Ambassador’s Human Rights Calls in Ayacucho

U.S. Ambassador Quainton discusses human rights and political violence in Ayacucho with Emergency Zone Commander General Fernandez-Davila, the Public Ministry’s Chief Prosecutor, the Special Prosecutor for Human Rights, and the municipal authorities. General Fernandez-Davila asserts that the frequency of military human rights abuses has been greatly exaggerated and that when excesses have occurred the responsible officials have been investigated and prosecuted. Other local officials, including the acting Mayor and Prosecutors, acknowledge that there has been increased cooperation from the military authorities. The report cites the military’s willingness to reveal the identity of “centurion” (Army Sergeant Johnny Jose Zapata Acuna), as an example of this new spirit of cooperation. However, the document concludes that the General’s claims of Sendero’s military defeat is overly optimistic, and that despite noticeable signs of improvement in recent months the military’s human rights performance is “far from good” and that the army has not “entirely reformed”.