Latest news with #IndigenousPeruvians
News18
6 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Peru enacts amnesty for military personnel, police in Shining Path insurgency
Lime, Aug 14 (AP) Peru's president on Wednesday signed an amnesty bill into law, preventing military personnel and police officers from being prosecuted over alleged human rights abuses during the country's armed conflict decades ago. The new law came despite calls from the local and international community to strike it down. The war that raged between the Peruvian military and the Shining Path communist insurgency from 1980 to 2000 left an estimated 70,000 people dead, the majority of them in rural areas. President Dina Boluarte said during an official ceremony that Peru 'honours" those people who confronted the insurgency with 'courage and dedication." She added that military members and police officers have carried 'for years the burden of endless trials, unjust accusations, and a pain that has affected not only them but also their families." The decision to enact the law drew immediate criticism from some rights groups. Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the law 'grants impunity" to those involved in serious crimes, adding that Peru now 'joins Nicaragua, Venezuela and other countries" in 'disregarding the rights of victims." 'This law is quite simply a betrayal of Peruvian victims," said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at the rights group. 'It undermines decades of efforts to ensure accountability for atrocities and weakens the country's rule of law even further." The law was passed by Congress in July. A coalition of human rights organisations said that it could wipe out 156 convictions and another 600 cases that are being prosecuted. The ex-president, who led Peru from 1990 to 2000, was in prison for most of the last 15 years of his life after being convicted of crimes against humanity. Fujimori's administration helped to put the nation's economy on track following years of hyperinflation and defeated the Shining Path, a fanatic communist group that led a violent campaign to overthrow the government. But his government took an authoritarian turn in 1992, when he ordered the military to shut down Peru's congress and its supreme court and declared a state of emergency. Other amnesty laws passed in 1995 in Peru shielded military and police personnel from prosecution for alleged human rights abuses during the country's internal conflict, including massacres, torture and forced disappearances. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights had at least twice previously declared amnesty laws in Peru invalid for violating the right to justice and breaching international human rights standards. A truth commission determined that the majority of the conflict's victims were Indigenous Peruvians caught up in clashes between security forces and Shining Path. (AP) NPK NPK view comments First Published: August 14, 2025, 08:45 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Los Angeles Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Los Angeles Times
Peru enacts amnesty for military personnel and police in Shining Path insurgency
LIMA, Peru — Peru's president on Wednesday signed an amnesty bill into law, preventing military personnel and police officers from being prosecuted over alleged human rights abuses during the country's armed conflict decades ago. The new law came despite calls from the local and international community to strike it down. The war that raged between the Peruvian military and the Shining Path communist insurgency from 1980 to 2000 left an estimated 70,000 people dead, the majority of them in rural areas. President Dina Boluarte said during an official ceremony that Peru 'honors' those people who confronted the insurgency with 'courage and dedication.' She added that military members and police officers have carried 'for years the burden of endless trials, unjust accusations and a pain that has affected not only them but also their families.' The decision to enact the law drew immediate criticism from some rights groups. Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the law 'grants impunity' to those involved in serious crimes, adding that Peru now 'joins Nicaragua, Venezuela and other countries' in 'disregarding the rights of victims.' 'This law is quite simply a betrayal of Peruvian victims,' said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at the rights group. 'It undermines decades of efforts to ensure accountability for atrocities and weakens the country's rule of law even further.' The law was passed by Congress in July. A coalition of human rights organizations said that it could wipe out 156 convictions and another 600 cases that are being prosecuted. Supporters of the law come from right-wing political parties that have historically defended the military, including the Popular Force party led by Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who died in September. The ex-president, who led Peru from 1990 to 2000, was in prison for most of the last 15 years of his life in prison after being convicted of crimes against humanity. Fujimori's administration helped to put the nation's economy on track following years of hyperinflation and defeated the Shining Path, a fanatic communist group that led a violent campaign to overthrow the government. But his government took an authoritarian turn in 1992, when he ordered the military to shut down Peru's congress and its supreme court and declared a state of emergency. Other amnesty laws passed in 1995 in Peru shielded military and police personnel from prosecution for alleged human rights abuses during the country's internal conflict, including massacres, torture and forced disappearances. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights had at least twice previously declared amnesty laws in Peru invalid for violating the right to justice and breaching international human rights standards. A truth commission determined that the majority of the conflict's victims were Indigenous Peruvians caught up in clashes between security forces and Shining Path.
