Human rights organizations have asked Prime Minister Oscar Valdes to apologize to for remarks he made about terrorism victims.

On Wednesday Valdes said some terrorism victims had dramatized their accounts before the Truth and Reconciliation Committee, and said things that ¨could exaggerate the number of victims and the role of the armed forces.¨

Rocio Silva Santisteban, secretary for the National Human Rights Coordination, said Valdes’ words were offensive to victims of terrorism.

According to El Comercio, former anti-corruption prosecutor Ronald Gamarra said Valdes was trying to represent the military sector, and trying to minimize the violence that had also overwhelmed much of the armed forces.

"Valdes’ remarks were unfortunate in face of the pain suffered by victims of the Shining Path," said Gamarra.

The Prime Minister said he thought the Truth and Reconciliation Committee had done a thorough job in their report, and added that he didn’t believe his comments were offensive.

"By no means was it an offense because there are many soldiers who have also been victims [of terrorism]," he said.