Ex-Generals and Others Protest Peru Report on Rebel Conflict

Saturday, September 6, 2003

By Juan Forero

New York Times Writer

"Our mission was to chase them down, go after them. Our intention was not to massacre people."

[ ... ]

"Who promotes this biased ideology -- Marxist sectors (with ties to Shining Path), the human rights groups with a Marxist bent. Instead of being honored for the work the armed forces did, they accuse us for the work we did. That is unjust."

LIMA, Peru -- NYT
Standing amid his medals and gold-encrusted ceremonial sword, Gen. Roberto Clemente Noel, now retired, says his wartime past is full of heroism and sacrifice.

The way he sees it, his work as military chief in the Peruvian highlands during a barbarous civil conflict in the 1980's stopped rebels from toppling the state. Stepping into the study of his elegant colonial-style home, General Noel showed off proclamations in his honor and his book, "Testimony of a Soldier," in which he defends himself against accusations of vast human rights abuses.

"I am proud of the work I have done," said General Noel, a slight, soft-spoken man of 74. "We protected all the communities."

But his record, and that of several other military officers, has been assailed in a report from a truth commission appointed by the government to examine 20 years of conflict and authoritarianism that ended in Peru in 2000.

The report, issued 10 days ago, laid most of the blame for the war with the Maoist rebel group Shining Path, but concluded that the armed forces were responsible for "generalized and systematic violations of human rights." It also found that many in Peru's powerful political class, from congressmen to Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, were indifferent to the suffering of Peru's Indians, who bore the brunt of the war deaths.
(More: NYTimes.com)

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Dan