AYACUCHO: ALWAYS THE BASTION OF THE REVOLUTION

In a sweeping guerrilla offensive, during the months of April and May 1997, at least 120 military actions were carried out by the PCP's People's Army of Liberation against the bases of the reactionary armed forces and its peasant rondas (Comit‚s de Defensa Civil.) In one of its strongest offensives, the Maoist combatants took over the communities of Apongo, Tonsulla, Churcampa, Ocollo, Angaraes, Abcarimay, Rimachi and Pichari. Upon arrival, masses of people greeted the 17th Anniversary of the People's War and President Gonzalo. Slogans and banners against the murderous regime of Fujimori were displayed. In addition, hundreds of peasant youth joined the ranks of the revolution in the continuous struggle of restoration and counter- restoration in Ayacucho. The PCP counteroffensive was even recognized by Alberto Valencia, a conspicuous representative of the big bourgeoisie in Ayacucho and a sworn enemy of the revolution. Mr. Valencia is the honorary President of the paramilitary rondas in Ayacucho. The following is an excerpt of Valencia's interview with the progovernment paper Expreso of May 26, 1997.

"The subversives denounce the peace accords as a hoax of the government and insist in sheer- leading `President Gonzalo.' They openly acknowledge in their peasant rallies that they have made a mistake. The government should fight subversion not only with military plans, but with education, health and jobs." This shows the collapse of the counterinsurgency plans of reaction in Ayacucho and the development of the People's War. It is clear to see that the PCP is consolidating its support bases and restoring the new power in areas where the enemy had temporary control, and then tearing down to pieces the counterrevolutionary paramilitary peasant groups (rondas or mesnadas).

In other areas of Ayacucho, in the District of Ayahuanco, Province of Huanta, the People's Army is surrounding the counter-subversive jungle base of Pucayacu that abuts the Apurimac River. So far, the criminal actions of the military and its Yankee advisors in this area, have been the spraying of toxic chemicals from helicopters and planes on the plantations of corn and non- coca products of humble peasants. According to a Peruvian publication (El Comercio, May 26, 1997), "the task of the 11 counterinsurgency bases in Ayacucho has been to destroy and burn the farms under the influence of the subversives, which was a total of 26 farms and were used for their maintenance and support." This is a tacit recognition by the reactionaries of two important facts of the revolutionary struggle in Peru: 1) The existence of the open People's Committees, 2) and their self-reliant and self-sufficient character.

VIOLENT BATTLES IN THE PROVINCES OF HUANTA AND LA MAR.

Three guerrilla columns battled the reactionary Army and its paramilitary self-defense committees in several areas of Huanta and La Mar. On June 5, 1997, in the District of Cano, a Maoist contingent of 100 combatants smashed the main paramilitary or self-defense committee. The same day, another guerrilla column took over the highway connecting the locality of Tambo with the entire valley, abutting the Apurimac River. All transportation was halted, and several trucks owned by corporations and businesses that were transporting food and other supplies to the city were confiscated. On June 9th, a ferocious military clash took place between the reactionary armed forces of Fujimori and the People's Army in the locality of Ayna. This event was surprisingly reported in the daily newspaper El Comercio on June 11, 1997.