NEW WAVE OF PEOPLE'S WAR. NATIONAL POLICE ON RED ALERT. During the first weeks of July the People's Army of Liberation (EPL) led by the PCP conducted multiple armed actions in the North and South sectors of Peru's capital. The National Police, supported by special forces units and tanks, carried out a general mobilization to oppose the surge in Maoist political-military operations. In one operation the businesswoman (exploiter) Graciela Schiafino, wife of the Mayor of the San Luis district and member of Fujimori's party Cambio 90, was attacked, but she managed to escape in her car. In another action, 30 sticks of dynamite were thrown into the house of Tomas Valdez, a "black head" leading paramilitary death squads in Ate Vitarte. In the district of Rimac a private health center was raided and large amounts of medicines, medical equipment and electronic components were liberated [La Republica, July 10. 1996].
HUALLAGA. PEOPLE'S ARMY DEFEATS REACTIONARY ARMY. The counter-subversive base at Aucayacu (Leoncio Prado province) has been dismantled and abandoned after the retreat of the reactionary special forces from the area. The EPL has taken control of the province as a base for deploying future political-military operations. Big landlords and their collaborators escaped from the area and called for the reactionary Army's return [La Republica and most papers, July 18, 1996].
PEOPLE'S ARMY CONTROLS TOWN AND MAIN HIGHWAY. Various mobile columns of the EPL entered the town of Las Vegas (25 kilometers from Tingo Maria) and took control of the main highway to the city of Pucallpa. The EPL deployed night military operations, and during the daytime conducted political agitation and propaganda in massive public meetings [El Comercio, July 17, 1996].
LIMA. Three government buildings and a shopping center in the Lima-Callao area were attacked with dynamite and grenades. The targets were the headquarters of the Municipal Police and main Municipal building in Pachacamac, and a luxurious hotel in Miraflores [El Comercio and most papers, July 16, 1996].
LIMA. Fujimori's regime announced that 800 people accused of being "terrorists" have been captured by the armed forces and National Police during the first half of 1996; at the same time it acknowledged over 775 confrontations with the EPL in the same period [daily El Peruano, Aprodeh, July 19, 1996].
PEOPLE'S ARMY ADVANCES AND TAKES OVER TOWNS. July 18 and 19, a group of EPL mobile columns, applying the PCP's proletarian military line, converged and took control of the Damaso, Beraun and Chinchao districts in the provinces of Leoncio Prado and Huanuco. The EPL forces entered the towns of Cayumba Chico, San Miguel, Chaupiyunca, Paujil Pampa and adjacent villages. A similar deployment took place during the week of July 14 in zones around Las Vegas, near Tingo Maria [El Comercio, July 23, 1996].
PCP COMBATANTS DESTROY REACTIONARY SPECIAL FORCES HEADQUARTERS. July 26, at 2:20 a.m., a powerful car bomb with 27 kilograms of explosives destroyed the headquarters and barracks of the National Police's Special Assault Division (anti-riots corps). The surprise attack also damaged various adjacent government buildings and private offices in Lima's center. The four guards at the headquarters main entrance were critically wounded. After careful inspection, Civil Defense representative Ramon Pinto reported that 90% of the Assault Division's facilities were destroyed or seriously damaged [La Republica and most papers, July 27, 1996].
MORE WAVES OF PEOPLE'S WAR. A series of Maoist political-military operations were deployed throughout Lima during the last week of July. Red flags were raised in the districts of San Juan de Miraflores and Canto Grande, and grenades were launched in the Santa Marina Sur area. The headquarters of the National Police's Special Assault Division was destroyed. The Army and National Police were placed on maximum red alert to conduct "pacification" campaigns; over 200 civilians were arrested [La Republica, July 29, 1996].
PCP COMBATANTS DESTROY GENERAL'S HOME AND PROPERTY. On the evening of July 29, another spectacular Maoist attack completely destroyed the private car and luxurious residence of the political-military chief of the Huallaga Front, Army General Manuel Guillermo Simon Varela Gamarra. Over 18 people were seriously wounded and 49 residences were damaged in the exclusive San Borja residential area. The house of Peru's Ambassador to France, Maria Luisa Federici, was also largely destroyed. The bomb, with 15 kilograms of pure dynamite, caused a spectacular explosion; the blast was heard in Fujimori's presidential palace. A number of pamphlets were found near the explosion site stating "genocidal drug dealing military and police personnel shall receive JUST PUNISHMENT". General Simon Varela quickly left the Huallaga Front and arrived in Lima to inspect the ruins and gather whatever leftovers he could find; during a short interview he expressed serious concern for possible security at his mansion [El Comercio, El Sol, La Republica and most papers, July 30, 1996].
