Judicial Authority Rejects Application of Pardon Law for Military Personnel Accused of Mass Murders in Chumbivilcas and Antabamba

In a significant development for Peruvian justice, the Sixth Preliminary Investigation Court has ruled that the new Amnesty Law cannot be applied to the case of former military personnel accused of serious human rights violations. This decision is in line with what was established by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR), which reiterated that the Amnesty Law is contrary to the American Convention and cannot be applied.

The accused members of the "Raya Patrol", a contingent that carried out massacres in Chumbivilcas during Alan García's first government in 1990, are now facing the consequences of their actions. The "Raya Patrol" extrajudicially executed 13 peasants, disappeared at least six people, including an 8-year-old girl, and committed sexual violence against three women. The executed people, as per the Commission for Truth and Reconciliation (CVR), include names such as Julio Apfata Tañire (28), Balvino Huamaní Medina (60), Zenón Huisa Pacco (20), and many others. The victims of sexual violence were identified as Rosaura Aroni Álvarez, Aurelia Huamaní Apfata, and Isabel Leocalla Apfata.

Alan Olivari Medina ("Lieutenant Negro") and Jaime Pando Navarrete ("Captain Panther") had already received sentences of 15 and 17 years in prison, respectively, for their role in the massacres. However, the process aimed at repairing decades of impunity for human rights violations will continue for other accused members.

Notably, Pedro Castillo held the role of defendant in connection with the massacres in Chumbivilcas during Alan García's government. The disappeared people in the Chumbivilcas and Antabamba Massacre were Quintín Alférez Cjuro, Telésforo Alférez Achinquipa, Gregorio Huisa Alccahuaman, Damasio Charccahuana Huisa, Toribio Achinquipa Pacco, Pedro Gómez, and Máximo Huamán.

This judicial decision is a step forward in the pursuit of justice for the victims of these heinous crimes. It serves as a reminder that those responsible for human rights violations will be held accountable, regardless of the passage of time or attempts to shield them behind amnesty laws.

Meanwhile, on a separate note, the deadline to compete for educational scholarships and credits for Beca 18-2026 has been set. Elsewhere, a fatal accident on the Via Evitamiento has resulted in the death of a motorcyclist and ongoing traffic congestion for 5 hours.

Lastly, the Peruvian coast is expected to record a decrease in nighttime temperatures until September 12, according to Senamhi. As the judicial process unfolds, Peruvians continue to grapple with various challenges, from justice and human rights to education and weather-related issues.

Topics related to this article include Judicial Power, Amnesty Law, Chumbivilcas and Antabamba Massacre, Dina Boluarte, Inter-American Court of Human Rights, and Peruvian Politics.

Judicial Authority Rejects Application of Pardon Law for Military Personnel Accused of Mass Murders in Chumbivilcas and Antabamba