Peru's Congress passed a law on July 4 introducing a statute of limitations for crimes against humanity, despite opposition from human rights organizations who argue the measure will hamper ongoing investigations into serious abuses.
The law passed with 15 votes in favor and 12 against in the Congress' permanent commission, after the right-wing dominated legislature initially approved the law last month with 60 in favor, 36 against and 11 abstentions.
"There are military and police officers aged 80, 85 and 90 who are unjustly imprisoned and others who are unjustly prosecuted for an undue application of crimes against humanity," said Fernando Rospigliosi, a congressman for the right-wing Popular Force (FP) party.
The FP is led by Keiko Fujimori, who promoted the law and is the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, 85, who was last year released from prison after serving 16 years for human rights abuses during his decade-long rule in the 1990s.
Rights groups say the law would cut short dozens of investigations into human rights abuses committed before 2003, when fighting between security forces and rebel groups left 69,000 people dead or missing at the end of last century.
"Those who can benefit most immediately from the law are former President Fujimori," said Yvan Montoya, a law professor at the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru.
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