podcast :terrorism in Peru

 

Car Bomb of Tarata

The Tarata bombing stands as a haunting reminder of the violence and terror that plagued Peru during the 1980s and 1990s. Occurring on July 16, 1992, in the district of Miraflores in Lima, the Tarata bombing was one of the deadliest attacks orchestrated by the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso), a militant Maoist guerrilla group. This essay delves into the Tarata bombing, its impact on Peru, and its significance in the context of the terrorism era.

The Tarata bombing took place amidst a period of intense terrorism in Peru. The Shining Path, led by Abimael Guzmán, sought to overthrow the government and establish a communist state through armed insurgency. The group employed ruthless tactics, including bombings, assassinations, and massacres, causing widespread fear and destabilizing the nation.

The Tarata Bombing:
On the fateful night of July 16, 1992, a car loaded with explosives detonated in front of a residential building on Tarata Street in Miraflores. The blast resulted in a devastating loss of life and destruction, with 25 people killed and over 150 injured. The target of the attack appeared to be civilians, as the Shining Path aimed to instill fear in the population and undermine public confidence in the government's ability to maintain security.

Impact on Peru:
The Tarata bombing had a profound impact on Peru, both in terms of human lives lost and the psychological trauma inflicted on the survivors and their families. The attack symbolized the indiscriminate violence unleashed by the Shining Path, leaving scars that would take years to heal. It also served as a turning point, galvanizing public opinion against the terrorist group and strengthening the government's resolve to combat terrorism.
n the aftermath of the Tarata bombing, the Peruvian government intensified its efforts to combat terrorism. Security forces launched operations to dismantle Shining Path networks, resulting in the capture of Abimael Guzmán and other key leaders. Additionally, the government implemented socio-economic programs aimed at addressing the root causes of terrorism, such as poverty and inequality.

Justice and Memory:
The Tarata bombing and other acts of terrorism in Peru have become emblematic of a dark chapter in the nation's history. The pursuit of justice for the victims has been an ongoing process, with trials and convictions of those responsible. Memorials, such as the Tarata Memorial Park, have been established to honor the victims and ensure that their memory endures as a testament to the resilience of the 

Peruvian people.
The Tarata bombing remains a tragic and significant event in the history of terrorism in Peru. It serves as a stark reminder of the brutal tactics employed by the Shining Path and the impact of terrorism on innocent civilians. Through the collective efforts of the Peruvian government and its people, the country has made significant strides in combating terrorism and pursuing justice. As Peru continues its journey towards healing and reconciliation, it stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of its people in the face of adversity.

Ministry of Culture of Peru. (n.d.). Memorial del Terrorismo. Retrieved from https://www.memorialdelterrorismo.cultura.pe/

El Comercio. (2017, July 16). Atentado de Tarata: 25 años después, el dolor que no cicatriza. Retrieved from https://elcomercio.pe/lima/seguridad/atentado-tarata-25-anos-dolor-no-cicatriza-424999

BBC Mundo. (2017, July 16). Perú: la tragedia del atentado de Tarata perpetrado por Sendero Luminoso hace 25 años. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias-america-latina-40612702

RPP Noticias. (2017, July 16). Atentado en Tarata: a 25 años de uno de los ataques más crueles de Sendero Luminoso. Retrieved from https://rpp.pe/peru/actualidad/atentado-en-tarata-a-25-anos-de-uno-de-los-ataques-mas-crueles-de-sendero-luminoso-noticia-1067086

Revista Semana. (2018, April 29). El "nunca más" de Perú: así busca superar el terrorismo. Retrieved from https://www.semana.com/mundo/articulo/peru-como-supera-su-pasado-terrorista/566496 

PERUVIAN GUERRILLAS HOLD HUNDREDS HOSTAGE

Terrorists holding 490 hostages, including businessmen, government officials and at least 15 foreign ambassadors, threatened to kill them if their demands were not met, turning a daring attack by Marxist guerrillas on the Japanese ambassador's residence into a tense and harrowing standoff.

The drama began on the night of December 17, 1996, when some two dozen members of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, also known as MRTA, broke into a lavish celebration of the Japanese emperor's birthday that the Japanese ambassador organizes each year. The party was attended by at least 600 people when the attack began, and possibly more.

According to conflicting accounts from the freed hostages, it is said that the guerrillas arrived between 8:15 and 8:30 p.m. when most of the guests were heading for the buffet table set up in a nearby tent, and that the assault began with an explosion and a burst of gunfire. Others say that most of the guerrillas rushed over the high concrete walls surrounding the ambassador's compound. Others reportedly entered the compound posing as servants, according to unconfirmed reports. According to a special edition of the newspaper La Republica, MRTA members rented a neighboring house three months earlier and then dug a tunnel to the property.

As a result of the prominence of the hostages and the fact that the siege was taking place in what was technically Japanese territory, the event, attended by a dazzling array of Lima's rich, famous and powerful, turned what would otherwise have been a serious drama for Peru into an international crisis.

The rebels released four ambassadors, the Greek, German and Canadian ambassadors, as well as the French cultural attaché, around 6 p.m. Dec. 19 after they brought medicine to the embassy. After 22 hours as hostages, the men read in a statement that they had been sent to "seek a negotiated solution" to stop the killings. The men were dressed in business suits and looked good. Canada's ambassador, Anthony Vincent, told reporters early Thursday that he and the other freed diplomats had delivered a message to the home of the government mediator, Education Minister Domingo Palermo Cabrejos, in order to start a negotiating channel between the government and the guerrillas. Vincent said simply: "The process will continue in the morning".

The State Department strongly opposed any attempt by Peru to make concessions to the guerrillas on Wednesday and said that "terrorists cannot be rewarded". According to spokesman Nicholas Burns in Washington, "The United States does not make concessions to terrorists and we encourage others to follow that practice as well." On the subject, President Clinton chose not to comment. According to White House spokesman Michael McCurry, he wrote to Japanese Prime Minister Ryutaro Hashimoto and Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori to express U.S. concern.

According to reports, the ambassadors were being held in one of the rooms on the second floor of the residence, guarded by rebels carrying hand grenades. A large number of hostages were separated into groups and taken there. The mayor of the Lima neighborhood of Miraflores, Fernando Andrade, escaped by entering a bathroom without being seen and then climbing out of a window.

Because of Fujimori's heritage and the important aid that Tokyo provides to Peru, a guerrilla claimed that the Japanese ambassador's residence was the target of the attack.

Reference: Escobar, G. (1996, 19 diciembre). PERUVIAN GUERRILLAS HOLD HUNDREDS HOSTAGE. Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1996/12/19/peruvian-guerrillas-hold-hundreds-hostage/12e5467a-6e2e-4baa-9e07-3f4dff3f6d9a/