Supreme Decree extending the assignment of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission

SUPREME DECREE Nº 063-2003-PCM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC

CONSIDERING:

That, through Supreme Decree Nº 065-2001-PCM modified by Supreme Decree Nº 101-2001-PCM, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission was created with the assignment of clarifying the process, the facts and those responsible for the violence of terrorism and the violation of human rights which occurred from May 1980 until November of 2000, imputable to the terrorist organizations as well as Government agents; also to propose initiatives for peace and harmony among Peruvians, leading to national reconciliation;

That the Truth and Reconciliation Commission started functioning as of its installation on July 13, 2001, with a time period of eighteen (18) months, extendable for five (5) additional months.

That, through Supreme Decree Nº 063-2002-PCM the time period for the function of the Commission was extended until July 13, 2003, on which date their final report, final conclusions and proposals were to be presented;

That when they began their investigative work, in accordance with paragraphs a) and d) of article 6 of Supreme Decree Nº 065-2001-PCM, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission proposed as a goal the collection of twelve thousand (12,000) testimonies about cases of human rights violations in a period to start in January of 2002 and finish at the end of December of 2002;

That, because of the public demand for giving testimonies, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission needed to extend the time period for collecting testimonies by two (2) months, as of February 28, 2003, sixteen thousand eight hundred seventy-nine (16,879) testimonies had been registered, surpassing the goal originally set by forty-one percent (41%);

That, for the purpose of taking advantage of the value of the information contained in the testimonies, these should be processed, which implies the identification and registration in a data base of those who make declarations, witnesses, victims, and those presumed responsible for the crimes and human rights violations, the reconstruction of the incidences of violence, crimes and violations in which the witnesses were involved, as well as a crosscheck of the information gathered, and comparison with other sources;

That, as a result, it is necessary to extend the time period given, for the purpose of finishing the work of processing the testimonies obtained, which will be included in the Final Report, and publicizing the information;

That, according to the progress made, the Final Report can be presented in the month of August, 2003;

That the extension of the time period for the work of the Commission will not result in additional expenses for the Public Treasury;

In conformance with paragraph 24) of article 118 of the Constitution of Peru and Legislative Decree Nº 560 – the Executive Branch Law;

With approval voted by the Council of Ministers;

DECREEES:

Article 1.- On the Objective
Extend the time period for the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission until August 31, 2003.

Article 2. - On the work of the Commission
During the additional time period referred to in the previous article, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will finish the job of processing the testimonies obtained, which will be included in the Final Report, and organize the pertinent activities for immediate publication of the information. This work will not result in additional expense for the Public Treasury.

Article 3. - On the work of the Commission Members
While the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is being finished, the services rendered by the commission members from July 14 until August 31, 2003, will be pro bono.

Article 4. - On the Final Report
The Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission will be presented to the President of the Republic and the heads of the other branches of the Government on August 28, 2003.

Article 5. – On the countersignature
This Supreme Decree will be countersigned by the President of the Council of Ministers, the Defense Minister, the Minister of the Interior, the Minister of Justice and the Foreign Relations Minister.

Issued at the House of Government, in Lima, on June twenty-fifth, two thousand three.

ALEJANDRO TOLEDO
Constitutional President of the Republic

LUIS SOLARI DE LA FUENTE
President of the Council of Ministers

AURELIO E. LORET DE MOLA BÖHME
Defense Minister

ALBERTO M. SANABRIA ORTIZ
Minister of the Interior