Truth and Reconciliation Commission (Peru)
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The Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) (in Spanish: Comisión de la Verdad y Reconciliación (CVR)) was established in June 2001 to examine atrocities committed in the 1980s and 1990s, when Peru was plagued by the worst political violence in the history of the republic during the Internal conflict in Peru. Its work was formally concluded in August 2003, when presented its final report to President Alejandro Toledo. The Commission congregated many sectors of Civil Society, including scholars, journalists, sociologists, priests and artists.
The Commission focused on massacres, forced disappearances, human rights violations, terrorist attacks, and violence against women, committed by both the rebel groups Shining Path and Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement as well as the military of Peru. Its work encompassed holding public meetings, collecting testimonies, and making forensic investigations. It also made recommendations for reparations and institutional reforms. Its final tally of victims for the period was 69,280 dead and 43,042 orphans.
In the ceremony marking the end of the Commission's work, its chairman, Salomón Lerner, then Rector of the Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú said:
- The report we hand in contains a double outrage: that of massive murder, disappearance and torture; and that of indolence, incompetence and indifference of those who could have stopped this humanitarian catastrophe but didn't.
In its final report the CVR points at Shining Path as the major perpetrator of human rights violations (torture, kidnapping, assassinations), with the Armed Forces in second place and MRTA in third.
The CVR also criticized the performance of the Catholic Church, especially of then Archbishop of Ayacucho Juan Luis Cipriani, of the Opus Dei, famous in Peru for once saying "Los derechos humanos son una cojudez" (human rights are bollocks). While Archbishop, Cipriani refused to attend any case of human rights violations.
Among those against the CVR's work and report were politicians, military commanders, and members of the congress with ties to Opus Dei. All of them pointed out a supposed leftist bias, even accusing the Commissioners of pro-senderistas. Supporters accused critics of defending impunity for those accused and of wanting to bury the past.
The CVR also set up a photographic archive which resulted in the exposition Yuyanapaq, a quechua word meaning "For Remembering", which showcased photographs from the twenty years of violence. The exposition included images from terrorist attacks, terrorist propaganda, torture victims, remains and such.
[edit] Commissioners
- Dr. Salomón Lerner Febres: Philosophy doctor and president of Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú. (Chairman).
- Dr. Beatriz Alva Hart: Lawyer, former member of the Congress of Peru.
- Dr. Rolando Ames Cobián: Sociologist, political researcher and analyst.
- Monsignor José Antúnez de Mayolo: La Salle priest, ex apostolic administrator of the Ayacucho Archdiocese.
- Retired Air Force Lieutenant General Luis Arias Grazziani: An expert in national security issues.
- Dr. Enrique Bernales Ballesteros: Doctor at Law, constitutionalist, Executive Director of the Andean Jurists Commission.
- Dr. Carlos Iván Degregori Caso: Anthropologist, professor at Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos, member of the Instituto de Estudios Peruanos[1] (Peruvian Studies Institute).
- Father Gastón Garatea Yori: Sacred Hearts priest and president of the Consensus Building Table for Poverty Fighting.
- Minister Humberto Lay Sun: Architect, leader of the Assemblies of God, evangelical denomination of the Evangelic National Concilium, CONEP.
- Ms. Sofía Macher Batanero: Sociologist, ex Executive Secretary of the Human Rights National Coordinator.
- Engineer Alberto Morote Sánchez: Ex President of Universidad San Cristóbal de Huamanga.
- Engineer Carlos Tapia García: Political researcher and analyst.
As observer:
- Monsignor Luis Bambarén Gastelumendi: Bishop of Chimbote and President of the Peruvian Episcopal Conference
[edit] See also
[edit] External link
- Truth and Reconciliation Commission website (Spanish and English)
- State of Fear is a documentary that tells the story of Peru's war on terror based on the findings of the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission.
