Takeover of Puerto Bermúdez by the Asháninka Army

The Asháninka Army, made up of between 2,000 and 2,500 natives under the command of Alcides Calderón (son of Alejandro Calderón), marched on Puerto Bermúdez to demand the surrender of MRTA members. They took the city without resistance from the local authorities (mayor Evaristo Zumarán, judge Jorge Camacho and lieutenant governor Manuel Casas), who approved the reprisals. The Asháninkas captured and shot to death suspected terrorists and collaborators. Violence became generalized against settlers due to ethnic resentments and land disputes. Detainees were locked up in the local slaughterhouse and a hostel, and later transferred to Pankinkari where torture, rape and throwing bodies into the river took place.