HUANCAVELICA. PEOPLE'S ARMY DESTROYS CAPITALIST CORPORATIONS. July 29, at 9:00 p.m., the EPL took over the installations of the construction companies Guiconsa, Translei and T&T in Izcuchaca (Huancavelica). The EPL conducted a coordinated deployment of various mobile columns in the surrounding areas to prevent any interference with the operation. Each EPL column is composed of 50 combatants or more. Workers at the site were gathered and asked to express their grievances. During the dialogue an EPL combatant expressed "The dictatorship is always asking for more and more sacrifices, and people are starving, living in misery, this genocidal system of exploitation deserves to perish! They said we were defeated, but here we are; we want to know your problems, help you solve them; what about your salaries? what about the abuses?". The EPL liberated communication equipment, computers, dynamite, and food supplies from the corporations' storerooms. All the construction equipment, the private vehicles of executives, and a few trucks were destroyed with powerful explosives before the Maoist forces left the site. The operation lasted about three hours and there were no casualties. It is not the first time the EPL deployed its forces in the area; in July 1995 the construction companies were asked to leave, but they refused and continued the construction of a roadway to transport the goods that big private firms export abroad, as well as for the rapid transport of government troops. The corporations' executives were quite aware of various EPL columns operating in the area, but when government protection was requested, they were informed it would not be available [Caretas, August 9, 1996].
LIMA. The editorial in the newspaper of Peru's oligarchy, El Comercio, announces "The recent
Maoist attacks in our nation's capital are clear evidence that objectively we are facing a new surge
of Maoist subversion" [El Comercio, July 30, 1996].
PEOPLE'S ARMY TAKES TOWNS IN THE NORTH. EPL mobile columns, led by the PCP, took control of the towns of Sihuas and Chiquian (196 kilometers from the city of Huaraz). The Maoist forces conducted armed propaganda and agitation; the local government representatives were asked to resign [El Sol, August 4, 1996].
PCP OFFENSIVE IN THE HUALLAGA FRONT. The reactionary Army and National Police mobilized their special forces in response to a recent Maoist military offensive in Huanuco. Armored helicopters and river gun boats supported the gigantic operation to capture various EPL columns operating in the area [La Republica, August 5, 1996; See the report from Caretas of August 9.]
PEOPLE'S ARMY CLASHES WITH PARAMILITARY DEATH SQUADS. Two EPL columns confronted the paramilitary rondasin Satipo, near the Ene river. The clash took place at 3:00 a.m., August 5; reports list two EPL casualties and one rondero eliminated [El Comercio. August 7, 1996].
AYACUCHO: PEOPLE'S ARMY DEFEATS REGIME'S PARAMILITARY SQUADS. The People's Army deployed mobile armed columns in the province of Huanta, department of Ayacucho. Various EPL columns entered the district of Ayahuanco at 8:00 p.m., August 6, and attacked the paramilitary base of ronderos (death squads led by big landlords). Two ronderos (black heads) were eliminated; the paramilitary base was overrun and destroyed [Expreso, August 8, 1996].
HUANUCO. PEOPLE'S ARMY TAKES CITY OF AUCAYACU. The EPL deployed its forces throughout the province of Leoncio Prado , department of Huanuco, and various EPL columns entered the city of Aucayacu (population 20,000) during the evening of August 2, 1996. About 250 EPL combatants surrounded the city's police station and forced the police unit (20 policemen) to remain inside the station. According to some city residents, the EPL practically pardoned the policemen's lives, since the EPL did not overrun the station as in previous attacks; only three policemen were wounded Other EPL units searched for two well known drug barons who live in the city, "Cristal" and "Champa", but the two criminals managed to escape. City residents reported that the EPL forces were well fed, cheerful, well equipped and armed with FAL's (light machine guns), AKM assault rifles, heavy machine guns, shotguns, RPG's and Instalazas (rifle grenades). The main purpose of the Maoist advance was political: to carry out armed propaganda and clean the city of drug mafias; many youth joined the EPL ranks. Slogans were painted on the walls of buildings as the People's Army left the city [Caretas, August 9, 1996].
POLICE BUS ATTACKED BY PCP COMBATANTS IN ANCASH (NORTHERN PERU).On September 17, 1996, a spectacular ambush against a military bus was carried out by the Maoist combatants. The bus had 40 soldiers and officers aboard. The guerrilla action took place in the district of Pariacoto, Department of Ancash. The military surrendered and gave up their weapons after a brief exchange of fire. Two soldiers were wounded and the rest released.
ARMY AND PARAMILITARY RONDAS SMASHED IN TINGO MARIA (REGION SELVA).In the district of Cartambo, a column of PCP combatants seized the military installation. The guerrilla attack against the Army installation and the local paramilitary rondawas devastating. After the Fujimori forces surrendered, the head of the paramilitary peasant ronda, Ever Lino Durand, was publicly executed by the community.
Another column of at least 20 Maoist combatants took control of the main highway to the jungle area (carretera terminal) connecting the localities of Olmos-Corral Quemado. Passengers and local activists greeted the combatants with revolutionary slogans and voluntary contributions: "Viva la Guerra Popular", "Viva el Presidente Gonzalo" and "Resistir y Combatir hasta la Toma del Poder." The reactionary papers in Lima mourned aloud the guerrilla offensive [La Republica, September 17, 1996]
PUCALLPA. Military clashes between the reactionary Navy forces and a PCP contingent took place in several districts of the province of Pucallpa. In the capital Pucallpa, red flags and revolutionary graffiti appeared on walls and highways. A radio station was seized by the Maoists and transmitted revolutionary speeches, poetry and music. In the town of Minasa, the reactionary Navy on the run, cowardly kidnaped two minors, Julio A.L, 12, and Hugo C.R.D.,17, from their homes (Expreso, El Comercio October, 3, 1996)
LIMA, LA VICTORIA. A PCP urban contingent ambushed and killed three members of the counterinsurgency forces of Fujimori at Ave. Paranicochas, District of La Victoria. All weapons and military records were captured by the rebels. (El Sol, October 5, 1996)
POLICE STATIONS ATTACKED BY REBELS IN NORTHERN PERU (LA LIBERTAD) A mobile Maoist guerrilla contingent made up of at least of 100 combatants attacked the military installations of Sarin, Coina, Huaranchal, Julcan, Santiago de Chuco, and Otuzco in the Department of La Libertad. Several members of the repressive forces were killed or wounded. Most of the authorities appointed by Fujimori resigned on the spot and were granted a pardon by the insurgents.
