In a significant and controversial move, President Dina Boluarte of Peru has signed a new law that grants amnesty to military personnel, police, and members of civilian militias accused of committing atrocities during the country's armed conflict with Maoist groups, primarily from 1980 to 2000. Despite an Inter-American Court of Human Rights directive calling for a suspension of the measure pending review, Boluarte enacted the law that was previously passed by Congress in July.
The legislation is set to benefit hundreds of accused individuals, and notably, it includes provisions to release those over the age of 70 currently serving sentences related to these offenses. The conflict has been described as brutal, with an estimated 70,000 people killed and more than 20,000 reported missing, according to Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Boluarte emphasized that her administration was acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who defended democracy against terrorism.
However, the decision has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights advocates. Juanita Goebertus, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, labeled the law "a betrayal of Peruvian victims," arguing that it undermines decades of efforts aimed at securing accountability for egregious human rights violations.
The United Nations and organizations like Amnesty International had urged Boluarte to veto the legislation, highlighting its potential to obstruct ongoing legal proceedings involving more than 600 trials and 156 convictions. UN experts have pointed out that the amnesty may hinder investigations into serious crimes, including extrajudicial killings and torture, which the TRC found were predominantly perpetrated by state agents.
This legislative approval follows Peru's recent enactment of a statute of limitations concerning crimes against humanity committed prior to 2002, effectively obstructing numerous investigations tied to the conflict's violent past. Late last year, former president Alberto Fujimori, whose administration faced accusations of serious human rights abuses, was released from prison on humanitarian grounds, showcasing the complexities surrounding accountability in Peru's troubled history. Meanwhile, former president Martin Vizcarra was recently ordered into preventative detention over corruption allegations, becoming the fifth ex-leader embroiled in similar investigations.
The legislation is set to benefit hundreds of accused individuals, and notably, it includes provisions to release those over the age of 70 currently serving sentences related to these offenses. The conflict has been described as brutal, with an estimated 70,000 people killed and more than 20,000 reported missing, according to Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Boluarte emphasized that her administration was acknowledging the sacrifices made by those who defended democracy against terrorism.
However, the decision has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights advocates. Juanita Goebertus, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, labeled the law "a betrayal of Peruvian victims," arguing that it undermines decades of efforts aimed at securing accountability for egregious human rights violations.
The United Nations and organizations like Amnesty International had urged Boluarte to veto the legislation, highlighting its potential to obstruct ongoing legal proceedings involving more than 600 trials and 156 convictions. UN experts have pointed out that the amnesty may hinder investigations into serious crimes, including extrajudicial killings and torture, which the TRC found were predominantly perpetrated by state agents.
This legislative approval follows Peru's recent enactment of a statute of limitations concerning crimes against humanity committed prior to 2002, effectively obstructing numerous investigations tied to the conflict's violent past. Late last year, former president Alberto Fujimori, whose administration faced accusations of serious human rights abuses, was released from prison on humanitarian grounds, showcasing the complexities surrounding accountability in Peru's troubled history. Meanwhile, former president Martin Vizcarra was recently ordered into preventative detention over corruption allegations, becoming the fifth ex-leader embroiled in similar investigations.
