Peru grants blanket amnesty to security forces

Families of victims and advocacy groups condemn law shielding security forces from past abuses during Peru's internal conflict.

Peru grants blanket amnesty for security forces

Peru has enacted a blanket amnesty shielding military, police, and self_defence group members from criminal prosecutions for serious human rights abuses committed between 1980 and 2000. President Dina Boluarte signed the legislation after it cleared Congress, a move praised by security chiefs and government ministers at the presidential palace. The law bars prosecution and conviction in cases tied to abuses during Peru’s fight against insurgent groups including Shining Path. Rights groups and relatives of victims responded with outrage, arguing the measure erodes accountability and violates international norms. The Truth and Reconciliation Commission estimated 70,000 deaths and 20,000 disappearances over the period, with roughly half attributed to Shining Path and the rest to state forces. Boluarte framed the measure as recognizing the sacrifices of security personnel and self_defence groups in the fight against terrorism, while critics say it enshrines impunity and undermines justice. The move comes amid broader concerns about human rights protections, following earlier actions such as the 2023 release of Fujimori and a 2022 push to limit prosecutions for past crimes. The UN rights body warned that amnesties clash with international standards requiring accountability for serious crimes and urged Peru to investigate and punish abuses.

The amnesty marks a shift toward impunity at a moment when Peru has faced pressure to fully confront its past. By shielding agents from accountability, the measure risks eroding decades of work by survivors, courts, and civil society to document abuses. It could also complicate Peru’s standing with international bodies and regional courts that stress accountability for serious crimes. While the government frames the law as a recognition of security sacrifices, critics warn that it could undermine the rule of law and deepen distrust in institutions. The move sits alongside a pattern seen in parts of the region where security concerns are weighed against demands for justice, and it raises questions about how Peru will balance memory, reconciliation, and ongoing security needs.

Highlights

The justice debate in Peru is far from settled and will influence how the country processes its painful history.