Violent heights in an Andean community of Southern Peru*

Depuis quelques annees, on peut observer que les regions amerindiennes des hautes terres du Perou souffrent d'un nombre accru de meurtres. Cet article examine si la reforme agraire entreprise en 1969 ne serait pas en partie a l'origine de ce ph6nomhe. Des donnees provenant de la communaute de Llallahui sont analysees afin d'examiner les conditions socio-economiques de la paysannerie andeenne et, a partir de cette analyse, des conclusions sur les effets politiques de ce genre de violence sont presentees. In recent years, Peru's Andean regions are experiencing a high level of homicides. This paper examines whether there is a link between this type of rural violence and the implementation of the 1969 land reform. Data from the community of Llallahui are used to discuss the significance of such a phenomenon in terms of the socio-economic conditions which prevail in the region and of the place it holds in undermining peasants' organized political responses.
INTRODUCTION A high level of violence afflicts Peru's Andean regions where murder is a common occurrence and generally takes place during important social occasions. Although the dynamics of such conflict [...]