- Title: Peru makes plans to demolish controversial Shining Path mausoleum
- Date: 27th September 2016
- Summary: LIMA, PERU (FILE) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF DESTROY "EL FRONTON" PRISON
- Embargoed: 12th October 2016 19:39
- Keywords: Maoist rebels Sendero Luminoso Pedro Pablo Kuczynski
- Location: LIMA, PERU
- City: LIMA, PERU
- Country: Peru
- Topics: Government/Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA00651CFMMB
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS IMAGES THAT WERE ORIGINALLY 4:3
PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS GRAPHIC IMAGES
PLEASE NOTE: QUALITY AS INCOMING
Peru is making plans to destroy a mausoleum for deceased Shining Path rebels after news of the building's existence recently came to light.
The remains of seven Shining Path bodies are believed to still be buried at the site located in a cemetery of Comas, a poor neighbourhood in Lima.
No one knows who built the mausoleum and an investigation has been launched to find the people responsible, according to local media.
The discovery of the building has stirred controversy among Peruvians. Recently, local media released footage of Shining Path supporters marching to the mausoleum in what was believed to be a funeral procession for members of the Maoist group who were killed in the 1986 during a riot at the "El Fronton" prison.
Debate is underway in Congress as legislators try to piece together who approved the construction of the mausoleum. Recently, interest has turned to Miguel Angel Saldana, the mayor of the Comas district. Saldana testified before a congressional committee and denied that his office authorized construction. Still, legislator Carlos Turbino had strong words for him.
"Here, there is something very irregular and you have the responsibility to all Peruvians for allowing something like this, which is something that is scandalous - that today in Peru we begin to worship terrorists," he said.
But Saldana said that destruction plans are already underway.
"We have already made the respective notification and this notification has the complementary measure of demolition. But we are going to see first exactly what needs to be done to exhume the bodies," he said.
Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski has said the mausoleum must be destroyed after the bodies are removed.
"Evidently there was an administrative error in some way that allowed permission to be given to build this. I believe that it is necessary to take out the bodies that are there with respect and then the mausoleum should disappear," he said.
The war between the government and the Shining Path killed some 70,000 people between 1980 and 2000. - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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