PERU Members of community patrols caught several alleged criminals attempting to carry out a robbery. They also accused the men of previous crimes, including theft and extortion. The patrol members decided to take matters into their own hands, tying the suspects to a stake, dousing them with gasoline, and burning them alive.
Although vigilante burnings are uncommon in Peru, documented cases exist in which mobs or community patrols resort to extreme violence instead of handing suspects over to the authorities.
Limited state oversight in remote parts of the country has contributed to the emergence of community patrols. However, these patrols have limited authority, and the Peruvian Constitution explicitly prohibits community justice from violating fundamental human rights. Such acts of violence should never be tolerated. Suspected criminals should be handed over to the police rather than subjected to vigilante punishment.
