Lima Peru — Peru’s Congress on Thursday approved a law establishing a statute of limitations for crimes against humanity committed before 2002, a decision that human rights organizations warned could foster impunity and thwart investigations into serious abuses.
It could also benefit figures such as former president alberto fujimori and retired soldiers accused – or even convicted – of crimes committed between 1980 and 2000 during an internal armed conflict that left thousands of victims.
According to the Peruvian prosecutor’s office, the legislation will have a direct impact on 550 victims and 600 cases, including investigations and judicial proceedings that would be archived or dismissed if prescribed.
Fujimori, who governed Peru from 1990 to 2000, He was sentenced in 2009 accused of human rights abuses. He was accused of being the mastermind behind the murders of 25 Peruvians while the government was fighting communist Shining Path rebels.
The new law, in fact, was promoted by the right-wing Popular Force party (FP), led by Keiko Fujimori, daughter of former President Fujimori, and establishes that “no one will be prosecuted, convicted or sanctioned for war crimes.” or crimes against humanity committed before July 1, 2002.”
Initially passed in June, the law needed a second vote, which took place Thursday.
Peruvian President Dina Boluarte he can enact the law or return it to Congress with further recommendations. Boluarte has not said what he will do.
Several legislators who were soldiers during the internal armed conflict support the law.
The Institute of Democracy and Human Rights of the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru said in a statement that “the law aims to limit the application of internal justice by extinguishing any criminal responsibility due to the passage of time.”
In June, several human rights organizations in Peru warned that if the law is approved it would promote impunity in all cases that are part of the internal armed conflict from 1980 to 2000, including a famous trial in which former President Fujimori was accused. of the 1992 massacre of six farmers executed by a clandestine group of soldiers.
Earlier this year, former Peruvian intelligence chief Vladimiro Montesinos and a close collaborator of Fujimori were sentenced to 19 years and eight months in prison in relation to the 1992 massacre.
According to a truth commission that studied the conflict period, the victims were mostly indigenous people caught in clashes between security forces and members of the Shining Path rebel group. The commission estimates that the conflict killed 70,000 people.
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