A few days later, Fujimori's reactionary Army arrived in the community of Coina, detained and beat Lt. Governor Genaro Avalos, charging him with "treason" for "not activating the army run paramilitary rondas." (El Comercio, October 23th) In other parts of the country, in Tingo Maria (Central Peru), at least three Maoist guerrilla contingents are operating in the Province of Leoncio Prado, especially in the district of Herminio Valdizan. This guerrilla offensive has prompted the resignation of more than 30 military-appointed authorities, among them mayors and governors. (El Sol, October 10, 1996)
ASHANINKAS COMBAT AGAINST ARMY AND PARAMILITARY. Hundreds of combatants of the Ashaninka nation, members of the People's Army of Liberation, attacked army posts in three communities of the province of Satipo, Central Peru. The guerrilla offensive was carried out at 10 a.m.,September 30, 1996. The Maoist rebels took over the communities of Matireni, Shimapango, and Chikireni. At least two dozen soldiers and many paramilitary (rondas) were killed (El Comercio, October 10, 1996.) On October 4, at 9 p.m., two other PCP Ashaninka contingents attacked the military garrison of Pichakia and took over the town in the midst of a joyful and cheering population. Three soldiers and three paramilitaries were killed in combat. The reactionary press in Lima lamented the successful guerrilla offensive (El Comercio, October 10, 1996).
MAOIST REBELS TAKE OVER THE CITY OF VENTANILLA, CALLAO, NEAR LIMA. October 28, 1996, at 7 a.m., about one hundred guerrilla combatants took over the urban zone named "Mi Peru" in Ventanilla-Callao where 45,000 people live. A large crowd of people shouting "Long Live the People's War, Down with the murderer Fujimori" marched to the main square of the city, welcoming the PCP fighters. Along the way, the masses sprayed the walls of homes and buildings with PCP slogans and raised red flags. The Mayor of the city, Carlos Chacaltana, was captured by the combatants, but subsequently released after he resigned and handed the authority to a truly elected people's representative. The military base of "Mi Peru" withdrew as quickly as they could in the face of the powerful attack of the rebels that penetrated the city from three directions. Even the reactionary press has denounced the action of the armed forces by stating that they are good at killing unarmed civilians but cowards when faced by the PCP's People's Army of Liberation. (La Republica, October 28, 1996)
PEOPLE'S ARMY OF LIBERATION TAKES OVER CITY OF JAUJA-CENTRAL PERU. On November 20, 1996, in anticipation of the birthday of President Gonzalo, Maoist guerrillas advancing from different directions took over the city of Jauja, after defeating the reactionary army. The people celebrated the arrival of the Maoists. Red flags of the international proletariat were conspicuously posted on top of the archeological ruin "Siquilla Puseara" and on top of all hills surrounding the River Mantaro where a large portion of the population of the province of Jauja resides. On the night of November 20, the hills bordering the districts of Huancani, Apata, Sincos, and Maquiyauyo were beautifully illuminated with huge hammer and sickles, the symbol of proletarian revolution. This is the second time that the Maoists have arrived victoriously in Jauja, lamented the reactionary paper El Comercio on November 22.
SELECTIVE ANNIHILATION OF MEMBERS OF DEATH SQUADS, PARAMILITARY, SNITCHES, INFORMANTS AND PROVEN ENEMIES OF THE PEOPLE WITH DEBTS OF BLOOD ON THEIR HANDS. In the document Elections No!, People's War Yes! [published by the PCP Central Committee in 1990], President Gonzalo teaches that the People's War in Peru is being waged with three forms of combat: 1. guerrilla combats, 2. sabotage of economic targets, 3. propaganda and agitation, and 4. selective annihilations. Until 1989, the PCP reported 100,000 guerrilla actions in the 4 forms of struggle. While the first 3 forms of struggle covered about 92% of the People's War, 8% have been selective annihilations. In Peru as in other revolutions in the world, selective annihilation of proven criminals working at the service of the old state has been hysterically condemned by imperialism and reactionaries all over the world.
On the one hand, reactionaries of all sorts apologize and condone with empty words such as "excesses", the countless and indiscriminate crimes carried out against the people by the military led by the butcher Fujimori. On the other hand, they condemn the revolutionary justice carried out by the People's War against PROVEN enemies of the people. How does the PCP know who is who? By relying on the thousands of eyes and ears of the people, who are the best "intelligence service" in the glorious People's War.
