Who are ANFASEP? Learning from their fight for memory

Mama Lidia, president of ANFASEP with members on a peaceful march. Credit: El Peruano

By Daniella Angulo

In the 1980s, Peru was shaken by an internal conflict rooted in social and regional divisions. Despite promises of reconciliation, these fractures persist today.

The terrorist group Shining Path was born in Ayacucho, a city in Peru’s highlands inhabited mostly by native speakers of Quechua. Based on Communist ideologies, Shining Path sought to liberate the countryside and avenge social injustices. However, in its attempt to achieve these goals, it also murdered its own countrymen—the very people it supposedly hoped to empower.

In response to Shining Path and other insurgent groups that emerged in the region, the Peruvian armed forces resorted to the use of force to maintain control in the areas where Shining Path operated. Ayacucho’s inhabitants were viewed with suspicion, becoming persecuted by both Shining Path and the Peruvian army. The violence of this double victimization left over 26,000 Ayacuchanos dead and more than 20,000 disappeared, of whom only the remains of 3,200 have been found.

ANFASEP is the National Association of Relatives of Kidnapped, Detained and Disappeared Persons of Peru. Founded in 1983 by mothers and relatives of the disappeared, their struggle continues today, 41 years later. Even as Peruvian governments have not been able to deliver meaningful reparations and actively work against their cause, they have never stopped searching for answers. 

I learned about ANFASEP through its Museum of Memory, where mothers share their perspectives on the internal conflict. In this space, they exhibit the clothes, shoes and stories of their loved ones as testimony to the horrors they suffered. Throughout the museum, you can find different handcrafted pieces created by or in collaboration with ANFASEP members, such as a ‘memory scarf,’ retablos (altarpieces), which are traditional Ayacuchano wooden boxes depicting various scenes, and much more.

I was fortunate to sit down with the leaders of ANFASEP and learn more about how they use art as a therapeutic and educational tool in their fight for restitution from the central government and to preserve memory.

Credit: IDEHPUCP

There’s so much art throughout this building, like crafts, paintings, retablos, and more. What role does creativity play in your organization?

We have written and decorated letters in memory of the disappeared. In the Andean world, we believe their spirit is still present, even if their body is not. To write these letters, we asked ourselves: “What would we tell this person about what has happened in the last 30 or 40 years?” We use these letters to tell them all the positive things and to show them that we are always thinking of them.

Letters and a poem written by members of ANFASEP.

Another workshop we do is ‘Good News.’ It is a ritual that combines dancing with sending messages to the disappeared. For example, someone might say, “My dear Juan, our son has grown up. He has had two children—we have grandchildren, and they are beautiful. We love you very much and we always remember you.” We try to tell the disappeared that even though they might not be present, their memory lives on in us.

Historically, our rituals have been to honor the disappeared. Now, these creative projects have also been a way for us to rediscover ourselves. For a long time, we hadn't stopped to look at ourselves, but our lives have continued moving forward.

Previously, when mothers came to our meetings and told their stories, many would start to cry. The Red Cross has helped train them in weaving and embroidery, which has been a kind of therapy. We have a craft shop in the museum where they can sell their creations. It’s not a lot of money, but it’s a form of symbolic and material support.

Another important project is the Tree of Memory, which began as a competition to motivate young people to learn about history and preserve its memory. Few locals or young people visit the Museum of Memory; most of our visitors are domestic or foreign tourists. With this competition, we wanted to involve the youth so that they wouldn’t remain indifferent to what happened. The tree’s final design shows that its roots are intertwined with the memories of our history, reflecting ANFASEP's struggle for truth and memory.

Tree of Memory – Credit: ANFASEP

Recently, we organized two singing competitions to motivate ANFASEP’s mothers to express themselves through music. Many of them find they can communicate better through music. Some of them have become great singers!

Antonia Rodríguez de Enciso, singing “Papelchallaytam apamuyki,” / “I only have my papers,” as part of the Warmikuna project. Credit: Warmikuna

With the internal conflict still being such a sensitive topic, how does the public react to your projects and workshops?

For the most part, we receive very positive comments. Many visitors ask about the memory letters or the tree, which reflects the interest in and impact of our work.

At the museum, however, we’ve also heard negative comments. These are usually from people with ties to the military or far-right political groups. They don't want the truth to be known or for the memories to remain; they simply want to erase it. They’ve accused us of defending terrorism. They ask us if we’ve read the Truth Commission’s report. They tell us to go to Lima to inform ourselves—as if our history didn’t happen right here, in Ayacucho. Ayacucho was the most affected city. What happened here cannot be compared to other regions. 

“The Torture Chamber”, an artisan-made exhibit at the Museum of Memory. The Museum is based on testimonies. – Credit: ANFASEP

What political, social, or cultural changes need to take place for ANFASEP to achieve its goals ?

Peru’s laws are interpreted based on what suits the government’s interests. For example, financial reparations for victims’ families are barely 5,000 soles ($1,300 USD) for widows. Divided by five or six children, that doesn't even cover a minimum monthly wage.

We need political will to bring about real change. Instead, the government passes laws that go against what we’ve spent decades fighting for. Recently, the impunity law was passed, which erases 41 years of work. The rhetoric of “reparations and reconciliation” only remains in documents.

Video of ANFASEP members rejecting the amnesty law - Credit: La Jornada

https://www.instagram.com/p/C9A7GDkP6Na/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== ANFASEP statement against the amnesty law

ANFASEP is a non-profit organization that doesn’t receive state funding. The Museum of Memory only exists thanks to the work of ANFASEP’s mothers. We receive support from abroad, but the state has always been absent. It tries to block our growth.

In this adverse context, what strategies do you use to continue fighting for justice and memory?

Despite these difficulties, we continue to organize commemorative activities: cinema, theater, singing, vigils and peaceful marches. We always emphasize the need to respect human rights. Although the government turns its back on us, ANFASEP remains strong. We look for new alternatives and bring in the youth, including the victims’ grandchildren.

Every March 8th (International Women’s Day), we join the demonstrations because, although feminism isn’t our organization’s central objective, ANFASEP is made up of women. We are always looking for ways to find solidarity. It's an immense job! If we had a budget, imagine how much more we could do.

The past, which reflects the violence of the internal conflict and how it was used by both sides (the Peruvian state and Shining Path, reflected here by the different weapons they use).

The present, which shows the aftermath of the violence, the CVR investigations and the exhumations.

The future, which represents reconciliation and building a culture of peace.

Credit: ANFASEP

There is a totem pole in the Park of Memory that speaks to this moment. It’s a piece that speaks of the past, the present, and the future. In the future, we want to live in peace and tranquility, but it’s hard to see how we’ll get there. The government is dividing the country into two groups. Peru needs to unite. 

We have no hatred or resentment towards the families of the military. They have also been victims, directly or indirectly. We want a united country, without hatred or resentment. We have all suffered. Before everything else, we think everyone has to understand this history in order to build a better country.

Many thanks to the members of ANFASEP for their time and for sharing their story with me. For ANFASEP, art and creativity are ways of honoring their loved ones, processing traumatic emotions and ensuring that the past’s lessons resonate in the present. It was an honor to learn from them, their invaluable work and, above all, from their strength and resilience in fighting for human rights. 

To follow their work, you can find them on Facebook,, Instagram, and on their website. Thank you for reading!