Blog 5: CourteIDH asks Peru Supreme Court to Reconsider

On Thursday the CorteIDH, or the Inter-American Court of Human Rights put forth a resolution ordering the Supreme Court of Peru to look back into, and correct ruling in the Barrios Altos vs. Peru case. This case was in reference to a killing that occurred in 1991 in a neighborhood called Barrios Altos. 15 people were murdered and others injured by what was later found to be Peruvian military intellegence, acting under the name of “Colina Group” or “Death Squadron,” carrying out their own anti-terrorist program. A pro-communism, and at times violent group “Sendero Luminoso” or “Shining Path” was meeting in Barrios Altos when the Colina military men came to execute their attack.

When the investigation and court began taking place the Congress of Peru quickly adopted amnesty for the military officers. The Lima Superior Court of Justice shot down complete amnesty, however the Supreme Court of Peru said that Barrios vs. Altos did not constitute a crime against humanity and so it was quashed. The sentences for each of the people involved were lowered.

Now the CorteIDH is asking that the Peruvian Court go back to change it’s decision that essentially granted these military officers impunity from the consequences of this attack. Governments granting amnesty to military officers and their leaders who commit crimes that violate human rights and laws have been an issue throughout history, however particularly in Latin America during the late 1970’s to 1980’s. Many people “disappeared” and killed during this time, and often with no consequence because of the military dictatorships they were under. [1] It is unfortunate that the military is the source this sort of violence, and often with no consequence. However, it is also good to see this amnesty being righted and hopefully becoming less common.

MAIN SOURCE: (English) http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=es&u=http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ultimas_noticias/2012/09/120927_ultnot_peru_resolucion_cidh_barrios_altos_bd.shtml&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dbarrios%2Baltos%2Bperuana%2Bfallo%2Bbbc%2Bmundo%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dsafari%26rls%3Den%26biw%3D1368%26bih%3D672%26prmd%3Dimvns&sa=X&ei=EfVlUL2NJYjq8wTd9YGwBQ&ved=0CCMQ7gEwAA

(original) http://www.bbc.co.uk/mundo/ultimas_noticias/2012/09/120927_ultnot_peru_resolucion_cidh_barrios_altos_bd.shtml

http://www.corteidh.or.cr/docs/casos/articulos/seriec_75_ing.pdf

1. This information is from a discussion we had with my professor in my Spanish class.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shining_Path