria McFarland

AN IRON HAND IN PERU: BLAME ON ALL SIDES

To the Editor:

The end of Alberto K. Fujimori's presidency in Peru should lead to 
reflection on how he was able to stay in power so long and do so much 
damage to the country's democratic institutions (news article, Nov. 24). 
For my fellow Peruvians, this means coming to grips with the fact that we 
were wrong to give up constitutional democracy in favor of an autocracy 
that, at least initially, got results.

But the United States also has much to learn. For years, Washington stood 
behind Mr. Fujimori and his intelligence chief, Vladimiro Montesinos, 
despite the fact that Mr. Montesinos was suspected of human rights abuses 
and corruption.

Why did the United States give so much support to such a sinister figure? 
Because Mr. Montesinos cooperated with America's drug war. The United 
States sacrificed the goal of promoting democracy, human rights and law to 
the lesser goals of its drug policy.

MARIA MCFARLAND
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