Early stages of the internal armed conflict in Ayacucho

The first phases of the internal armed conflict were marked by its eminently Ayacucho character and by the high peaks of violence reached in 1983 and 1984. Between 1982 and 1985, the conflict was practically confined to the department of Ayacucho. In December 1982, the Armed Forces (FFAA) were charged with leading the counter-subversive struggle, which provoked a notable escalation of violence, especially from 1983 onwards. The year 1984 was the most intense in terms of victims, corresponding to the moment of greatest intensity that provoked the most important number of deaths and disappearances reported to the CVR (19% of the total number of victims). This initial period was essentially centered in the department of Ayacucho, affecting mainly the rural and Quechua-speaking population.