Peru’s President Belaunde Makes Surprise Visit to Emergency Zone
President Belaunde visits the city of Ayacucho, in a move to demonstrate a united civil-military approach to terrorism and economic decay. The document notes that opposition figures and the press have tended to view such occasions as a de-facto presidential endorsement of the counter-terrorist tactics employed by the security forces. The cable also describes public criticisms and news editorials concerning the deaths and unknown fate of hundreds of persons detained by the military and the government’s unwillingness to offer the public any explanations.