As a confirmation, we refer to someone who is not at all a friend of the PCP,Gordon McCormick, director of the low intensity warfare program at the Naval Military Postgraduate School in Monterey, California: "...The PCP has been so effective at infiltrating the police and military in Peru, it even planted key aids to the chief of Army Intelligence. They are operating openly within a mile of Lima." [Intelligence Report, Parade Magazine, March 6th, 1994]
Another example is a recent report, "Life of Undercover Police Agents at Risk: Sendero Infiltrates Intelligence Services of The National Police" [by Cristina Boyd, La Republica, September 19, 1996]: "The Counter terrorist Police (DIRIN- DINCOTE) in its Communique No. 01-96 confirmed that Sendero Luminoso has infiltrated this strategic organization since 1983 (13 years!), thus putting at risk the national security of the country." This news, reported by US Pentagon consultant McCormick almost 3 years ago, was a blow to Fujimori's regime and its phony "victory against Sendero."
La Republica continues: "As a result of Sendero infiltration, General Alfonso Villanueva will be removed from his post. In 1996, Generals Hector Gonzales Salinas, Luis Kanda Sanguinetti, and the Director of DINCOTE Gen. Juan Carlos Dominguez were removed from their command posts for their failure to defeat Sendero, and the increasing guerrilla attacks of the Maoists. One of the most devastating attacks of the guerrillas was the car bomb at the Lima house of the Political Military Chief of the Huallaga Front, General Guillermo Valera Gamarra." Neither SIN nor DINCOTE know who the PCP infiltrators in their ranks are, but to cover up their failure, they arrested as a scapegoat an innocent man, Officer Rolando Camacho, 31, who is a 13 year veteran of DINCOTE. Finally, La Republica lamented the successes of the PCP: "It is believed that Sendero Luminoso has in its possession, the entire list of members of DIRIN-DINCOTE, and informants who have infiltrated the people's schools and other mass organizations generated or influenced by Sendero." We have nothing more to add but to emphasize that the revolutionary justice carried out by the People's War is fair and just.
FUJIMORI'S ARMY WORKS FOR COLOMBIAN CARTELS; PERUVIAN TROOPS SUBMERGED IN MISERY. In response to recent findings of cocaine shipments on board Air Force planes and Navy"ships, retired Army General Carlos Mauricio stated "Colombian drug barons have infiltrated Peru's armed forces." General Mauricio expressed his concern for the crew members since it is quite certain that they were just following orders from high ranking officers. Another retired Army General, German Parra, denounced the narcotics' trade in the armed forces as a clear consequence of the low salaries for officers and troops. General Parra declared "poverty has reached the armed forces as well, and this misery leads us to criminal acts...I know retired generals, friends of mine, in psychiatric treatment because of neurosis, they are suffering because they cannot even afford to pay for their older children's education....If the armed forces are in Power, then why don't we have the same benefits that others in the present administration have?...an Army General earns 1,200 soles per month [US$ 590 dollars] while high ranking bureaucrats in Fujimori's government earn US$ 10,000 and even US$ 15,000 dollars per month!". General Parra concluded "The morale of the armed forces is sinking!" [La Republica, July 8, 1996]. Note: the Generals' views simply reflect another aspect of the Strategic Equilibrium in the People's War. The reactionary Army is going from strong to weak, while the People's Army (EPL) led by the PCP goes from weak to strong. Furthermore, the above comments are from retired Army Generals; active officers and soldiers would be punished and executed for "treason" if they expressed their grievances. The PCP's directive is just and correct: Soldiers and Sailors, bring your weapons and join the revolution!.
PERUVIAN NAVY SHIPS TRANSPORT COCAINE. The anti-narcotics police found 28 bags of cocaine of high purity on board the Navy ship "Ilo" in the port of Callao. Each bag contained over 17 kilos of the narcotic. The ship's Captain and 53 crew members are under arrest until investigations are completed. Members of the anti-narcotics police indicated the shipment was for the Atlanta 96 Olympics [La Republica and various sources, July 8, 1996].
LIMA. Over one hundred installations of the Peruvian Navy, including war ships and submarine bases, are being searched by special inspectors to determine how many Navy facilities are being used for the storage and transport of cocaine. Two Navy ships, "Matarani" and "Ilo", were found transporting narcotics; in early July 57 kilograms of cocaine were found on board of the "Matarani" when it arrived in Vancouver, Canada [El Comercio, July 16, 1996].
LIMA. The criminal court investigating the relations of Peruvian Army officers and the drug baron Demetrio Chavez "Vaticano" has ordered the arrest of Army Captain Carlos Hernandez. This captain was the chief of the countersubversive base at Sion (Tocache, Huallaga) from December 1991 to February 1992, and confirmed that he received payments from drug barons because his desperate troops had no food supplies for two straight months [El Comercio, July 16, 1996]. The troops in Fujimori's reactionary army are in desperate conditions: recent reports show "They are a raggedy bunch, tired, dirty and malnourished. They steal animals and money from the people, and rapes of young girls are frequent. They call themselves "rambos" and the townspeople are afraid of them".
LIMA. In an interview with the right wing Argentinean daily Clarin, Alberto Kenyo Fujimori admitted that drug dealers have "infiltrated" Peru's armed forces; he added "what we do is simply investigate". In relation to the civil war, Kenyo Fujimori recognized that "there are still some isolated columns in the jungle, but there is a large search going on, even with some casualties in the Army". Fujimori also rejected the accusations of fraud and corruption against the State insurance company "Popular Porvenir", at present managed by some of his family members [Gestion, July 16, 1996].
