Since early January, in disregard for human rights involving calling for the death penalty, rejecting an Inter American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) sentences and intents to delegitimise NGOs, conservative sectors have been demanding the Ojo que Llora (Eye that Cries) monument be shut down because it would ‘honour terrorists.’

The Ojo que Llora is a ‘crying’ stone fountain surrounded by pebbles bearing names of victims of the internal armed conflict, in the Campo de Marte park in Lima. It is part of the Memory Walkway, a civil society project intended as a symbolic reparation to dignify the thousands of victims, strengthen collective memory and promote peace and reconciliation.

Those against, demand the destruction of the Ojo que Llora and that the Walkway is not completed as it ‘makes a cult out of subversive groups.’ The debate has centred on the fact that names of members of subversive groups are included for having been victims of human rights violations.

Much of this is due to the controversial IACHR ruling regarding the Castro Castro prison killings (see article below).

The new mayor of Jesús María, Luis Ocrospoma Pella has declared he will not tolerate homage’s to ‘delinquent terrorists.’ He asked that the State use the 200 thousand Soles for finishing the Walkway for the building of children’s games.

Many, including groups of families of victims and public figures, have stood out in support of the monument, stating that by international law anyone who has suffered human rights abuses is considered a victim with the right to reparations, regardless of their status as citizen, police, military or member of subversive groups. The Ojo que Llora is internationally recognised as important as an act of reparation and step towards reconciliation.