Ambassador Holds Meetings in Ayacucho on Human Rights

The U.S. Ambassador discussed human rights and political violence in Ayacucho with emergency zone commander General Fernández-Dávila, with Public Ministry prosecutors, and with municipal authorities. General Fernández-Dávila claims that the severity of the human rights situation has been greatly exaggerated and that when excesses have occurred, the officials responsible have been investigated and prosecuted. Other local officials, including the acting mayor and prosecutors, acknowledge that there has been an increase in cooperation from military authorities. The report cites the military's willingness to reveal the identity of "Centurión" (Sergeant Johnny José Zapata Acuña) as an example of this new spirit of cooperation. However, the document concludes that the General's claims of military defeat of Sendero are overly optimistic, despite notable signs of improvement in recent months, and that the evidence available to us suggests that the human rights situation is far from good and that the Army is not fully reformed.