BY BRIAN TAYLOR
Since the April 22 slaughter of 14 members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) in Lima, Peru - organized by Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori - more facts have come to light on the atrocities carried out by the regime. In the name of fighting terrorism, 150 military commandos stormed the Japanese ambassador's residence and executed all the rebels on sight, including those who surrendered. The soldiers mutilated rebel bodies and the Fujimori government refused to return the remains to their relatives.

The capitalist media around the world praised Fujimori for the murderous assault. Paul Bremer, former State Department ambassador at large for the United States in the late 1980s, said the raid was "absolutely magnificent - a model." A Wall Street Journal editorial called the massacre "exemplary."

Two relatives of jailed MRTA rebels were arrested after visiting the grave of MRTA leader Néstor Cerpa Cartolini. No charges were issued. The government banned funerals and viewings of the bodies of MRTA members, saying it might draw attention to the rebels' cause. The Fujimori regime buried most of the rebels in unmarked graves marked "NN" in scattered areas throughout the region.

Lima has given political police expanded powers to arrest anyone suspected of "subversion," and to use secret military court proceedings. Thirty-eight more civilians were added to the list of workers and peasants falsely arrested, tortured, and jailed, according to human rights groups. Enrique Vernales, a former Peruvian senator, proposed having MRTA family members followed. Rodolfo Muñante Sanguinetti, a Peruvian government official and former MRTA captive declined to give the name of one of the rebel that could have shot him but didn't, admitting fear of the consequences that might befall the living relatives.

The excessive force used by Peruvian government troops and then the harassment of the relatives was unpopular among many working people around the world. In Mexico, university students held a demonstration condemning Fujimori, calling him "Hitler-mori." Other protests took place in Sweden, and in Montreal where activists chanted "Fujimori assassin, Ottawa accomplice!" Nancy Domíguez, the sister of one of the hostages, told the New York Times, "I don't know if the attack was necessary. All I know is it was a horrible shame."

Fujimori expressed remorse for the "three human lives" lost. Two of those "humans" were members of the Peruvian special forces units from the police, army, navy, and air force. In the Spanish-language periodical, El País, Fernando Rospigliosi - touted as an expert on the subject - describes the commandos. "They are trained to be bonafide killing machines," he said. "Part of their training consists of raising new-born puppies to later kill them and eat their intestines. It's a way to dehumanize them." The soldiers ripped off the heads and ligaments of the already dead rebels.

Peruvian intelligence chief Ivan Vladimiro Montesinos, who works closely with the CIA, organized the military attack from the beginning of the rebel's takeover of the embassy. The CIA, while admitting to having trained these special forces units, has consistently denied direct collaboration on the assault.  
 
 
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