FUJIMORI AND DRUG DEALERS. There is confusion over Fujimori's evasive answer when questioned about the recent article published in Mexico's newspaper Reforma. The Mexican daily reported that Vladimiro Montesinos, Fujimori's main advisor and master of SIN, and Santiago Fujimori, Fujimori's brother, are closely linked to various Mexican mafias involved in cocaine and heroine trade [El Comercio, August 5, 1996].
US IMPERIALISM PLUNDERS PEOPLE'S RESOURCES. The Coordinating Office for Amazonian Indigenous Organizations (COICA) described the recent patent for the "sacred plant" Ayahuasca as "a real insult" to the people of Peru. This plant, used for ceremonies in ancient South American communities, was patented by Loren Miller for the International Plant Medicine Corporation. For centuries the Chamanes people have used the Ayahuasca as a beverage to cure sick bodies and souls. COICA reported that now the Chamanes will have to pay royalties to grow and use the plant for their ancient rituals. Poor peasants in the Amazonas declared "Nobody can patent a natural product; it is like having a patent for growing potatoes!" [AFP, July 5, 1996]. Note: Now the poor peasants in Peru exercise the NEW POWER to defend their right. Capitalist patents do not serve the people; on the contrary, patents are a means to oppress and plunder. Thus, they are rejected by the people.
FUJIMORI'S REGIME INCREASES FOREIGN DEBT BY 50 PER CENT. Peru's National Reserve Bank reported the country's foreign debt reached US $33,061 million by the end of June 1996. When Fujimori took over in 1990 the total foreign debt was $22,141 million. On July 2, the National Reserve Bank's Vice President, Mario Tovar, reported that the $11,000 million debt increase was caused by the regime's indiscriminate borrowing in the last five years, and by the interests and penalties for not meeting the annual payments on time. The bank's calculations indicate that the foreign debt increased by approximately $2,200 million per year from 1990 to 1995, although Fujimori's government has made great efforts to pay $1,000 million per year in the same period.
The bank's report caused a response from Jorge Camet, the Minister of Economy. Camet, ignoring official protocol, made his own announcement to claim that the total foreign debt is US$22,586 million. Most observers speculat that it is probably much higher. Fujimori could not be reached for comment. [El Comercio, and most newspapers, July 3, 1996. Caretas magazine, June 20, 1996].
LIMA. Peru's Minister of Labor Jorge Gonzales Izquierdo reported Peru's Gross National Product (GNP) grew during the month of May between 0.5% and 0.8%. He declared: "This indicates that the process of economic decline is ending" [daily Gestion, July 3, 1996]. Note: Now it is clear that Fujimori's loud announcements of an "economic miracle" and a "fast growing economy" was all a lie; that all along there was "process of economic decline".
ICA. 400 PRISONERS RISE UP IN MUTINY. Prisoners in the Cachiche jail near the city of Ica (350 Kilometers from Lima) started a mutiny to protest the lack of food and the delays in the judicial process. Many inmates are in prison without any formal charges and without a hearing in court. Many are unemployed workers arrested as "terrorists" during a public march demanding basic public services (potable water, health care, etc.). The prisoners took control of the prison's facilities and expressed their grievances. The National Police's Special Assault Division cleared the streets; the situation was tense, and a security ring was set up around the prison [AFP, July 5, 1996].
LIMA. CONSTRUCTION WORKERS IN MASSIVE PROTEST AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT. More than 5,000 construction workers marched on the streets of Lima to protest the regime's labor policies. The workers accused Fujimori's regime of suppressing and eliminating the social rights and benefits that workers had won through many years of struggle. These rights are recognized by the International Labor Organization. When the marchers reached the Ministry of Labor they demanded to meet with Minister Jorge Gonzales Izquierdo, but he refused, and ordered the ministry's doors closed to prevent workers from entering. The marchers shouted slogans: "The minister must resign!", "Down with the puppet government!". In response, various units of the National Police's Special Assault Division (anti-riot corps) were deployed to surround, arrest and disperse the marchers.
The workers responded with a rain of bricks, stones and sticks, and wiped out every police thug who got in the way. After shooting tear gas and vomiting gases, the police's Special Assault units called for reinforcements; the street battle became submerged in clouds of gases and smoke. The construction workers resisted and continued marching to other city streets. Many policemen and workers were treated for head and body wounds. The Secretary General of the Construction Workers' Federation, Mr. Jose Risco Montalvan, stateded that over 90% of Peru's construction workers were on strike; that is, 250,000 construction workers consciously joined the people's struggle against injustice, exploitation and genocidal oppression in Peru. The Federation also announced that more protests will follow until the government responds to the workers' demands [La Republica, Expreso and most papers, July 18, 1996].
STREET VENDORS MARCH AGAINST CONGRESS. Hundreds of street vendors marched to Peru's Congress to demand social services and measures to aid the informal sector in Peru. The vendors demanded the construction of facilities where they can market their goods in safe and healthy conditions; at the same time they demanded health care, social security benefits and the end of abusive tax increases [DESCO and various sources, July 18, 1996].
