Peru News Round-Up

Peruvians who lost their identity documents in the civil conflict will be able to get them replaced, according to a new law.

According to a report by the ombudsman’s office, 251 civil registry offices in seven provinces of Peru were completely destroyed in the armed conflict, which resulted in the disappearance of the birth, death and marriage certificates of entire villages, especially in the impoverished southern highlands provinces of Ayacucho, Apurimac and Huancavelica, where the population is mainly indigenous.
[...]
IPS discovered that the authorities required people to present documents that had been destroyed in local civil registry offices, even though the state had copies of the lost documents.
[...]
"The widespread lack of documents among people in a country with economic growth rates like those of Peru reflect the inequality suffered by a broad swath of citizens who do not exist in the eyes of the state," said Oxfam’s Vargas. "It is impossible to reduce poverty or bolster development if the identities of these half a million Peruvians who suffer exclusion are not restored."

What a surprise, another negative issue that disproportionately affects indigenous Peruvians. If you haven't personally experienced Peruvian bureaucracy, count yourself lucky - the word 'kafkaesque' is made for it.Hopefully, in the future such people will be able to prove their identity, which is the only way to access rights like voting, education, the legal systems, etc.

Undocumented War Survivors to Regain Identity Cards (IPS)

Updates from the Fujimori trial (sessions took place before Christmas):

Audio tapes were played to the court:

1. In the first audio, [director of Army Intelligence Office] Rivero Lazo is heard requesting the imprisoned military officials to have patience and talks to them of a possible amnesty law which the government would pass for their benefit. Sosa, as well as Julio Chuqui Aguirre and Nelson Carbajal García all complain to Rivero Lazo and Oliveros Pérez, saying they had not been given houses, medical attention and money for their families as they had been promised. They further requested better prison conditions and a more flexible visitor schedule.

Nice.
Military officials confirm audios' authenticity (Fujimori on Trial)

Moreover,

Fujimori also stated that he never approved of a dirty war strategy: “I will repeat once again, I did not make a mistake, with the exception of these unfortunate crimes [Barrios Altos and La Cantuta].”

Hmm.
Fujimori says his only mistake was Barrios Altos and La Cantuta (Fujimori on Trial)

Finally:

A column of Maoist Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) guerrillas operating in the northeastern coca-growing valleys of the Upper Huallaga river in Peru appears to be carrying out attacks in pursuit of a peace agreement, to include an amnesty and the restoration of the rights of those who took up arms in 1980.

Attacking for 'peace': sounds like the Shining Path.

Guerrillas on the Warpath for Peace Talks (IPS)