LIMA, Peru – Peruvian Ambassador to Argentina Nicolás Lynch resigned on Nov. 4 after it was learned he met with advocates of the Shining Path terrorist group in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in January.

Lynch, whose resignation was accepted by President Ollanta Humala, returned to Peru on Nov. 3 at the request of Foreign Minister Rafael Roncagliolo. He wanted Lynch to reveal why he met with members of the Movement for Amnesty and Fundamental Rights (Movadef), a group that’s seeking a pardon for Shining Path founder Abimael Guzmán, who is serving a life prison sentence after being convicted of terrorism.

Lynch, who had been Peru’s ambassador to Argentina since October 2011, said he met with Movadef because “the embassy is the home of Peruvians.”

[EFE (Peru), 04/11/2012; RPP (Peru), 04/11/2012; La Nación (Argentina), 04/11/2012]