IMPERIALIST MONOPOLIES IMPOSE ABUSIVE EXPLOITATION. The representatives of native communities in Bajo Urubamba denounced the multinational oil corporations Chevron and Shell-Mobil for imposing abusive superexploitation conditions on poor and humble community residents. Mr. Bernabe Choranto, President of the native organization at Machiguengas (Concepcion Province), complained that over 400 residents of the native communities work 12 hours every day in exploration tasks, and receive the meager daily salary of eight soles (US $3.40). Mr. Choronto declared "The principal problem in the Bajo Urubamba communities is that we do not have any public health services, no health care at all, nor electricity, nor potable water. The Fujimori government does not pay any attention to our problems, and the foreign multinationals treat us like animals; we are human beings!" [La Republica, July 18, 1996].
LIMA. Over 6,000 State employees have been fired from judicial institutions without compensation. The measure is part of the recent judicial reform prepared by Fujimori's regime. The National Federation of Judicial Workers announced it will present its protest before the World Labor Organization. The regime has prohibited all public protests and Federation meetings [La Republica, July 19, 1996].
STREET VENDORS IN BLOODY CLASH. Over 500 street vendors marched in Lima's streets on July 23, and violently clashed with 50 members of the City's Municipal Police. The marchers employed sticks, rocks, bricks, and knives against the municipal thugs. The clash left 12 vendors and 25 policemen seriously wounded. Lima's informal street vendors continue refusing to pay abusive tax increases, and demanding basic health care and social security benefits [Expreso, July 24, 1996].
LIMA. The new annual report for human development from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) informs us that income differences and poverty continue to increase in Peru [Gestion, July 16, 1996].
LIMA. Caretas magazine reports that it is unknown how the revenues from privatizations are being used, nor how much of the revenues are being allocated for social programs as required by law. By July 12 the total amount of revenues from privatizations of state enterprises reached US $6.253 billion, and existing laws require that 80% of such revenues be invested in social services [Caretas, July 17, 1996]. Note: Recently Kenyo Fujimori purchased a Boeing Jet 735-500 and outfitted his private island with high security accommodations for specials guests and parties; in the meantime over 70% of Peru's population suffers misery, malnutrition and disease.]
CANADIAN MINING FIRMS GET BARGAINS IN PERU. Inmet Mining Corporation and Rio Algom Ltd. purchased the copper mines at Antamina (Ancash) for US $20 million. The firms project to invest $2.52 billion to exploit the mines in the next five years. Observers reported the purchase price is only one fifth of the actual market value. [DESCO, July 18, 1996].
MASSIVE ARRESTS, STATES OF EMERGENCY, HOODED JUDGES CONTINUE. In March 1995, Fujimori's Minister of Justice reassured the UN's Human Rights Commissioner and the Clinton Administration that the draconian faceless judges would be eliminated by July 1995. Fujimori boasted the same deadline to "annihilate Sendero". Well, at the end of 1996, the reality is that the tyrannical regime is the one being defeated by the raging People's War. If not, what would be the reason for US imperialism and its puppet Fujimori to intensify the low intensity warfare against the people? It will remain this way until the old regime is completely demolished by the People's War led by the PCP.
Despite the hypocritical outcry of the U. S. funded "Human Rights" groups, the regime promulgated the continuation of the "hooded judges" until October 15, 1997 (which in Peru means indefinitely.) The infamous "hooded judges" are military officers, many of them notorious killers and narcotraffickers (e.g., general Valdivia), acting as jury and judge at the same time, in mock "trials" conducted at military tribunals since 1993. The continuation of the hooded judges and the state of emergency imposed in almost 2/3 of the country are desperate actions of the dictator that show the world the bold advances of the People's War in the struggle to Conquer Power countrywide. It also shows that the struggles of the masses for democratic rights and against hunger and misery, which are led from the bottom by the PCP, is unmasking the charade of "democracy" and "respect for human rights" of the dictatorship.
DINCOTE CHIEF FIRED AND REPLACED. The chief of the National Directorate for Anti-Terrorism (DINCOTE), General Carlos Dominguez, was sacked and replaced, in view of his incompetence to prevent two spectacular PCP military offensives within 72 hours. The massive destruction of the National Police's Assault Division Headquarters and the total destruction of the Huallaga Front Chief's personal property, residence and surrounding area, as well as other coordinated Maoist attacks, have caused serious worry and panic in Fujimori's regime. Many foreign observers and most of Peru's newspapers now constantly report that "Sendero has recovered and it is back!". General Dominguez was replaced by General Maximo Rivera Diaz [El Comercio, Expreso, El Sol and most newspapers, August 1, 1996]. Note: The PCP was never gone, it has continuously developed the People's War since May 17, 1980, and at present it prepares the strategic counter-offensive to Conquer Power Nationwide. The Conquest of Power is certain.
MILITARY COUP AGAINST FUJIMORI BUSTED. The Army Commander Luis Alatrista and the Army Captain Luis Alvarez, in charge of Special Forces Battalion N-19, were captured by the National Intelligence Service (SIN). The two officers were stockpiling two large arsenals of automatic rifles (FAL), machine guns, rockets and ammunition in their residences. SIN reported that they were preparing a military coup against Alberto Kenyo Fujimori because of the low salaries and continuous hardship that Army officers suffer in recent years [La Republica, July 31, 1996].
