The president of the Judiciary, Janet Tello, expressed her opposition to the statements made by President Keiko Fujimori at the United Nations on September 22, who stated that “we defeated terrorism, but unfortunately even today, thirty-four years later, those who took on that mission continue to be tried, despite having demonstrated that due process was violated”.
“Who is she referring to? On July 28 and August 4, she said that she would respect the independence of the branches of government, the Judiciary and the judges. But it seems she forgot. Because before the United Nations she made statements that I cannot allow as president of the Judiciary; I completely reject them,” said the president of the Judiciary.
Janet Tello supported the work carried out by the professionals who administer justice in the country. “To defeat terrorism in our country, military personnel and police officers were at the forefront, but so were we judges; we also had judges who were murdered; and judges who rose to the occasion, as they say, when the State compelled us. Male and female judges convicted terrorists who fell under their jurisdiction, trying them with very severe sentences. Even the ringleader Abimael Guzmán, who died in prison,” she stated.
Tello clarified that when there are complaints and investigations, it is up to the Judiciary to follow due process in order to ultimately determine whether or not they are guilty, which is why she stressed the need to respect the independence of the Judiciary for judges to act appropriately.
Political shielding
Keiko Fujimori’s statements at the UN regarding the proceedings against police officers and military personnel for alleged crimes against humanity committed during the decade of armed violence in the country contrast with the recent legal reforms carried out in these types of cases.
Thus, the previous Congress of the Republic, through Law 32419, granted amnesty to military personnel, police officers, and self-defense committees prosecuted or convicted during the fight against terrorism between 1980 and 2000. This law was challenged by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, which demanded that Peruvian judges not apply it because it concerns alleged crimes against humanity.
Likewise, currently, with the enactment of Law 32735, proceedings against police officers and military personnel are excluded from the ordinary civil jurisdiction, and they will be tried in the military-police jurisdiction. Amnesty International described the measure as a step toward institutional impunity.
