Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

During a press conference, Peru's Minister of Defense Ántero Flores-Aráoz clarified several topics such as a raise in salaries, apologies to the family members of victims of human rights violations and the alleged rape of a female army recruit.

Even though it may be minimal, in 2009 salaries for the members of the Armed Forces and the national police will be raised, confirmed on Thursday the Andean country's minister of defense.

"We're discussing the issue with the Minister of Economy Luis Valdivieso, even though the topic is not a political decision but one that requires the necessary funds to cover the raise."

In other statements, Flores-Aráoz affirmed the Peruvian government would not apologize for alleged violations of human rights during its war on terrorism like the Truth Commission had suggested in its final report.

"The Truth Commission is gone and it did not accomplish its true objective of reconciliation and its recommendations were never compulsory," said the defense minister.

When asked about the rape of Sadith Raymondi Bazán, a 19-year-old army recruit in the Limean district of Rimac, Flores-Aráoz affirmed the investigation of the case would be over on September 9.

Sadith Raymondi met with the minister of defense and the minister for women after accusing a higher-ranking officers of drugging and raping her following a party held on a military base.