Peru’s Controversial Amnesty: What It Means for Military and Police Accused of Human Rights Abuses

Human rights advocates and families of victims from Peru’s violent internal conflict are outraged. Recently, the government issued a broad amnesty. This law protects military and police officers accused of human rights abuses from 1980 to 2000.

President Dina Boluarte signed this controversial amnesty, which the congress approved last month. The applause from military leaders in Lima was loud, but not everyone is celebrating. Critics see this as a major setback for justice.

The amnesty shields former soldiers and police from facing trial for serious crimes during the war against leftist groups like the Shining Path. Gisela Ortiz, whose sister was a victim of a notorious massacre, voiced her anger on social media. She stated, “A government that violates human rights enacts an amnesty law for those who support it.”

Juanita Goebertus from Human Rights Watch called the law a betrayal. She argued it undermines years of efforts aimed at accountability. “It weakens the rule of law in Peru,” she explained. The conflict claimed nearly 70,000 lives between 1980 and 2000, according to Peru’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, with both sides committing heinous acts.

Boluarte defended the amnesty, claiming it honors those in the armed forces and police who fought terrorism. “We’re restoring their dignity,” she said, reflecting a belief that their actions were justified.

Concerns about human rights in Peru have been rising. In 2023, former president Alberto Fujimori was released early from a 25-year sentence for human rights violations. This followed a controversial bill that set a statute of limitations on war crimes before 2003.

The UN Human Rights Commission criticized the amnesty bill. They warned that Peru has a responsibility to investigate serious human rights violations and that such amnesties contradict international standards.

Despite the amnesty, more than 150 convictions have been made, and around 600 investigations are ongoing, as reported by the National Human Rights Coordinator, a coalition of Peruvian human rights groups. Jo-Marie Burt, a respected scholar on Peru, described the new law as “a law that enshrines impunity.” She remarked that it places Peru in a troubling category alongside nations like Venezuela and Nicaragua, known for similar disregard for human rights.

The response from social media has been swift, with users expressing frustration and highlighting the ongoing struggle for justice in Peru. Many people feel that recent actions by the government threaten hard-won human rights advancements. As this situation evolves, it raises crucial questions about accountability, justice, and the future of human rights in Peru.



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