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ANFASEP Mothers of Keiko

By: Ronald Gamarra

Journal Republic

3 / 09 / 2008

Dear mothers: the Association of Relatives of Disappeared Detainees Ayacucho (ANFASEP), which you founded in 1983 , is one of the oldest institutions of human rights in our country and as such, he participated in the founding of the National Coordinator of Human Rights. It is also the first and oldest organization of families and victims of violence, active since its foundation in the area most affected by violence: Ayacucho, when acting in defense of human rights involving real and personal risk everyday .

all remember the humble ladies who in 1983 started this fight. It was the time of the cruel attacks of the Shining Path. It was also the era of political and military leadership of General Clemente Noel, under whose rule began enforced disappearances in the emergency zone Ayacucho. It was the beginning of a cruel practice of enforced disappearance, one of the worst crimes against humanity.

In the climate of insecurity and intimidation that was created in the emergency zone, the administration of justice stopped working for the protection of fundamental rights. Neither the judiciary nor the prosecution fell short of its mission to protect the law, and the timid attempts of some of its lesser officials were unsuccessful due to the lack of support from their superiors and the arrogance of a political-military leadership that was accountable to civilian authority.

In this rarefied atmosphere, where very few dared to denounce the human rights situation in the emergency area, a group of mothers led by Ms. Angelica Mendoza began the struggle to demand life their children detained and disappeared. And then we saw them at offices of the Prosecutor of Ayacucho, filing complaint after complaint, not discouraged by the ineffectiveness and the apathy of fiscal saw them at the gates of the barracks The Cabitos and many other barracks and military bases, pushing for an answer to their desperate inquiry, always overcoming the fear of death threats we saw crossing the streams more remote, looking for the remains of their beloved children, to pay them the testimony of his maternal devotion.

and basically did everything alone, without support or protection from anyone, overcoming barriers of poverty, discrimination or language.

Dear Mother: You have not only fought for their missing children. You have given us all a lesson of love and fortitude, courage and perseverance. Without knowing Castilian, you were heard, shaking the country. Unable to read and write, you were wise. Being the most fragile, were most courageous. For you, our committed and loving hug.