On April 7, 2009 the Peruvian justice system did the unthinkable: It actually worked. On that day, ex-president Alberto Fujimori was found guilty on several counts of human rights abuses.
Fujimori, who served as president of Peru from 1990 to 2000, was alleged to have ordered several massacres in the Andean highlands. He was also found guilty of abuse of power and illegal wiretapping.
However, what's really encouraging is that this trial marks a step forward in Latin American justice. Leaders are beginning to be held accountable for their actions in a region where presidents have traditionally gotten away with almost anything.
Perhaps one day we will see a world where the autocrats of Latin America will finally be brought to justice.
Former death squad members from El Salvador will share the docket with Daniel Ortega and Hugo Chavez.
Alvaro Uribe would have to answer as to why so many union leaders die in Colombia, and Guatemalan General Jose Efrain Rios Montt would get the conviction he so desperately deserves.
Anastasio Somoza would be brought back to life only to receive a life sentence, and Fidel Castro would be wheeled into the courtroom to hear his sentence being read.
At the very least, Manuel Noriega would have a lot of new roommates.
