The officer in charge of the Chavin de Huantar military operation Jose Williams Zapata said the Inter-American Court of Human Rights verdict recognizes that such rescue mission was performed without breaches of human rights and under the international law framework.
“Peru has set a precedent with this military operation, which has turned into a recognized mission and was carried out within the framework of the international law,” he emphasized.
The International Court’s sentence ratifies the military trial that excluded commandos from such responsibility, as well as the Civil Chamber sentence on the matter, by ruling out alleged crimes against humanity.
“The Court considers the military trial as valid because it is evident it was a military operation; there were men attacking the Nation, they were armed with rifles, machine guns, daggers; it was a paramilitary force and the State had the right to defend itself and defend the hostages,” Williams explained.
He also regarded as correct the fact that the Court has not ruled compensation payment to the relatives of terrorists, and recalled that dead soldiers’ relatives have requested any compensation, since the operation was part of their job.
Commandos want to let this subject go once and for all; and it should be noted Chavin de Huantar was a successful mission, a reason of pride, mainly for the Armed Forces.
“Let’s stop this mistreatment, it is unnecessary, and let’s acknowledge these valuable men I had under my command instead, their relatives and their dead. The other side’s attorneys receive payments, we don’t, we seek moral recognition for the dead and injured we indeed feel sorry for,” he affirmed.
“It was an operation that respected human rights and its objective was to rescue hostages, leave MRTA behind, stop Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path terrorist group) from rising, and avoid political, economic and social-related problems.
Even though the Court has established to investigate how Edgar Cruz Sanchez died, the retired General recalled that there is a Public Ministry investigation underway.
Nevertheless, he warned that he sees no reason for commandos to be eventually called, even as witnesses. “It bothers me that after 18 years we still have to testify as witnesses in a case we had no responsibility for,” he told TV Peru.
On the other hand, the Minister of Justice and Human Rights Gustavo Adrianzen asked non-governmental organizations that supported the lawsuit against the Peruvian State to hand over the money they will receive to cover costs of the proceedings to the MRTA victims’ relatives.
(END) VVS/FHG/RMB
Published: 6/30/2015