Peru President signed an amnesty law for police and soldiers accused of atrocities

Peru’s president has signed a controversial new law pardonous soldiers, police and civilian militias at a court of atrocities during a two -seater armed conflict against the Maoist rebels.

Dina Bolurt accepted the measure adopted by Congress in July, despite the order of the Inter -American Court of Human Rights to stop him in anticipation of a review of his influence on the victims.

The law will benefit hundreds of members of the armed forces, police and self -defense committees accused of crimes committed between 1980 and 2000.

It will also require the release of those over 70 convictions for such crimes.

During the conflict, the brilliant road and the rebel groups of Tupac Amaru discarded uprisings in which 70,000 people were killed and over 20,000 disappeared, according to the Puru Truth Commission and Reconciliation (TRC).

The Bolurate, elected in 2022, as the first female president of the country, said the Peruvian government paid tribute to the forces it – she said – was fighting terrorism and in defense of democracy.

Human rights organizations have condemned the law. Huanita Göbertus, director of America at Human Rights Watch, called it “betrayal of Peruvian victims”, which “undermines decades of efforts to provide accountability for atrocities.”

Experts of the United Nations and Amnesty International have called on Boluarte to veto the bill, stating that it violates Peru’s obligation to investigate and pursue abuse of graves, including out -of -court killings, ended, torture and sexual abuse.

UN experts said amnesty could stop or overturn more than 600 waiting lawsuits and 156 sentences.

TRC found that state agents, more specially armed forces, were responsible for 83% of the documented cases of sexual abuse.

Last year, Peru adopted a statute of limitations on crimes against humanity before 2002, effectively closing hundreds of investigations into suspected crimes committed during the fighting.

The initiative took advantage of the late President Alberto Fujimori, which was closed to atrocities – including the slaughter of civilians from the army – but released from prison in 2023 for humanitarian reasons. He died in September 2024.