General Pinochet's arrest has also spurred movement in Chile's courts. Before his detention, the courts for the most part stifled the prosecution of those responsible for human rights violations during the Pinochet era. To do so, they applied an amnesty law that the military conferred upon itself in 1978. Peru's judiciary suffered from corruption, inefficiency, and intimidation before Fujimori closed down the Congress and courts and abrogated Peru's constitution in 1992. Despite repeated promises to restore the independence of the judiciary, Fujimori's remedy has been worse than the disease.
Presidential cronies oversee the reorganization of the country's judiciary.
Meanwhile, the powers of the Attorney General's office, which is charged with protecting due process and the rule of law, were curtailed Some 70 percent of Peruvian judges are temporary appointees and therefore more vulnerable to political pressure. Under Fujimori's rule judges have been frequently replaced without notice to ensure decisions favorable to the political interests of the government. The rule of law and due process have also been severely affected by the expansion of the powers of military courts which continue to judge serious terrorist crimes as well as ordinary crimes of violence committed by armed gangs. Through his majority in Congress, Fujimori has also altered the composition of electoral monitoring bodies, such as the National Electoral Board, to the government's advantage. Human rights violations in Mexico stem from many contexts, including the fight against drug trafficking, counterinsurgency efforts, and initiatives against common crime.