The Hill
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
Peru enacts amnesty for military personnel and police in Shining Path insurgency
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peru's president on Wednesday signed an amnesty bill into law, preventing military personnel and police officers from being prosecuted over alleged human rights abuses during the country's armed conflict decades ago. The new law came despite calls from the local and international community to strike it down. The war that raged between the Peruvian military and the Shining Path communist insurgency from 1980 to 2000 left an estimated 70,000 people dead, the majority of them in rural areas. President Dina Boluarte said during an official ceremony that Peru 'honors' those people who confronted the insurgency with 'courage and dedication.' She added that military members and police officers have carried 'for years the burden of endless trials, unjust accusations, and a pain that has affected not only them but also their families.' The decision to enact the law drew immediate criticism from some rights groups. Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the law 'grants impunity' to those involved in serious crimes, adding that Peru now 'joins Nicaragua, Venezuela and other countries' in 'disregarding the rights of victims.' 'This law is quite simply a betrayal of Peruvian victims,' said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at the rights group. 'It undermines decades of efforts to ensure accountability for atrocities and weakens the country's rule of law even further.' The law was passed by Congress in July. A coalition of human rights organizations said that it could wipe out 156 convictions and another 600 cases that are being prosecuted. Supporters of the law come from right-wing political parties that have historically defended the military, including the Popular Force party led by Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who died in September. The ex-president, who led Peru from 1990 to 2000, was in prison for most of the last 15 years of his life in prison after being convicted of crimes against humanity. Fujimori's administration helped to put the nation's economy on track following years of hyperinflation and defeated the Shining Path, a fanatic communist group that led a violent campaign to overthrow the government. But his government took an authoritarian turn in 1992, when he ordered the military to shut down Peru's congress and its supreme court and declared a state of emergency. Other amnesty laws passed in 1995 in Peru shielded military and police personnel from prosecution for alleged human rights abuses during the country's internal conflict, including massacres, torture and forced disappearances. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights had at least twice previously declared amnesty laws in Peru invalid for violating the right to justice and breaching international human rights standards. A truth commission determined that the majority of the conflict's victims were Indigenous Peruvians caught up in clashes between security forces and Shining Path.
Winnipeg Free Press
6 days ago
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Peru enacts amnesty for military personnel and police in Shining Path insurgency
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peru's president on Wednesday signed an amnesty bill into law, preventing military personnel and police officers from being prosecuted over alleged human rights abuses during the country's armed conflict decades ago. The new law came despite calls from the local and international community to strike it down. The war that raged between the Peruvian military and the Shining Path communist insurgency from 1980 to 2000 left an estimated 70,000 people dead, the majority of them in rural areas. President Dina Boluarte said during an official ceremony that Peru 'honors' those people who confronted the insurgency with 'courage and dedication.' She added that military members and police officers have carried 'for years the burden of endless trials, unjust accusations, and a pain that has affected not only them but also their families.' The decision to enact the law drew immediate criticism from some rights groups. Human Rights Watch said in a statement that the law 'grants impunity' to those involved in serious crimes. 'This law is quite simply a betrayal of Peruvian victims,' said Juanita Goebertus, Americas director at the rights group. 'It undermines decades of efforts to ensure accountability for atrocities and weakens the country's rule of law even further.' The law was passed by Congress in July,. A coalition of human rights organizations said that it could wipe out 156 convictions and another 600 cases that are being prosecuted. Supporters of the law come from right-wing political parties that have historically defended the military, including the Popular Force party led by Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori. Other amnesty laws passed in 1995 in Peru shielded military and police personnel from prosecution for alleged human rights abuses during the country's internal conflict, including massacres, torture and forced disappearances. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights had at least twice previously declared amnesty laws in Peru invalid for violating the right to justice and breaching international human rights standards. A truth commission determined that the majority of the conflict's victims were Indigenous Peruvians caught up in clashes between security forces and Shining Path.
Winnipeg Free Press
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Winnipeg Free Press
Peru's new amnesty law for human rights abuses sparks anger and international appeal
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Lawyers for victims of human rights abuses during Peru's armed conflict vowed to appeal to international bodies Thursday to knock down an amnesty law passed by the country's Congress the previous night. Congress passed the legislation late Wednesday to provide amnesty for military members and civilians prosecuted for serious human rights abuses during the country's armed conflict between 1980 and 2000. A coalition of human rights organizations said the new law could wipe out 156 convictions and another 600 cases that are being prosecuted. Supporters of the law come from right wing political parties that have historically defended the military, including the Popular Force party led by Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori. The law now awaits action from President Dina Boluarte, who can sign it, return it to Congress with her comments or let it become law in two weeks without touching it. Boluarte has not made any comment on the amnesty, even before its passage. There have been numerous attempts in recent years to shield the military and police from prosecution in Peru for crimes committed during the conflict. But opponents of amnesty in Peru have found success before at international bodies. Amnesty laws passed in 1995 in Peru shielded military and police personnel from prosecution for human rights abuses committed during the country's internal conflict, including massacres, torture, and forced disappearances. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has at least twice previously declared amnesty laws in Peru invalid for violating the right to justice and breaching international human rights standards. 'We're not only going to the domestic arena to seek its invalidation, but we've already taken some action at the international level,' lawyer Gloria Cano, director of the Pro Human Rights Association said during a news conference Thursday. She said they had already alerted the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Inter-American Court on Human Rights and planned to go to the United Nations as well. Human rights advocates believe that Peru's membership in the Inter-American System of Human Rights and the obligations that entails, make the amnesty law unconstitutional. Fernando Rospiglioso of the Popular Force party, who supports the amnesty, said in June that only a tiny fraction of the hundreds of cases brought against soldiers and police for abuses during the 1980 to 2000 armed conflict led to convictions. 'Many of them (the accused) are no longer with us, others grew old in silence subjected to never-ending prosecutions,' he said. A truth commission determined that the majority of the conflict's victims were Indigenous Peruvians caught between security forces and the Shining Path rebel group. The commission calculated some 70,000 people were killed in the conflict.
