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Cablegate: Peru: Congressional Report On Terr..

Published: Tue 29 Mar 1988 06:36 PM
O 291836Z MAR 88
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7299
INFO AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
AMEMBASSY QUITO
USAFSO HOWARD AFB PM
USCINCSO QUARRY HTS PM
DEAHQS WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 04116
DIA FOR OA-5/OS-1D/DB-6D2/JSI-4B/DB-3C1
DEA FOR OF, PS, OC, OI
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD JOHN YOULE
E.O. 12356: DECL: 03/29/88
TAGS: PTER PE
SUBJECT: PERU: CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ON TERR...
id: 209
date: 3/29/1988 18:36
refid: 88LIMA4116
origin: Embassy Lima
classification: CONFIDENTIAL
destination: 87LIMA5659|87LIMA6577|88STATE42378
header:
O 291836Z MAR 88
FM AMEMBASSY LIMA
TO SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 7299
INFO AMEMBASSY BOGOTA
AMEMBASSY LA PAZ
AMEMBASSY QUITO
USAFSO HOWARD AFB PM
USCINCSO QUARRY HTS PM
DEAHQS WASHDC
----------------- header ends ----------------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 04116
DIA FOR OA-5/OS-1D/DB-6D2/JSI-4B/DB-3C1
DEA FOR OF, PS, OC, OI
USCINCSO ALSO FOR POLAD JOHN YOULE
E.O. 12356: DECL: 03/29/88
TAGS: PTER PE
SUBJECT: PERU: CONGRESSIONAL REPORT ON TERRORISM
REF: (A) STATE 42378
- (B) 87 LIMA 5659
- (C) 87 LIMA 6577
1. CONFIDENTIAL - ENTIRE TEXT.
2. FOLLOWING IS PERU PORTION OF DEPARTMENT'S NEW
ANNUAL REPORT ON INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM (REF A).
REFS B AND C CONTAIN MORE DETAILED INFORMATION ON
PERUVIAN GUERRILLA GROUPS.
3. SINCE THE APPEARANCE OF TERRORISM IN 1980,
TERRORIST ATTACKS AND GOVERNMENT RESPONSES HAVE
RESULTED IN A DEATH TOLL ESTIMATED AT OVER 10,000.
DURING 1987, PERU CONTINUED TO CONFRONT TWO SIGNIFICANT
TERRORIST GROUPS. THE LARGER GROUP, KNOWN AS
"SENDERO LUMINOSO" ("SHINING PATH"), KILLED AT
LEAST 600 PERSONS IN 1987. ITS VICTIMS RANGED
FROM PEASANT OPPONENTS TO GOVERNMENT AND PARTY
OFFICIALS AND THE SECURITY FORCES. IN ADDITION,
SENDERO CARRIED OUT NUMEROUS BOMBINGS AND BLACKOUTS.
DURING ONE BLACKOUT IN NOVEMBER 1987, SENDERO
DETONATED A BOMB IN FRONT OF THE U.S. EMBASSY,
CAUSING MINOR MATERIAL DAMAGE. THE SMALLER "TUPAC
AMARU REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT" (MRTA) ALSO WAS ACTIVE
DURING 1987, KILLING AS MANY AS 20 PERSONS AND
CARRYING OUT NUMEROUS BOMBINGS. THE MRTA ON
SEVERAL OCCASIONS BOMBED THE USG INSTALLATIONS
AND U.S. COMPANIES, CAUSING MINOR
MATERIAL DAMAGES (BUT NO PERSONAL INJURIES). NO
FOREIGN TERRORIST GROUPS CARRIED OUT ATTACKS IN
PERU.
4. THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUED TO MAKE IMPORTANT ARRESTS
OF ALLEGED TERRORISTS DURING 1987, INCLUDING HIGH-
RANKING MEMBERS OF THE MRTA. THE GOVERNMENT NONETHE-
LESS WAS UNABLE TO WEAKEN SENDERO SIGNIFICANTLY, AND
SENDERO APPEARS TO HAVE ENLARGED ITS AREA OF OPERATIONS
DURING THE PAST YEAR. PARTICULARLY WORRISOME IS
SENDERO'S EXPANSION INTO THE COCA-PRODUCING AREAS OF
THE JUNGLE, LEADING THE GOVERNMENT TO CHARGE THAT
SENDERO IS COOPERATING WITH NARCOTICS TRAFFICKERS.
THIS IS PROBABLY TRUE IN SOME INSTANCES; IT IS
CERTAINLY THE CASE THAT SENDERO HAS SOUGHT TO PORTRAY
ITSELF AS DEFENDING PEASANT COCA GROWERS.
5. JUDICIAL EFFORTS AGAINST TERRORISM CONTINUE TO
MOVE SLOWLY. THERE IS A HUGE BACKLOG IN PERUVIAN
COURTS, AND TERRORISM SUSPECTS FREQUENTLY ARE DETAINED
FOUR YEARS PENDING TRIAL. FEWER THAN 50 PERSONS WERE
CONVICTED OF TERRORISM DURING 1987. AMONG THE CASES
CURRENTLY BEING TRIED ARE 15 PERSONS ACCUSED OF THE
JUNE 26, 1986 BOMBING OF THE CUZCO TRAIN STATION,
DURING WHICH TWO AMERICANS AND SEVEN OTHER FOREIGNERS
WERE KILLED, AND SEVERAL AMERICANS WERE WOUNDED.
6. SENDERO DOES NOT APPEAR TO RECEIVE ANY SUPPORT
FROM ANY FOREIGN GOVERNMENT OR FOREIGN TERRORIST
GROUP. THERE ARE REPORTS THAT PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS
IN THE UNITED STATES AND SEVERAL WESTERN EUROPEAN
COUNTRIES HAVE COLLECTED FUNDS ON BEHALF OF SENDERO,
BUT IT IS NOT CLEAR HOW THESE FUNDS ARE CHANNELED
TO SENDERO. THE INTERNATIONAL REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT,
A GROUP OF MAOIST PARTIES HEADQUARTERED IN LONDON,
PERIODICALLY ISSUES MANIFESTOS SUPPORTING SENDERO.
7. CLAIMS OF CUBAN AND NICARAGUAN SUPPORT FOR THE
MRTA SURFACE FROM TIME TO TIME IN THE PERUVIAN PRESS.
THE GOVERNMENT HAS SHOWN THAT AT LEAST ONE MRTA
LEADER TRAVELED RECENTLY TO NICARAGUA BUT HAS NOT
DEMONSTRATED OR CLAIMED THAT THESE COUNTRIES PROVIDED
ANY MATERIAL SUPPORT TO THE MRTA. THE MRTA DOES HAVE
CLOSE TIES TO THE M-19 TERRORISTS OF COLOMBIA AND
THE ALFARO VIVE CARAJO OF ECUADOR. IT IS LIKELY THAT
THE MRTA HAS ACQUIRED ARMS FROM ONE OR BOTH OF THESE
GROUPS.
8. PERU GIVES NO OFFICIAL RECOGNITION TO THE PLO, BUT
THE PLO HAS HAD AN INFORMATION OFFICE IN PERU SINCE 1979.
PERU DOES NOT ACCORD OFFICIAL STATUS TO THE SALVADORAN
FMLN.
9. PERU RECEIVED NO EXTRADITION REQUESTS FOR TERRORISTS
DURING 1987. IN 1986, PERU DEPORTED TO ECUADOR AN
ECUADOREAN CITIZEN ACCUSED BY HIS GOVERNMENT OF
PARTICIPATING IN TERRORIST ACTIVITIES. PERU DID NOT
INITIATE ANY EXTRADITION REQUESTS FOR TERRORISM IN
1987.
10. PERU HAS NOT ASSISTED, TRAINED, OR PROVIDED
SANCTUARY TO FOREIGN TERRORISTS.
WATSON
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