May 2009, Volume 1, Issue 3

“Then the Lord said to Cain, “Where is

your brother Abel? “I don’t know,” he
replied. “Am I my brother’s keeper?” He
said, “What have you done? Listen, the
voice of your brother’s blood is crying to 3400 Park Avenue South
Me from the ground.” Genesis 4:9-10 Minneapolis • MN • 55407
(612) 819-7162
Consoling family members of the Putis victims
www.peaceandhopeinternational.org

I n December 2008, Paz y Esperanza launched the

“Tell Me Their Names” campaign to collect
signatures from around the world in support of 123
people, among them women, children and the elderly,
who were massacred in 1984, presumably by the
Peruvian military. The signatures are for a petition
that will be presented to the Peruvian Minister of
Defense on April 15, 2009 asking that the military
provide the names of those involved in the massacre
so that the perpetrators may be prosecuted for this
crime. The campaign will continue to collect signatures
until the names are provided.
On December 13, 1984, the Peruvian Army presuma-
bly murdered at least 123 people in Putis, Ayacucho,
Peru, which included rape of women, torture and the
killing of small children. The 123 members of the Putis
community, over 70% of whom were evangelical
Christians, had fled to the nearest army base for
protection against the Shining Path insurgency. The
army promised protection and even offered to help
the community by establishing a fish farm. They then
made the men dig holes for the fish farm. While the
men dug the holes, the army separated out the
women and children and raped many of them. The
Army then lined up the entire community alongside the
holes, murdered them and buried them in the holes.
Twenty years later, survivors told their story to
the Peruvian Truth and Reconciliation Commission,
established in 2001 to investigate the truth behind the
twenty year conflict from 1980-2000. In 2008, the
Peruvian government, with the help of human rights
forensic scientists, began to exhume the victim’s
remains for purposes of prosecuting the crime and
Christian burial. The names of those implicated are
unknown and the Ministry of Defense refuses to
cooperate in the investigation. Paz y Esperanza
represents the family members of the massacre victims
who have been waiting 25 years to know the truth.
They deserve justice.
You can help them obtain justice now by:
♦ Signing an electronic petition. Visit http://
w w w . pe a c e a nd ho pe in te r na t io n a l .o r g/
Putis_Petition_Form.html and complete the brief
form to add your name to the petition.
♦ Telling others about the petition. Forward the
website address above and ask others to “sign”
the petition.
♦ Writing a letter and sending it to the Minister of
Defense. You may also write a personal letter to
send directly to the Minister of Defense. Visit
http://www.peaceandhope international.org/
Sample_Letter_to_Intervene_Justice_for_Putis.html
for a sample letter.
♦ Starting your own petition-signing campaign.
Visit our website for a sample petition to circulate.

“A generous person will prosper; the person who refreshes others will also be refreshed.” Psalm 11:25
 Prayer Requests
• Pray for justice for the Putis massacre victims
and families. Pray for comfort and healing.
• Pray for a smooth transition in leadership at
Paz y Esperanza.
• Pray for wise growth in Paz y Esperanza’s
international programming.
• Pray for growth and sustenance of Peace and
Hope Partnership International.
Peace and Hope Work Days ~
Join us the second Saturday of every month from
10:00 to 1:00 to fellowship and work together on
projects. We gather at the Park Avenue Foundation,
Third Floor, 3400 Park Ave. S., Mpls., MN 55407.
Visit our website, www.peaceandhopeinternational.org
for more information.
Peace and Hope Presentations ~
Schedule a presentation or training for your church,
adult Sunday school, Bible study, small group, or
women, men or youth group on issues addressing
Biblical justice. Presentations include exploration of the
particular topic, Biblical analysis, and life application
along with music, song, and prayer. Contact Colleen
Beebe at (612) 728-9118 for more information.
Peace and Hope Partnership International
3400 Park Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55407
www.peaceandhopeinternational.org
May 2009, Volume 1, Issue 3
~ Peace and Hope News ~
Twin Cities Association for Missions Professionals
Invites Peace and Hope to Present ~
Colleen Beebe, Peace and Hope president, spoke on
human trafficking for over 60 pastors, missionaries
and church leaders at the April meeting of the Twin
Cities Association for Missions’ Professionals.
New Executive Director at Paz y Esperanza ~
On April 1 German Vargas, attorney, assumed Paz y
Esperanza’s executor director post previously held by
Alfonso Wieland since 1996. Wieland will take on a
new role within the organization as international
program director to oversee its international
expansion. Paz y Esperanza opened an office in
Guayaquil, Ecuador, in 2009 to work with people
victimized by sexual and domestic violence and
people exploited by human trafficking.
Paz y Esperanza Celebrates 7 Year Anniversary
of Huánuco and Ayacucho Regional Offices ~
Paz y Esperanza celebrates 7 years of serving the
most vulnerable populations in Peru from its regional
offices in Huánuco and Ayacucho, which opened in
April 2002 when Paz y Esperanza expanded it
services to the poorest regions of Peru. The offices
continue to thrive and serve women and children
victimized by domestic and sexual violence, families
of the disappeared, churches, and others.
STAMP