Two Roads - Opinion Column

The anniversary of the capture of Abimael Guzmán, which took place on the night of September 12, 1992, gave rise to several TV specials that reflected certain individuals' eagerness to claim at least a sliver of the glory. Most conspicuous was the version offered by the host of a Sunday program who, with a solemn expression, claimed it was very difficult to say what he was about to say: to acknowledge the merit of President Alberto Fujimori and Dr. Vladimiro Montesinos in the arrest of the terrorist ringleader. In reality, the only risk the TV personality could have run by flattering the two most powerful men in Peru — according to the Power Survey in the magazine Debate — was getting a pay raise. Or being given an exclusive interview with Abimael Guzmán. Published September 14, 1995.