Peru’s President Ollanta Humala pointed out the fact that the Inter-American Court of Human Rights ratified the hero-status of the military commandos, who participated in the 1997 Chavin de Huantar operation.
In April 1997, an operation carried out by the Chavin de Huantar commandos at the Japanese Ambassador’s Residence in Lima released hostages taken into captivity by terrorist group known as Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) in December 1996.
Among kidnapped people were high-profile government officials and other personalities from both countries, Japan and Peru.
Known around the world as one of the most successful rescue actions, the operation managed to rescue 71 hostages alive.
Relatives of some MRTA terrorists, such as the “Comrade Tito” who died during the operation, took the case to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights claiming extrajudicial executions. The claim had been ruled out by the Peruvian State.
On Monday, the Court's verdict was made public. In this sense, Peruvian Justice Minister Gustavo Adrianzen highlighted the Inter-American Court of Human Rights' decision, which ruled out the Peruvian State may have engaged in alleged extrajudicial executions of terrorists.
“The verdict does not void the Military Justice Court's ruling, which declared the Chavin de Huantar commandos innocent; thus, it has ratified the commandos are not villains, but heroes,” President Ollanta Humala told while addressing the press on Tuesday.
He pointed out the Court did not obligate the State to pay financial compensation to the relatives of MRTA terrorists, who died in the aforementioned military intervention.
“Reparation payments to the terrorists’ relatives have not been mentioned; that is another matter we consider fair,” he expressed.
Likewise, the Head of State highlighted the Court found legitimate the "use of force" by the State within the framework of an operation undertaken by security forces, in order to manage to free hostages held by MRTA members.
Nonetheless, Peru's top official regretted the Court had obligated the Peruvian State to reimburse costs and expenses worth US$10,000 and US$ 20,000 to the Pro Human Rights Association (Aprodeh) and the Center for Justice and International Law, respectively, on the work carried out on the case at both, the national and international levels.
“It's bad news; we believe they have to pay first what they owe Peru,” he expressed.
The Head of State made statements in the Marañon province belonging to the Huanuco region, where he announced lifting the State of Emergency imposed on the Alto Huallaga zone, in force over the last 30 years.
In the past, Huallaga was considered a Red Zone due to the production of cocaine. The region was jeopardized by the presence of drug-traffickers and narcoterrorists, who used to engage in conflict with members of the Armed Forces trying to recover the area. Currently, violence has decreased considerable at the site.