Year after truth report, Peruvian activists say more follow-up needed

Published: 2004-08-23

LIMA, Peru (CNS) -- Raida Condor's son, Armando, was 25 years old in 1992, when members of the army intelligence service burst into his dormitory at Lima's La Cantuta Teachers College. Armando Condor -- along with eight other students and a professor -- vanished until dissident military officers leaked information that led to the discovery of their charred remains in a common grave on the outskirts of Lima. "There have been many disappearances and many deaths, and very few have been investigated so far," Raida Condor said of the political violence that began in 1980, when the Maoist Shining Path guerrillas declared war on the Peruvian government. "People are still afraid to come forward." Condor joined a small group of victims' relatives, human rights workers, citizen activists and former members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in Lima's main plaza Aug. 22 for the launch of a week of events marking the first anniversary of the commission's report, which was presented to Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Aug. 28, 2003. The events will culminate Aug. 27 with a candlelight vigil outside the Palace of Justice.

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