FOREIGN SECRET AGENT EXPOSED. The Vice President of the Spanish monopoly Telefonica in Peru, Sergio Parra, died in a violent car accident in Lima's Via Expresa highway. The first aid team at the accident's site found various personal documents in the car, among these Parra's identification card as a high ranking officer in the "National System for Cooperation with Peru's National Police (SIN ACOOP-PNP)"; his ID number was N-087. Later it was reported that Parra was an active foreign intelligence officer (CESID) on permanent assignment for SIN (Peruvian CIA) [La Republica and various sources, July 26, 1996]. Note: This is not the first time foreign business executives have been exposed as foreign intelligence officers in Peru.
PSYCHIATRIC ADVISOR FOR FUJIMORI. Various newspapers report Fujimori's irritated tone in response to a recent report in which the German-trained psychiatrist Sigisfredo Luza is listed as a Presidential Advisor. Luza is also the "intellectual author" of a number of Fujimori's initiatives to control Peru's universities [La Republica, August 5, 1 996].
DICTATORSHIP FABRICATES A NEW HOAX, ATTEMPTING TO MURDER PRESIDENT GONZALO IN PRISON: "THE WEDDING OF GUZMAN" The CIA-Fujimori hoax that "Sendero asked for peace talks" and "Guzman has capitulated" has been shattered into pieces by the powerful People's War that has carried out thousands of guerrilla actions since September, 1992. Now, the National Intelligence Services and its CIA masters have come up with a new psychological warfare campaign: "Guzman has asked to be wed with Elena Iparraguirre." Traitorous revisionists such as the limping dog Javier Diez Canseco participates in the scheme to legitimize SIN's hoax. He said: "This shows that Guzman is not being punished as he should. He has privileged treatment in jail." (La Republica, October 14, 1996)
It is known by the Red Cross and others that President Gonzalo is completely isolated from the outside world and from the other prisoners kept underground at the Naval Base of El Callao, near Lima. The same International Red Cross has denounced that he is being kept there under an intense psychological and physical torture.
What is the purpose of this new hoax? In the short term, it seeks to confuse and distract world public opinion from the victories of the Red October guerrilla offensive in Peru. Every year, the PCP celebrates with bold political and military actions in the entire country, its own anniversary as well as the October Revolution founding the former USSR, and the anniversary of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution in China. Another aim of the "wedding of Guzman," is more sinister: the enemy is planning to assassinate President Gonzalo, and have a "successor," supposedly Elena Iparraguirre (another prisoner at El Callao), ready to generate more counterrevolutionary propaganda against the People's War. The "wedding of Guzman" and the bogus "peace agreement," are two soap operas produced and publicized by SIN and La Republica, (a paper controlled by the intelligence services), as psychological warfare against the people; a futile attempt to demoralize international supporters of the gloriousPeople's War in Peru.
JAVIER ESPARZA PARDONED BY FUJIMORI REGIME. In a long article La Republica reports the individual of Sweden, Javier Esparza Marquez, also known as "Enrique", was pardoned by Peru's Special Court for Terrorism (case number N-170-93). Esparza, husband of President Gonzalo's sister-in-law, obtained the pardon because since 1993 he has collaborated and supports the call for "peace accord," prepared and publicized by the National Intelligence Service (SIN). The pardon was granted January 17, 1995, but it was kept secret for political reasons.
The public announcement was delayed to facilitate Esparza's work to win over international supporters to the call for "peace accord". The article mentions that Esparza opposed the armed struggle initiated in 1980, and left Peru in early 1982. In 1986, after a self-criticism, he was allowed to participate in the development of the international support for the People's War. He became a close confidant of Robert Avakian (leader of the Revolutionist Communist Party,USA), and used this opportunity to position his friends abroad as "leaders of support groups" in the United States, France, Belgium, Mexico, Germany and Spain. These self-appointed leaders also collaborated with the call for "peace accord" and have been pardoned.
In the article, the English senderologist Simon Strong, author of a book on "Shining Path", declares "It was Esparza who achieved the support of the Executive Committee of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement (CoRIM) in favor of the 'peace accord to end the People's War in Peru', as a result CoRIM conducted a number of sabotage activities against the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Peru (PCP) and its international supporters." Strong also mentions "It was because of this that the unity of pro-sendero [pro-PCP] forces was broken. If Peru decided to pardon Esparza it must be for this...of course, this pardon also implies that he provided information of the organization in Europe."
Simon Strong, who has links with the intelligence services, now considers his friends "Adolfo Olaechea Cahuas and Luis Arce Borja" to be "two of the most important senderistas in Europe to reckon with". The article also reports that Esparza's pardon and its recent public announcement are part of "political engineering", since it was Esparza himself who informed Adolfo Olaechea Cahuas about his contacts with representatives from Fujimori's regime, and called for Olaechea's "careful consideration and opportune action" to support future calls for a "peace accord." Esparza was accused with the same case number and "charges" as Arce and Olaechea. It is likely that they have also obtained a secret amnesty from Fujimori. [La Republica, July 30, 1996]. Note: Since 1993 the PCP Central Committee and its international supporters have combated and defeated both Fujimori's "peace accord" and the useless manipulations of Esparza, and his clique. The path Olaechea and Arce now follow is their own pathology of dreaming to be "world leaders."
