Latest news with #Andes
Al Jazeera
an hour ago
- Politics
- Al Jazeera
‘Dramatic setback': Will Peru's new amnesty law put justice out of reach?
Will Peru's new amnesty law put justice out of reach? A demonstrator takes part in a march against a recently approved amnesty law on a hill overlooking Lima, Peru, on July 27 [Martin Mejia/AP Photo] A demonstrator takes part in a march against a recently approved amnesty law on a hill overlooking Lima, Peru, on July 27 [Martin Mejia/AP Photo] First came the rattle of a loud explosion. Then, the patter of gunfire reached 14-year-old Francisco Ochoa's ears. Ochoa and his father had been up since the crack of dawn on August 14, 1985, preparing to sow seeds in the corn fields outside Accomarca, a small village nestled in the rugged Andean mountains of south-central Peru. But the unexpected sounds coming from their hometown forced them to rush back. It was late morning by the time they reached the houses, but the village was eerily quiet. "The first thing I remember from that day is the smell when we arrived," Ochoa, now 54, recalled. "It smelled like smouldering flesh, and there was no one around." They had stumbled upon one of the most infamous massacres of Peru's two-decade-long armed conflict, one that marks its 40th anniversary this year. From 1980 to 2000, the country's military and security forces led a campaign against the Shining Path and Tupac Amaru rebel groups, which sought to overthrow the government. But in the process, soldiers and police officers committed gross human rights violations, killing dissidents, Indigenous people and other civilians. As many as 70,000 people were slaughtered. Many families have yet to find justice for their lost loved ones. But the horrors of 1985 come back to Ochoa anew when he thinks about a bill the Peruvian Congress approved this month, granting amnesty to members of the armed forces and law enforcement accused of crimes during that period. The bill now awaits action from President Dina Boluarte, who can choose to let it become law — or send it back to Congress. Survivors and human rights advocates are urging Boluarte to bar it from taking effect. "This is a dramatic setback," said Jo-Marie Burt, a professor at George Mason University who has written about the violence during the war. Up to this point, Burt said, Peru has been a leader in seeking accountability for human rights concerns. "Peru is among a handful of countries in Latin America that has successfully brought to trial some of the most emblematic cases of grave violations of human rights that were committed during its armed conflict," she explained. Demonstrators in Lima on July 27 hold photos of the people killed or disappeared during Peru's internal conflict, including university student Teófilo Rimac Capcha [Martin Mejia/AP Photo] Demonstrators in Lima on July 27 hold photos of the people killed or disappeared during Peru's internal conflict, including university student Teófilo Rimac Capcha [Martin Mejia/AP Photo] The pending amnesty law could erase approximately 156 convictions and more than 600 ongoing investigations, according to human rights organisations. Not only would it protect military members and police from prosecution, but it would also grant "humanitarian" amnesty to already convicted officials over the age of 70. For many survivors of Peru's armed conflict, the bill reopens old wounds. Rural and Indigenous communities were especially hard-hit, and they continue to struggle with marginalisation and inequality. An estimated 79 percent of the victims from 1985 to 2000 lived in rural areas, and 75 percent spoke an Indigenous language as their mother tongue, like Quechua. Ochoa himself now leads a group that represents the families of those killed in Accomarca. He said its members feel "outraged and betrayed" by Congress's actions. His life was derailed by the events of 1985. He credits the trauma he endured with impeding his studies. What happened the morning he was farming outside the village lingers with him to this day. "The military had arrived and asked people to gather for a town assembly," Ochoa explained, punctuating his thoughts with long pauses. "Once they were all gathered, they separated the women from the men and put them inside one of the villagers' huts. The women were assaulted, the men were tortured, and the hut was fired upon and burned with everyone inside." Upon discovering the bloodshed, a terrified Ochoa and his father fled the area. The military was continuing to conduct raids in the area, and they were not safe. He now lives in the capital Lima with his partner and works in construction. Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission would later determine that 62 victims were killed in the massacre at Accomarca, including women, the elderly and children. They included Ochoa's mother, 8-year-old brother and 6-year-old sister. He also lost aunts and cousins in the gunfire. The executions in Accomarca were part of a military operation called Operation Huancayoc, which was designed to target suspected Shining Path members. But despite finding no evidence linking the villagers to the rebel group, a military unit led by Second Lieutenant Telmo Hurtado Hurtado carried out their executions. Hurtado even used a grenade to help kill the villagers. High-ranking army officers in the nearby city of Ayacucho also planned and approved the operation. "The order was to kill everyone," Ochoa recalled. The military killed seven witnesses in the days that followed, according to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The commission concluded that massacres like what happened in Accomarca were consistent with the military's overall tactics. "The extrajudicial executions, forced disappearances, and tortures were not the result of individual initiatives but rather the execution of a strategy," the commission said in its report. A funeral procession on May 20, 2022, carries coffins representing the victims of the 1985 Accomarca massacre [Sebastian Castaneda/Reuters] A funeral procession on May 20, 2022, carries coffins representing the victims of the 1985 Accomarca massacre [Sebastian Castaneda/Reuters] Even after the internal conflict came to an end, Ochoa said that justice took decades to achieve. Many of the bodies in Accomarca were charred beyond recognition, and the survivors struggled to identify the dead. The victims were ultimately buried together in a single grave mere metres away from the house where they had been massacred. Only in recent decades have the remains been exhumed. Authorities relied on family members and DNA testing to help identify the victims, and in 2022, a formal burial was held with white coffins for each of the dead. Some contained only bone fragments. Others, clothes. In cases where nothing could be recovered, an empty coffin was buried instead. Ochoa said the remains of 18 victims have yet to be found, and there are not enough resources to continue with the DNA analysis. But identifying the dead is only half the battle. The survivors and victims' families also sought accountability from the soldiers who had carried out the killings and the officers who gave the orders. For many years, however, justice was out of reach — in part, because of a previous amnesty law. Towards the end of the conflict, in 1995, then-President Alberto Fujimori approved a law that shielded security forces from prosecution. Only after its repeal in 2001 could effective judicial investigations begin. Fujimori himself was convicted of human rights abuses in 2009, though he was controversially pardoned and released from prison in 2023, shortly before his death nine months later. In the case of Accomarca, military leaders like Hurtado were put on trial and sentenced in 2017 to prison terms of more than 20 years. Gloria Cano, a lawyer representing the Accomarca families and the director of the Pro-Human Rights Association (APRODEH), said the latest amnesty law could derail the progress that has already been made. "First, the fugitives must serve their prison terms. Second, the civil reparations ordered by the courts in 2017 must be paid. This hasn't been fulfilled yet," she said. "They also want to know what happened to some missing remains — bodies that were taken from the common grave." A woman stands in front of coffins representing her two sisters who were killed in Accomarca, Peru, in 1985 [Martin Mejia/AP Photo] A woman stands in front of coffins representing her two sisters who were killed in Accomarca, Peru, in 1985 [Martin Mejia/AP Photo] Cano believes that the new amnesty law is unconstitutional and violates Peru's human rights obligations. That sentiment has been echoed by human rights experts at the United Nations. In a joint statement issued on July 17, nine experts called the amnesty bill a "clear breach" of Peru's legal obligations. "Peru has a duty to investigate, prosecute and punish gross human rights violations and crimes under international law committed during the conflict," they wrote. "International standards prohibit amnesties or pardons for such grave crimes." Protests this week to mark Peru's Independence Day likewise sought to pressure President Boluarte to nix the bill. Since the start of the week, for instance, families of the victims have rallied in a series of protests in downtown Lima. But not everyone is opposed to the amnesty law. Congressman Fernando Rospigliosi is a prominent supporter of the bill, and he argued that the military helped "save" Peru from "the clutches of terrorism". "Today, we would not be here — there would be no parliament, there would be no independent press — if those soldiers and police had not risked their lives," he told reporters. Rospigliosi said the amnesty law would protect former law enforcement from "endless persecution". He is a member of the Fuerza Popular, a right-wing party led by the late Fujimori's daughter, Keiko Fujimori. Lurgio Gavilán, an anthropology professor at the National University of San Cristóbal de Huamanga, has researched the complex dynamics that led to the atrocities of the war. Gavilán himself witnessed the horrors of the conflict firsthand. At age 12, he joined the Shining Path but was later recruited by the army to fight against the rebels. "The military have also suffered. Not all of them committed atrocities," Gavilán said. He shared his story in an autobiography, which was recently adapted into a 2024 movie called Tattoos in Memory. Gavilán explained that he encourages the public to seek to understand the different sides of the conflict. The soldiers and rebels cope with trauma, too. "The fact is, the Shining Path, the army — they didn't come from somewhere else. They were not foreigners. It was us," he said. Mourners in 2022 display the photo of a woman killed in the 1985 Accomarca massacre in Peru [Sebastian Castaneda/Reuters] Mourners in 2022 display the photo of a woman killed in the 1985 Accomarca massacre in Peru [Sebastian Castaneda/Reuters] But for Burt, the professor at George Mason University, the amnesty law continues a trend that moves away from confronting what happened. Last year, Congress passed a statute of limitations for crimes against humanity committed before 2002. Then, in March, Congress amended a law to include new restrictions on civil society groups and other nonprofits. Opponents have dubbed the measure the "anti-NGO law". One provision would bar nonprofits that receive international development funds from assisting in legal cases against the Peruvian government. Burt has worked with Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and followed the Accomarca legal case. She believes that the amnesty bill, in combination with the "anti-NGO law", would make it nearly impossible for nonprofits to challenge the state in human rights cases, like those resulting from the armed conflict. "To deal with the past, reckon with the past, provide reparations to the victims, and to help society kind of move past what happened", Burt said it is important to acknowledge the truth of what unfolded. But one of the ways to do that is "by providing victims with a remedy right through a legal system" — something she said has become harder in the shadow of the new bill.
Forbes
3 days ago
- General
- Forbes
A Biologist Spotlights The Largest ‘Bird Of Prey' In The World (Hint: It's Also The World's Heaviest Soaring Bird)
Birds, by design, tend to be small, light and streamlined. Yet there are some that push the ... More boundaries of size. Here is the avian world's best example of an ultra-heavyweight flyer. Birds of prey are defined by their sharp talons, hooked beaks, keen eyesight, and carnivorous diet – all of which enable them to hunt, kill or scavenge other animals for food. The bald eagle is a classic example of a bird of prey. It has a powerful, hooked beak. It has sharp talons for catching fish. Its eyesight is incredible. And it has a carnivorous diet, mainly eating fish and small mammals. An example of a bird that wouldn't qualify as a bird of prey is the American robin. The robin is much smaller and has a diet consisting mainly of worms, berries and insects. It doesn't have talons and its eyesight isn't nearly as impressive as a bald eagle's. There are several hundred birds of prey that exist in the world today. Some belong to the family Accipitridae, which comprises hawks, eagles, kites and harriers. Others belong to the family Falconidae and are falcons. Owls, ospreys, vultures and the snake-hunting secretarybird also fall into the bird of prey category. The largest bird of prey happens to be a vulture – a condor, to be precise. It is the Andean condor and it weighs up to 35 pounds. It is not the heaviest bird (that would be the flightless ostrich) and it is not the heaviest flying bird (that would be the great bustard) but it is the heaviest bird of prey. Here is the story of this fantastic flying creature. The Andean Condor – A Superlative Among Superlatives Andean condor perched on a rock, displaying its powerful build and characteristic bald head. The Andean condor (Vultur gryphus) has a wingspan of 10+ feet (the largest wingspan of any land bird). Despite its 30+ pound physique, it soars effortlessly, gliding on thermal air currents with minimal wing-flapping. This is a skill that conserves energy during long flights. Unlike many birds of prey that actively hunt, the Andean condor is primarily a scavenger. It feeds mainly on the remains of dead animals, often spotting carcasses from high in the sky due to its exceptional eyesight. This role is vital in its ecosystem, as condors help clean up dead matter, making sure none of nature's bounty is wasted. Its bald head, often