The South African Communist Party condemns the recent violent attack by the Peruvian Government on the Japanese Ambassador’s residence that resulted in the deaths of at least 14 people. A Negotiated resolution to the occupation, for the release of hostages, remained a real possibility. More specifically, we condemn, in the strongest terms possible, the summary executions carried out by Peruvian Government forces during the attack.
The SACP regards the tactics used by the MRTA in seizing the Ambassador’s residence and taking hostages as seriously misplaced and an unfortunate example of ‘desperation politics’. But this does not detract from the underlying causes behind this event. The authoritarian regime of President Alberto Fujimori has consistently exhibited contempt for the basic human rights of the population, and its neo-liberal policies have wreaked untold social and economic suffering on the vast majority of Peruvians.
Members of the Tupae Amaru (MRTA) movement were attempting to bring the world’s attention to the continued socio-economic oppression and human rights violations of the Fujimori regime. Specifically, the occupation was part of the ongoing struggle to secure the release of some imprisoned members of the MRTA and the humane treatment for political prisoners generally.
The SACP rejects the attempt by the Peruvian Government and much of the media to establish an equivalence between ‘marxism’ and ‘terrorism’. MRTA activists represent but one component of a broad social struggle to bring democracy and socio-economic justice to Peru. It is a struggle informed by marxist and other progressive traditions.
The SACP calls on the Peruvian government to grant political status to all political prisoners and for humane conditions in Peru’s jails. Furthermore, we call on the Peruvian Government to undertake a serious and peaceful engagement with popular representatives of the opposition. The struggle for political, social and economic freedom in Peru will continue as long as there is oppression and exploitation.