Rocío Leandro, alias comrade ‘Cusi’, will return to prison. This time for being one of the main activists for the reconstitution of the genocidal Gonzalo Thought in Ayacucho and inciting violent protests like the ones that took place in the city of Ayacucho last December 15.
Judge Raúl Justiniano accepted the thesis of the Public Ministry that indicates that the Front for the Defense of the People of Ayacucho (Fredepa) is an organization generated by the New Red Fraction of the terrorist organization Sendero Luminoso. In addition, he said that it was confirmed that Rocío Leandro is the visible face of this organization.
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He is a repeat offender. On August 16, 1995, comrade ‘Cusi’ entered the Chorrillos women’s prison –for terrorism– until December 27, 2004. Although in 1989 she had already been detained for the first time by the Directorate Against Terrorism-PNP (Dircote). In 2011, she even signed the registers for Movadef, the political arm of SL, to become a party. A claim that was denied by the National Elections Jury (JNE) a year later. She will now return to a cell for 18 months that, in the next few hours, will be assigned by the National Penitentiary Institute (INPE).
The judge determined that “Cusi” could face up to 21 years in prison. In addition, he indicated that belonging to a criminal organization such as Sendero Luminoso has been proven, which could cause a danger of hindering the investigations of the Public Ministry. “It is a clandestine organization,” said Judge Justiniano.
BEHIND THE VIOLENCE
The investigation into comrade ‘Cusi’ was not born last December. This dates back to August 2022. Dircote put the magnifying glass on it after – thanks to intelligence operations – it was verified that Fredepa was behind the banners that called for “justice for Dr. Abimael Guzmán” in the whereabouts of Ayacucho.
“The most appropriate measure is preventive detention, taking into account the nature of the crime and where it is committed. They act clandestinely without being identified,” said the magistrate.
The Public Ministry was able to demonstrate that Fredepa was behind the clashes with law enforcement at the Ayacucho airport that killed ten citizens.
During this year and a half, the Prosecutor’s Office has to delve into the case and also determine if Iber Maraví, former Shining Path operator in Ayacucho, according to the Dircote reports, he was also behind the fearsome actions of Fredepa.
The Fredepa de SL loses echo: Since the arrest of comrade ‘Cusi’, the so-called Ayacucho People’s Defense Front – which in previous months terrorized citizens – has lost strength in the city of 33 churches. In Huamanga, the last strike called by Fredepa was not complied with. This had been scheduled for 48 hours from February 6. However, the rise in prices for gas, fuel and the shortage of basic food, as a result of the strikes, made the people of Ayacucho turn their backs on Fredepa. What’s more, the ‘Cusi’ organization also called for not carrying out the long-awaited carnival festivity. Given this, various cultural schools have decided to take their comparsas to the streets and thus generate tourist activity in favor of the city. That is why since last week they have intensified their rehearsals for the central days that begin this Friday the 17th and run until Sunday February 19.
KEEP IN MIND
- The other characters that will serve preventive detention are: Estefany Alanya, Alex Gómez, Piero Giles, Fernando Quinto, José Manay, Clido Canales.
- For the investigated Yulisa Gómez Ayala, the judge imposed an appearance with restrictions and a payment of 5 thousand soles of bail.