I
n December 2008, Paz y Esperanza launched thecampaign to collectsignatures from around the world in support of 123people, among them women, children and the elderly,who were massacred in 1984, presumably by thePeruvian military. The signatures are for a petitionthat will be presented to the Peruvian Minister ofDefense on April 15, 2009 asking that the militaryprovide the names of those involved in the massacreso that the perpetrators may be prosecuted for thiscrime. The campaign will continue to collect signaturesuntil the names are provided.On December 13, 1984, the Peruvian Army presuma-bly murdered at least 123 people in Putis, Ayacucho,Peru, which included rape of women, torture and thekilling of small children. The 123 members of the Putiscommunity, over 70% of whom were evangelicalChristians, had fled to the nearest army base forprotection against the Shining Path insurgency. Thearmy promised protection and even offered to helpthe community by establishing a fish farm. They thenmade the men dig holes for the fish farm. While themen dug the holes, the army separated out thewomen and children and raped many of them. TheArmy then lined up the entire community alongside theholes, murdered them and buried them in the holes.Twenty years later, survivors told their story tothe Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission,established in 2001 to investigate the truth behind thetwenty year conflict from 1980-2000. In 2008, thePeruvian government, with the help of human rightsforensic scientists, began to exhume the victim’sremains for purposes of prosecuting the crime andChristian burial. The names of those implicated areunknown and the Ministry of Defense refuses tocooperate in the investigation. Paz y Esperanzarepresents the family members of the massacre victimswho have been waiting 25 years to know the truth.They deserve justice.You can help them obtain justice now by:Visit http://www.peaceandhopeinternational.org/Putis_Petition_Form.html and complete the briefform to add your name to the petition.Forward thewebsite address above and ask others to “sign”the petition.You may also write a personal letter tosend directly to the Minister of Defense. Visithttp://www.peaceandhopeinternational.org/Sample_Letter_to_Intervene_Justice_for_Putis.htmlfor a sample letter.Visit our website for a sample petition to circulate.
“Tell Me Their Names”
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Signing an electronic petition.Telling others about the petition.Writing a letter and sending it to the Minister ofDefense.Starting your own petition-signing campaign.
3400 Park Avenue SouthMinneapolis • MN • 55407(612) 819-7162www.peaceandhopeinternational.org
“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where isyour brother Abel? “I don’t know,” hereplied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” Hesaid, “What have you done? Listen, thevoice of your brother’s blood is crying toMe from the ground.”
Genesis 4:9-10
“A generous person will prosper; the person who refreshes others will also be refreshed.”“A generous person will prosper; the person who refreshes others will also be refreshed.”“A generous person will prosper; the person who refreshes others will also be refreshed.”
Psalm 11:25Psalm 11:25Psalm 11:25
May 2009, Volume 1, Issue 3
Consoling family members of the Putis victims
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