Amnesty International’s (AI) concern about the high number of “disappearances” which occur in Peru are described in this report. More cases of “disappearance” in Peru have been reported to the United Working Group on Enforced or Involuntar Disappearances than from anywhere else. AI has received reports of over 3,500 cases since the pattern was first detected and has initiated action in 842 cases. The context of violence perpetrated by armed opposition groups, mainly the clandestine “Sendero Luminoso” (“Shining Path”) group and the Movimiento Revolucionario Tupacamaru, MRTA is described; this has led to states of emergency in 13 provinces. Details are given about nine recent cases of “disappearance”, including a pregnant woman and a 15-year-old girl.