tinted with red or yellow hues, is an evolutionary adaptation to its scavenging lifestyle, helping to keep the head clean when feeding on carcasses. The condor's size and soaring ability allow it to travel vast distances across the rugged Andean landscape in search of food. Its wings are broad and equipped with 'primary feathers' that spread out like fingers, providing extra lift and maneuverability, which is crucial in navigating mountainous wind currents. Remarkably, these birds can fly for hours without landing, covering more than 150 miles in a single day without flapping their wings. Sidebar: Impressed by the Andean condor? Meet the world's tallest, and rarest, eagle here: The Andean condor's soaring ability has been quantified in extraordinary detail. A 2020 study published in PNAS used high-resolution biologging data to track every wingbeat of wild Andean condors across more than 200 hours of flight. The researchers found that condors flap their wings for less than 1% of their total flight time, with one bird covering over 100 miles in a single stretch without flapping at all. Most of the energy expenditure is concentrated during takeoff, while the rest of their movement is powered almost entirely by rising air currents. Even immature birds with limited experience were able to navigate mountainous terrain for hours at a time without powered flight, highlighting the species' extreme specialization for energy-efficient soaring. This efficiency is essential for aerial scavengers like the condor, since their large bodies make each wingbeat metabolically expensive. Andean condor soaring over the Andes, showcasing its massive wingspan and effortless gliding ... More ability. Engineers have even recently looked to the Andean condor for inspiration in designing more efficient wind turbines. You can read this article for the full details, but here are the cliff notes: A 2024 study published in the journal Energy found that mimicking the shape of the condor's wings led to a more efficient wind turbine blade, with an estimated 10 percent increase in energy production. Researchers added curved tips, known as winglets, to existing turbine blades. Modeled after the condor's splayed wingtips, these modifications created a more aerodynamic design that reduced drag and increased lift. The Andean condor is culturally important to the indigenous peoples of the Andes. It is looked to as a symbol of power, health and freedom, and features prominently in Andean mythology and folklore. The Andean condor faces many conservation challenges. Habitat loss, poisoning from carcasses tainted with pesticides or lead, and hunting have led to declining populations in some areas. Conservation efforts, including captive breeding and habitat protection, are ongoing. When comparing the Andean condor to other large birds, it holds a unique niche. While the ostrich dwarfs the Andean condor in weight, the ostrich is flightless. The great bustard, though sometimes larger than the Andean condor, is not nearly as capable a flyer. The condor, however, combines size with unparalleled soaring ability, making it the king of birds of prey. Are you an animal lover who owns a pet, perhaps even a pet bird? Take the science-backed Pet Personality Test to know how well you know your little friend.
Gizmodo
4 days ago
- Science
- Gizmodo
A Rare Interstellar Object Is Zipping Through Our Solar System. This Brand-New Telescope Saw It First
Nearly a month ago, a mysterious object was seen hurtling through the solar system and later confirmed as an interstellar visitor traveling toward the Sun. Several telescopes have since turned their attention to the wandering object, but it turns out the brand-new Vera C. Rubin Observatory was the first to catch a glimpse of 3I/ATLAS. In an act of cosmic serendipity, astronomers pointed the Rubin Observatory toward the patch of sky where the interstellar object appeared during its commissioning phase. Images captured by the observatory, perched atop a mountain in the Chilean Andes, later revealed the comet in its full glory. Rubin's observations of 3I/ATLAS were recorded on June 21, around 10 days before its official discovery, according to a recent paper available on the preprint website arXiv. The Rubin Observatory, overseen by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Department of Energy (DOE), boasts the largest digital camera ever built for astronomy. Its car-sized, 3.2-gigapixel camera is designed to capture ultra-high-definition images and videos of the cosmos. The observatory unveiled its first images to the public on June 23, observing millions of galaxies and stars in the Milky Way over a period of just 10 hours. The images were not only beautiful—they also revealed supernovas and distant galaxies that could help astronomers study the universe's expansion. With its revolutionary precision, it's no wonder then that the Rubin Observatory captured the recently discovered comet before any other telescope. 