Murder of the aprista provincial mayor of Picota, Rafael Saavedra Saavedra Saavedra
On June 16, 1987, the APRA provincial mayor of Picota (San Martin), Rafael Saavedra Saavedra Saavedra, was assassinated by members of the PCP-Sendero Luminoso. This crime was part of the policy of selective annihilation against local authorities of the PAP.
On June 16, 1987, members of the PCP-Sendero Luminoso assassinated the APRA provincial mayor of Picota, Rafael Saavedra Saavedra. This assassination was part of the selective annihilation strategy of the PCP-SL against local political authorities, especially those linked to the Peruvian Aprista Party (PAP). The crime occurred in the context of the IV Military Plan of the PCP-SL called "Develop support bases", which sought to consolidate popular committees and eliminate the presence of the State in rural areas. This type of selective assassination against municipal authorities was considered by the PCP-SL as part of its strategy to weaken the structures of the Peruvian State in the provinces.