Best of Peru

In Cusco, we learned about Jose Gabriel Tupaq Amaru, precursor of American independence from 1780 to 1781, who was murdered in the holocaust of May 18, 1781. Although the Spanish colony killed four generations of Tupaq Amarus, it was not able to silence their rebellious yell. 40 years after the cruel assassination of Jose Gabriel Tupac Amaru in the central plaza of Cusco, the nations of Argentina, Venezuela, Colombia, and Peru proclaimed their independences. From Ayacucho, we visited Quinua and the memorial point where the last battle for South American independence and the final expulsion of the Spanish colony took place in 1824. In Ayacucho, we visited also the “Museo de la Memoria” to learn about the 20 years of violence suffered in Peru between 1980 and 2000. In July 28, 1980, Peru had their first democratic elections after 12 years of military dictatorship. The birth of PSP-SL (Sendero Luminoso) was marked by publicly burning the boxes for popular elections in Cangallo, Ayacucho in May 17, 1980. Sendero Luminoso continued developing violent attacks under the motives of a “Popular War.” In 1984, the MRTA – Revolutionary Movement Tupac Amaru – also joined the cause and ways of Sendero Luminoso in Lima. The response of the government forces was characterized by indiscriminate repression and human rights violations. It has been estimated that this dark period resulted in a total of 69,000 victims in Peru, 40% of those victims were from the province of Ayacucho and three out of four victims were Quechua speakers. Sendero Luminoso recruited youth of farming origin who had studied more than their parents and were willing to fight to improve their situation. The majority of the victims were males between the ages of 20 and 49 years old who were heads of family, business man, teachers, farmers, and students. Many children, seniors, and women also died. Most died as a result of the massacres perpetrated by the Army, Police, and Sendero Luminoso. The government forces of Peru used techniques of torture to force suspected members of Sendero Luminoso to confess. In some cases, family members of the suspects were tortured to pressure confessions. Five hundred bodies were found buried in the Army Station of Cabitos. The cremation of tortured bodies was also a common practice between 1984 and 1986 in the same station. There was plenty of evidence to conclude that illegal detentions, human rights violations, torture, and assassination took place by the hands of Peru Army officials in Huamanga. Sendero Luminoso also promoted the torture and assassination of journalist, pastors, children, and civilians. Sendero Luminoso and the Peruvian Army promoted terror amongst civilians. Sendero Luminoso violated the rights of the indigenous communities, forcing them to serve their interest as employees, raping their women, and forcing their youth into the guerrilla army. The people were trapped between two brutal forces: The Army and the Sendero Luminoso. Those who could leave left behind their houses and lands to escape the violence. Many towns in the region of Ayacucho were abandoned. In September 12, 1992, Abimael Guzman Reinoso, main leader of Sendero Luminoso, along other members in Lima were captured and marked the ending of this group. During these years of horror the family members of the disappeared victims organized themselves as ANFASEP, but regardless of their pacific acts, protest, and efforts to find their family members, in September 15, 1992 the president Alberto Fujimori accussed Mama Angelica, the founder of ANFASEP, of terrorism and ordered her arrest. Mama Angelica was forced to leave Peru and find political asylum in France. The ANFASEP throughout those years of war created and maintained places to feed orphans. And thanks to international support they created the “Museo de la Memoria” so that these atrocities will never be forgotten or repeated!