Podcast: Fernando and the conflict in Peru

I’m doing something ”new” and trying out the concept of podcasts. When I set up this blog it was all in Swedish, but with time I’ve broaden it to also include features in English. ”Gröna Julia” is Swedish for ”Green Julia”. So let’s call it the Green Julia Podcast, if you like 😛

My intention is to every now and then let people I find interesting share their story. I start off with Fernando Velásquez Villalba, whom I met in Auckland a couple of months ago. He is a PhD candidate in Latin American Studies at The University of Auckland.

The interview with Fernando is divided into three parts. You can listen to them all on Soundcloud and the links are also found below 🙂

I had no clue about this conflict before. Maybe it’s the same for you? I’ve written a short summary at the end of this post so you can read up. I’d also like to apologize for the varying sound quality – this is an experiment and I’m doing it for fun. Hope to improve with time..

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Episode 1

In which I start off by offending Fernando comparing mate with tea. We move on talking about Fernandos travels around the world and his two-edged feelings about Auckland. We talk about his relation to South America and that made him interested in studying it, only to get distracted by the ice cream van.

Episode 2

In which we continue talking about the factors leading up to the conflict between the Peruvian state and Shining Path. We also move on to the collective memory of the conflict and the president Alberto Fujimori, who is both considered as a saviour and a violator of human rights.

Episode 3

In which we discuss what is needed for Peru to recover and move on. There are huge challenges combating the corruption that is spread all over society, including the political and educational system. Fernando also tells about the goal of his research, whether his personal values in regards to Peru affect it or not, and finally what he hopes for the future.

During the last two decades of the 20th century there was an internal armed conflict in Peru. The background to it dates back in time with a society that – like in many other conflict areas – was unfair. The country was ruled by a military dictatorship. Positioned with several neighbors in South America, Peru had taken part in conflicts with neighboring countries for decades. Many people were leading poor lives and the inflation was high. The situation was tense. An agricultural reform in the 1960’s was an attempt by the government to show the people it cared about them.

But everyone wasn’t satisfied by this. A maoist wing of the communist party radicalized its ideas and formed the movement Shining Path. On the very same day that the Peruvians went to election after 12 years of dictatorship, Shining Path launched its so called people’s war against the Peruvian State and society.

Led by Abigail Guzman, they wanted to give the power to the farmers and workers, making the society completely equal. They more or less declared war against the government, sabotaged elections and formed guerrilla groups to kill government forces or anyone supporting the them. The government answered by attacking back.

The conflict started in 1980, making life a hell for the Peruvian people who got trapped in the gunfire between the Shining Path and the government forces. Several massacres and bombings were conducted by both parts, killing up to 70 000 people – the exact number still remain unclear.

Guzman was arrested in 1992, making Shining Path more weak as time went by. In 2000 President Alberto Fujimori, accused of corruption and violation of human rights, escaped to Japan. This marks the official end of the conflict. Both Guzman and Fujimori are still serving long sentences in Peruvian prison after a number of trials.

After the entering of the 21st century, the situation in Peru has calmed down, but rare incidents do occur and the Peruvians still suffer the emotional wounds from the war. 

During the last couple of years, the country has faced a new wave of political instability. President Martín Vizcarra launched new initiatives to prevent corruption. This led to protests among the opposition but also to demonstations supporting Vizcarras ideas. The Peruvian Congress was dissolved in September 2019 and new parliamentary elections are due to be held on January 26th 2020.