what happened last week in Asia, Africa and the Americas

Hey, this is Sham Jaff, journalist and your very own news curator. Each week, I highlight some of the biggest stories from regions and countries that are historically underreported in "Western media". My goal is to burst our Western-centric bubbles, and expand the view we hold of the world. Questions, comments, concerns? You can reach me anytime by replying to this mail. And if this newsletter was forwarded to you, you can sign up at whathappenedlastweek.com.

In Issue #387, I'm concerned about care, or the lack of it, for so many people in Peru and in Pakistan. Last week, the Peruvian Congress decided that some crimes do have an expiration date (the president still needs to sign it off), likely putting an end to many trials, and Pakistan has begun deporting vulnerable Afghan refugees (even those who have been there for decades). In this (free) issue, I'm focused on Peru, in the VIP issue (which you can upgrade to here) on Pakistan, and so much more. For example, there's some good news, like Japan finally admitted that their forced sterilization law was unconstitutional (it went on for decades!) and scientists found the world's oldest art in a random cave in Indonesia. You'll also learn about how an Islamic festival became part of Trinidadian culture, what happened to Zambia's football team in 1993 and why that event still traumatizing for a lot of Zambians, and what more and more Chinese asylum seekers are going through to get to the United States. And so much more!

Peru is about to stop prosecuting crimes committed before 2002

What happened
AP reports that the Peruvian Congress voted 15–12 to pass a law that puts a time limit on prosecuting crimes against humanity committed before July 2002.

Why this matters
Human rights groups are worried that this new law will stop ongoing investigations into serious abuses committed before 2002. This law could affect 550 victims and 600 cases, putting an end to many trials. Despite some notable prosecutions, there are ongoing concerns about impunity. Some perpetrators have avoided justice due to legal loopholes, political interference, or insufficient evidence. This planned statute of limitations could further hinder and undermine justice for victims.

Did you know? During the fighting between security forces and the Maoist Shining Path rebel group from 1980 to 2000, an estimated 70,000 people killed. Most victims were Indigenous people. The Shining Path was found to be responsible for about 54% of the deaths and disappearances reported to the commission.

Tell me more
The right-wing populist Fuerza Popular (FP) party, led by Keiko Fujimori, pushed for this law. She's the daughter of former President Alberto Fujimori, who was released from prison last year after serving 16 years for human rights abuses during the 1990s. Some say this law could directly help Alberto Fujimori, who faces other charges for the murder of six people in 1992. Reuters writes that FP lawmakers argue the bill aims to help about 800 military personnel being investigated for crimes against humanity. They believe many of these elderly military and police officers are unjustly imprisoned or prosecuted.

Good to know: There's been prosecutions on "both sides" (it's not really a 'both sides' kind of conflict, but this is a relatively short newsletter and our beloved Internet can help you make sense of what really went down). Earlier this year, AP reported that Vladimiro Montesinos, a former Peruvian intelligence chief and close aide of Fujimori, was sentenced to nearly 20 years in prison for his role in a 1992 massacre. Key leaders of the Shining Path, including its founder Abimael Guzmán, writes BBC News, have also been captured and tried. Guzmán was sentenced to life imprisonment in 2006 for terrorism and related charges.

What now?
The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has asked Peru to block this law, but President Dina Boluarte's government quickly rejected this request, calling it interference. The law needs the president's signature to take effect, and Boluarte is expected to sign it soon.

That's it for this week. Thanks for reading.

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what happened last week in Asia, Africa and the Americas

Peru is about to stop prosecuting crimes committed before 2002

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