María and Teresa, two of the women victims of sexual violence in the Huancavelica district of Manta During the internal armed conflict, they waited for almost 40 years to achieve justice. In June of last year, 10 retired soldiers were convicted in the first instance. However, the ghost of impunity is still present, since The Supreme Court has twice postponed the hearing to see the appeal of those sentenced.
YOU CAN SEE: Puno: teachers block transportation in a 24-hour strike against the government of José Jerí
The Chamber suspended the proceedings for the first time on July 17, and did so again on Wednesday, November 19. Without prior notice, on the same day, the magistrates decided not to hold the hearing, regardless of the fact that both women left everything to attend the call. One of them even traveled for hours from her native Manta.
The magistrates also had to evaluate the resources requesting that the amnesty and prescription laws against humanity. Everything was paralyzed.
Along with María and Teresa, there were also the relatives of Marilia, another victim of rape by soldiers who were stationed in Mantaand who died a month before the sentencing. The three suffered multiple abuses from military personnel as teenagers, who provided heartbreaking testimonies before the judges during the trial.
Only two arrested
The Demus attorney, Cynthia Silvawhich represents three of the nine victims who were included in the lawsuit, explains that this suspension violates the rights of the women of Manta, since they are being denied the security that the justice obtained in June of last year will not turn into impunity. “With these types of decisions, justice is turning its back on them,” he said.
“It was time for the Supreme Court to rule on the merits of the questions to the sentence and the request for application of the two laws that seek to exempt them from responsibility,” he added.
He stressed that it is important for the victims to close this case as a last resort, as they continue to suffer stigmatization from their community. Having a definitive conviction will compensate them in some way.
He indicated that only two of the retired soldiers, Sabino Valentino Rutti and Lorenzo Romero, are detained and serving their sentence in prison. The Court sentenced them to sentences of between 6 and 10 years. One of the accused has died and seven remain at large.
“We call for the arrest warrants to be reactivated as many times as necessary and for them to be included in the reward program,” Silva required.
Another issue that remains pending is the payment of civil reparation ordered by the Chamber, for which the State must be responsible through the Ministry of Defense. They have also filed an appeal for annulment, which must be heard by the Supreme Court.
It was a systematic attack
The Manta case is the first of collective sexual violations that have been considered crimes against humanity due to the conflict context in which they occurred. The sentence also highlights that these actions were not individual or isolated, but rather a systematic and generalized attack by the Army against Mantina adolescents and women.
The ruling of June 19, 2024 recognized that these crimes were crimes against humanity, committed systematically and as part of a discriminatory counter-subversive policy.
“The women of Manta cannot continue to suspend their lives due to the inability of the justice system. We demand that the Supreme Court fulfill its role: speed up, confirm the sentences, establish penalties proportional to the damage caused and guarantee fair civil reparations,” said Demus’ lawyer.
