Will the commission be able to investigate the workings of the Peruvian Armed Forces during the period?     We hople to find a series of important things. The armed forces have announced that they agree with the establishment of the Truth Commission and are going to provide truthful and extensive information. I think they realize that the past has to be forgotten. they have to recognize the errors that they have committed. A new era needs to begin in the nation and we trust in their sincerity that there will be access to the information that they have promised. One of the things we will have to study is whether there was a systematic policy of extermination with orders given from high officials or whether these occurrences are the responsiblity of individuals of those who were in the field patrolling. Or possibly there was a mixed paradigm of  'do it, it doesn't matter how, just resolve the problem'. All of these things we will have to try to find out Is there sufficient security for the commission to do its work?      I believe there is. We are living in other times. There's a clear subordination of the military power to civilian authority. The proof is that the present defense minister is a civilian. There is an acceptance of the role and accountability of the armed forces. After the flight of President Fujimori the government changed its attitude toward the Interamerican Human Rights Court. It is accepting it. It is obeying it. I understand that members of this group, Colina ( a government death squad) are being searched for and prosecuted. I think this amnesty law (1995 amnesty for human rights crimes) which bothered the conscience of many Peruvians has ceased to have affect . Will the commission be able to do its job in the time available?     It is 18 months extendable five months or 23 months. It's not much time. But compared to the time that other truth commissions which have lasted, six, nine months, yes it gives us a period where we can reach some good conclusions. Will you be able to obtain sufficient testimony?      We can investigate all who were direct or indirect actors in these events. If we want to know the truth we have to listen to everyone, including, I think, the heads of the terrorist bands that are in prison. We are dependent on the good disposition of the people to talk to us becasue we don't have the coercive power to call them to testify. But I think its okay. Look, a legal instrument would give us more legal strength, theorietically make things easier, but if they don't want to talk they are not going talk. Really if the Truth Commission is going to have a positive affect on Peruvian society it has to be a joint conviction of not just the truth commission but everyone in the nation. How will the recently announced new members to the Truth Commission be chosen?     There will be up to five additional members appointed by the president with consultation of the commission. The president has the last word. I think he has a desire to see the presence of people who are related to human rights work, the church, the important sectors of national life. Is it possible that there will be a family member of the disappeared?     No, I don't this is good, personally, and I think the commission feels the same. It's not good to take people who have been participants. This could damage the seriousness of judgement and objectivity. We have to talk to these people and listen to them. But we would prefer that there be people on the commission that have full objectivity. There will be public hearings where we will listen to what the families have to say. What do you think will be the main achievement of the truth commission?     In addition to pointing out violent acts there is another greater dimension which has to do with why this occurred. And another aspect is the design of educational, economic and cultural policies that will permit the reconciliation of the country. We want to recover 20 years of history by accepting our failings and sins. ###