Numerous reports refer to the General Confederation of Peruvian Workers (Confederación General de Trabajadores del Perú, CGTP), which AFP describes as the "country's principal confederation of unions" ("principale centrale syndicale du pays") (28 Apr. 1999).

According to Latin American Weekly Report, the "left-wing CGTP labour confederation, which had its heyday during the military regime of President Juan Velasco Alvarado in the 1970s ... has been declining ever since" (4 May 1999). However, the CGTP organized at least two anti-government strikes in 1998 and 1999 (NotiSur 9 Oct. 1998; CNN 28 Apr. 1999), including a nation-wide general strike on 28 April 1999, which was "supported by a wide range of groups, including student groups, opposition parties and business organizations" (Weekly News Update on the Americas 15 May 1999). During an earlier strike, a demonstration organized by the CGTP and the Democratic Forum (Foro Democrático, FD) on 30 September 1998 became violent when protestors broke through police lines and entered the Government Palace (Palacio de Gobierno), where "they broke furniture and windows before they were repelled with tear gas" (NotiSur 9 Oct. 1998).

According to the Europa World Year Book, Valentin Pacho Quispe was the president and Teódulo Hernández the secretary-general of the CGTP between 1996 and 1999 (1996; ibid. 1997; ibid. 1998; ibid. 1999). However, several news reports published between 1997 and 1999 refer to Juan José Gorriti as the secretary-general and José Luis Risco as the president of the CGTP (Latin America Weekly Report 10 June 1997; El Comercio 15 Dec. 1998; ibid. 14 Oct. 1999; Weekly News Update on the Americas 10 May 1999). According to a news release published by the CGTP on 5 February 1999, the secretary-general of the Confederation was Juan José Gorriti; the adjunct secretary-general was Alipio Zenteno Román; the secretary responsible for organizational affairs was Carlos Torres Arguedas; the secretary responsible for economic affairs was Benancio Aguilar Atahua; the secretary responsible for educational and cultural affairs was Carlos E. Jimenez García; and the secretary responsible for women and children's affairs was Susan Portocarrero Gonzales.

No information on CGTP's affiliation with political organizations or armed groups, including the Movimiento Revolucionario Túpac Amaru, could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, according to El Comercio, CGTP representatives attended the Union for Peru (Unión por el Perú, UPP) party convention in Lima in August 1999 (El Comercio 15 Aug. 1999).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 29 April 1999. "Clashes Between Strikers, Police in Peru General Strike." (NEXIS)

_____. 28 April 1999. "Grève nationale contre le régime du président Fujimori." (NEXIS)

Cable News Network (CNN). 28 April 1999. "National Strike in Peru Tests Fujimori's Support." http://www.cnn.com [Accessed 13 Jan. 2000]

El Comercio [Lima]. 14 October 1999. "CGTP exige cambio de politica económica y laboral." http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe [Accessed 13 Jan. 2000]

_____. 15 August 1999. "PPC y UPP celebran convenciones partidarias." http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe [Accessed 14 Jan. 2000]

_____. 21 April 1999. "Congresista aprista recolecta firmas para apoyar paro civico nacional del 28 de abril." http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe [Accessed 14 Jan. 2000]

_____. 15 December 1998. "Trabajador peruano no puede esperar 20 años para mejorar su situación económica, afirma dirigente sindical." http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe [Accessed 14 Jan. 2000]

Confederación General de Trabajadores del Perú (CGTP). 5 February 1999. "Comunicado público." http://www.labournet.org.uk/spanish/1999/permunicipales2.html [Accessed 13 Jan. 2000]

The Europa World Year Book 1999. 1999. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Ltd.

The Europa World Year Book 1998. 1998. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Ltd.

The Europa World Year Book 1997. 1997. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Ltd.

The Europa World Year Book 1996. 1995. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications Ltd.

Latin American Weekly Report [London]. 4 May 1999. "General Strike Fails to Ruffle Fujimori; Opposition Discovers that Support is Mainly Theoretical." (NEXIS)

_____. 10 June 1997. "'Fed up' Citizens Take to the Streets; Marches Unite Opposition Groups Against Fujimori." (NEXIS)

NotiSur [Albuquerque]. 7 May 1999. "Peru: National Strike Challenges Policies of President Alberto Fujimori." (NEXIS)

_____. 9 October 1998. "Peru: Demonstrators Gain Access to Government Palace." (NEXIS)

Weekly News Update on the Americas [New York]. 15 May 1999. "Peruvians Strike Against President's Policies." http://www.converge.org.nz/lac/articles/news990515a.htm [Accessed 13 Jan. 2000]

Unsuccessful attempts to contact the Confederación General de Trabajadores del Perú and the International Labour Office in Lima.