On May 14, 1988, the Peruvian military killed 39 peasants in the district of Cayara, Ayacucho. [1] The massacre was carried out in retaliation for a Shining Path ambush that killed four soldiers. [1]
Troops removed and incinerated the bodies of the victims in order to cover up the massacre. [1] Several witnesses, including Cayara's mayor, were later 'disappeared'. [1]
The government of Alan García initially denied that any massacre had taken place, citing the absence of bodies. [1]
In 2023, 18 soldiers who took part in the killings were sentenced to jail terms of eight to 15 years. [1]