Peru: The Legal Defeat of Amnesty and the Pending Political Agenda
The political and legal systems of Latin America have a history full of amnesties, owing both to the proliferation of armed conflicts and civil wars, and to a recurring practice of drawing a veil of oblivion over events that would, if brought to mind, cause political instability — at least for the elites. Phrases such as "so much truth can harm the country," "we must turn the page," "let us open the way to national reconciliation," among others, have served as the main justification for amnesty laws, pardons, trial cuts, and dismissals of cases, which have been a constant feature since our independence struggles, approaching their 200th anniversary.