3I/ATLAS was first spotted in data collected by the Asteroid Terrestrial-impact Last Alert System (ATLAS) between June 25 and 29, and again on July 1. By July 2, the Deep Random Survey remote telescope in Rio Hurtado, Chile, had seen it too. The International Astronomical Union's Minor Planet Center confirmed that this comet came from outside our solar system on July 2, marking the third discovery of an interstellar object. Since then, astronomers have been rushing to gather as much data as they can on the mysterious object. The Gemini North telescope on Maunakea, Hawaii, recently snapped a close-up view of 3I/ATLAS, capturing the comet's coma in extreme detail. Initial observations of 3I/ATLAS suggest it's the oldest comet ever found, around 2 billion years older than our solar system. Compared to the two previously discovered interstellar objects, 'Oumuamua and Comet 2I/Borisov, 3I/ATLAS is not only older, but it's also faster. A recent study, which has yet to undergo peer review, found that 3I/ATLAS has a hyperbolic velocity of about 37 miles per second (60 kilometers per second). Rubin's early observations of 3I/ATLAS are important considering they are the earliest images captured of the comet by a high-precision telescope. The new paper includes 49 images in total, although some were excluded because they were captured during Rubin's alignment sequence and were out of focus. Nineteen of the images were captured during intentional operations and confirm that 3I/ATLAS does in fact behave like a comet, with a cloud of gas and dust surrounding its icy nucleus, according to the paper. Just as it was the first to spot the comet, Rubin will also be the first to lose sight of it. On August 22, 3I/ATLAS will shift out of the area in the sky currently being watched by the observatory. Until then, the astronomers behind the paper will keep an eye out for the interstellar visitor in Rubin's images.
NHK
6 days ago
- Climate
- NHK
Climate crisis visible in tropical glaciers
The melting of glaciers in the Andes due to global warming is raising the risk of imminent disasters and future water shortages.
The Independent
23-07-2025
- Science
- The Independent
Teeth marks on fossil show ‘terror bird' may have been killed in vicious battle with caiman 13 million years ago
Teeth marks seen on the leg bone of a so-called 'terror bird', which were predators 13 million years ago, suggest it may have been killed by an even bigger reptile. The enormous, flightless birds were found in the Americas and could reach up to 3 metres tall. They had powerful legs and vicious beaks which could tear the flesh of its prey. In a fossilised leg bone of one of the huge birds, four deep teeth marks have been discovered, prompting professor Andrés Link of the University of the Andes in Colombia to search for what might have been the bird's killer. Researchers now believe it was a caiman. 'Terror birds were undoubtedly at the top of the food chain,' says Prof Link in the study published by journal Biology Letters. 'But this evidence shows us that they could also fall as prey of large caimans when approaching large water bodies. Maybe they went there to look for prey or [were] moving across this complex ecosystem.' Using 3D scan of the bites, scientists were also able to reconstruct the possible battle between the terror bird and another reptile - a battle the bird appears to have lost. To discover which animal might have killed the terror bird, scientists created a digital model of the tooth marks by scanning the surface of the fossil, which they then compared with the teeth of ancient predators from the region. 'There's no evidence of gnawing and the marks are rounded and in [a] line, more similar to those inflicted by crocodiles and caimans,' professor Link said, with the scientist ruling that it was unlikely to be a mammal behind the attack. The bones, which were first found more than 15 years ago in Colombia's Tatacoa Desert, provide rare evidence of an interaction between two of the top predators on the continent 13 million years ago. But the research team notes that they can't rule out the possibility that the bird was already dead at the time it was apprehended by the caiman, and that the tooth marks could be evidence of scavenging by the reptile. "There is no sign of healing in the bite marks on the bone," explained professor Link. "So if it wasn't already dead, it died in the attack. That was the last day that bird was on this planet - then a piece of its leg bone was found 13 million years later." These types of tooth traces are 'more common than people think', said Carolina Acosta Hospitaleche of the National University of La Plata in Argentina. Last year, she discovered tooth marks on a smaller and older terror bird fossil, around 43 million years old, from Argentina.
