Peru's President Signs Amnesty Law for Atrocities, Prompting Outrage

President Dina Boluarte's enactment of a law granting amnesty to individuals involved in atrocities during Peru's armed conflict has stirred significant backlash, with human rights organizations labeling the decision as detrimental to accountability for past abuses.

Peru's president, Dina Boluarte, has ignited a firestorm of controversy following her recent signing of a law that grants amnesty to soldiers, police, and civilian militias accused of committing atrocities during the nation's two-decade-long armed conflict against Maoist rebels. The legislation, which received congressional approval in July, comes despite a directive from the Inter-American Court of Human Rights urging a suspension until further review regarding its implications for victims.

This new law will benefit hundreds of military and police personnel, as well as members of self-defence groups charged with various crimes committed from 1980 to 2000. Additionally, it includes a provision for the release of individuals over the age of 70 who are currently serving sentences for such offences.

During the conflict, the insurgent groups Shining Path and Tupac Amaru led violent uprisings, resulting in an estimated death toll of 70,000 and over 20,000 missing persons, as reported by Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC). Boluarte, making history as Peru's first female president after her election in 2022, defended the legislation by claiming it honors those who fought against terrorism and upheld democracy.

The law has faced fierce opposition from human rights organizations. Juanita Goebertus, the Americas director for Human Rights Watch, characterized it as "a betrayal of Peruvian victims" and warned that it undermines years of efforts aimed at achieving accountability for historic atrocities. Advocates from the United Nations and Amnesty International had previously implored Boluarte to veto the bill, citing concerns that it conflicts with Peru's obligation to investigate severe human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings and torture.

Critics noted that the amnesty could adversely affect over 600 active court cases and 156 existing convictions. The TRC's findings further indicated that state agents, particularly the military, accounted for 83% of the recorded cases of sexual violence during the conflict.

This legislative move comes on the heels of Peru's enactment of a statute of limitations in 2022, effectively terminating the ongoing investigation into many potential crimes against humanity committed prior to 2002. Notably, this initiative also facilitated the release of Alberto Fujimori, the former president who had been imprisoned for his role in civilian massacres. Fujimori passed away in September 2023.

In a separate political development, former president Martin Vizcarra was recently ordered to face five months of preventive detention due to allegations of accepting bribes totaling $640,000 during his tenure as governor of Moquegua between 2011 and 2014, marking the fifth former president facing jail time in corruption-related probes.