FOREIGN MINISTRY EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER PERUVIAN

UNCLAS LIMA 003588

SIPDIS

WHA FOR MONSERRATE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM PREL PE
SUBJECT: FOREIGN MINISTRY EXPRESSES CONCERN OVER PERUVIAN
LEFT COMATOSE AFTER ALTERCATION WITH ALLEN, TEXAS POLICE

REF: LIMA 3492

Action Request in Paragraph 4.


1. Embassy has received the following dip note from the
Peruvian Foreign Affairs Ministry regarding the case of Edgar
Vera Monte, a Peruvian who is on life support following an
altercation with police in Allen, Texas on 8/4.

"The Ministry of Foreign Relations, Office of the Secretary
of Peruvian Communities Abroad, is writing to the Consular
Section of the U.S. Embassy to express its profound concern
and surprise over the actions taken by the Police of Allen,
Texas against Peruvian Citizen Edgar Vera Morante last August

4.

According to information received by the Peruvian Consulate
in Houston, (the Allen, Texas Police) used excessive force
(in detaining Vera Morante),an excess of force that violated
judicial norms for arrest procedures in the United States as
well as those stipulated in existing treaties regarding the
observation of human rights.

The Ministry of Foreign Relations, Office of the Secretary of
Peruvian Communities Abroad, is requesting, through the
United States Government, that an immediate and exhaustive
investigation of this incident be carried out and that
punitive sanctions be applied as appropriate."


2. About 20 family members and supporters of Vera protested
outside Embassy from 1100-1300 hours on August 12 (Reftel).
Later that day, at about 2000, the same group returned and
held a one-hour candlelight vigil for Vera in front of
Embassy. Both protests were peaceful.


3. The Vera Case continues to make the news in Peru, with
local papers claiming that excessive force was used in Vera's
arrest. Congress President Marcial Ayaipoma told the
Ambassador on 8/15 that he expects this matter will soon be
raised in the legislature, and requested an update on the
investigation into the incident.


4. Embassy requests guidance in responding to the Foreign
Ministry's Dip Note and future press inquiries. We suggest a
response along the lines of:

-The United States Government and the State of Texas are
concerned over all allegations regarding the use of excessive
force.

-In the case of Edgar Vera Monte, an indepdnent investigation
of the actions of the Allen, Texas Police Department is being
carried out by the Texas Rangers and monitored by the FBI.

-The U.S. Embassy will provide the results of this
investigation to the Foreign Ministry as soon as they are
available.
STRUBLE