LIMA. Fujimori's Attorney General for cases of terrorism presented a motion against the decision of the Special Court for Terrorism demanding the invalidation of the pardon given to Javier Esparza [El Comercio, El Peruano, July 31, 1996]. Note: Now that the "peace accord" farce is a failure, the regime keeps the pressure on Esparza and others in Europe (London, Paris and Belgium) to insure their participation in future counter-revolutionary campaigns.
RETIRED GENERAL ROBLES, ARMY DISSENTER, KIDNAPPED BY SIN. On November 26, 1996 at 10:15 a.m., members of a death squad operating for the Intelligence Services (SIN) brutally kidnaped General Rodolfo Robles while he was driving in the populous district of Lince, beating him and spraying him with paralyzing gas. The general fought back against at least 6 masked individuals who intercepted him in 3 cars without plates. The kidnappers planned to blame the PCP for this despicable action, but before he was grabbed and paralyzed, General Robles screamed to the people: "These are from SIN...Tell Hildebrand."
Why is this decorated general being repressed by the same regime he served in the recent past? Because Robles had provided a detailed account of the death squads of Fujimori and Montesinos; he unmasked the notorious killers of "Grupo Colina" who committed the crime at the teacher's college La Cantuta, and the murders of two families in midtown Lima (Barrios Altos).
And, verifying the denunciations of the PCP that these death squads were always in full operation to commit massacres against the people, on Nov. 21, 1996 in an interview with journalist Hildebrand, Robles identified the members of the death squad that recently blew up Global TV and Radio Samoa of Puno as: Ethel Guido Mendoza (undercover killer working for Montesinos), Angel Sauni Pomaya, Luis Barrantes Yanez, and Javier Urquizo. The imperialist paper New York Times, in a December 2 article by Calvin Sims, tried to wash the criminal face of dictator Fujimori by suggesting that "he says it was a grave error...he will pardon him..." It portrays Robles as a disgruntled general upset because "he was passed over for a promotion", and it claims that the terrorist military who recently bombed the TV and radio stations in Puno "were acting independently." Sims, a known Yankee propagandist disguised as "journalist" calls the Communist Party of Peru, leading the glorious People's War "guerrilla terrorists", while the real terrorists, the death squads of Fujimori become "isolated military working independently."
[Editors Note. The PCP web page and The New Flag have caught the eye of the enemy. The article below was extracted from Special Warfare, a quarterly magazine of the Special Operation Forces (SOF), U.S. Army, May 1996, p.45.]
PERUVIAN SUBVERSIVES NOW IN THE INTERNET. "The Peruvian subversive organization Sendero Luminoso or Shining Path, has been severely reduced in strength, cohesiveness and effectiveness over the last few years. Its leader, Abimael Guzman, was captured in September 1992 by the Peruvian National Police's National Counterterrorism Directorate, or DINCOTE. DINCOTE chief General Carlos Dominguez continues to dismantle the Sendero leadership and structure, and Sendero has suffered defeats in the field by the Peruvian armed forces. Nevertheless, remaining Sendero elements continue their efforts to reorganize, and they have carried out periodic terrorist acts in urban and rural areas as a reminder that they have not completely vanished. Another reminder, aimed primarily at foreign audiences, is found on a Worldwide Web site designated, "The People's War in Peru: Information About the Peruvian Communist Party" (http://www.blythe.org/peru-pcp/). The site is replete with portraits of Marx, Lenin, Mao and Abimael Guzman. It includes Guzman speeches, Sendero documents and position papers, and 29 "frequently asked questions." Although the site purports to represent the Peruvian Communist Party, or PCP, it is unclear whether information posted on the site reflects the positions of the Sendero/PCP leadership or those of foreign sympathizers who have for years been active in Europe and in the U.S. The site does note, in accordance with current orthodoxy, that the PCP continues to make preparations to 'seize power nationwide in a final insurrection against the old State.'"
Articles in this section are written by Dr. Graham H. Turbiville Jr. and Lieutenant Colonel John E. Sray of the Foreign Military Studies Office, US. Army DCSOPS, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. All information is unclassified.
OUR REPLY: Aside from using the derogatory term "Shining Path" for the Communist Party of Peru (PCP), the enemy recognizes that the People's War is still bold. Their conclusion of a weak PCP does not correspond to reality, since the PCP leadership has been completely re-structured as of early 1994, and the effects of the "bend in the road" (capture of President Gonzalo) were resolved by more People's War throughout the entire country, after the defeat of the hoax of "peace talks" introduced by the regime. On the other hand, what was the fate of DINCOTE's General Carlos Dominguez? He was fired after the PCP successful offensives of May and July 1996.
U.S. ARMED FORCES TRAIN PERUVIAN BUTCHERS. A U.S. joint military maneuver code-named "Unitas 37" with the Peruvian navy and Air Force was held on October 12th. 850 Yankee and Peruvian marines backed by warplanes, trained with live ammunition and heavy artillery during the day near Ancon (Northern Lima). There were two Peruvian warships, "Eten" and "Callao" and the Yankee "La Moure Country," under the command of Admiral James Ferguson III. Furthermore, on or about October 15 and 26, the 24th Inter American War Games, under the command of the U.S. Armed forces, took place on the coast of Peru. Among the participating countries were: Argentina, Ecuador, Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, U.S., Mexico, Uruguay, Venezuela and Peru. What are the imperialists afraid of? There is only one real war, in Peru: The People's War led by the invincible Communist Party of Peru.