A NEW INTERVIEW WITH SL LEADER COMRADE "ARTEMIO"

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LIMA 003784 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/29/2015 TAGS: PTER ASEC SNAR PINS PGOV PE SUBJECT: A NEW INTERVIEW WITH SL LEADER COMRADE "ARTEMIO" REF: A. LIMA 1794 ¶B. LIMA 1471 ¶C. 04 LIMA 292 Classified By: D/Polcouns Art Muirhead for Reason 1.4 (B, D) ¶1. (C) SUMMARY. A Peruvian newspaper and a TV news program made public an interview with Sendero Luminoso (SL) Commander "Artemio," head of the largest SL faction still involved in combat operations. Leading daily La Republica published a portion of the interview on 8/28. Later that evening, Cuarto Poder broadcast video footage. The interview was the first given by Artemio since he spoke twice in early 2004 to the British and Peruvian media (Ref C). Ministry of Interior sources believe the person interviewed was in fact Artemio, the alias used by Peruvian Citizen Jose FLORES Leon; however, Defense Ministry sources believe the interview may be a hoax. While the interview did not indicate a change in SL beliefs and strategy, it did provide information on the group,s internal factions and on its involvement with cocaleros. END SUMMARY. ¶2. (U) The interview took place in a jungle region of Huanuco province, fifty minutes hike away from Aucayacu in the Upper Huallaga Valley, the area where Artemio,s group operates. Roughly ten other masked SL members accompanied him, carrying weapons and clad in fatigues and black t-shirts emblazoned with an SL slogan and hammer and sickle. Artemio began the interview by addressing international, national and regional political issues. His responses to many topics were predictable: the U.S./Andean Free Trade Agreement is imperialist and imposes a neoliberal model; President Alejandro Toledo is pro-imperialist; Peru,s economic growth has only benefited big business and not the people; the central government is not decentralizing as it claims. He periodically referenced and read off typical SL statements of party dogma that he held in his hand. ¶3. (U) The SL leader stated that his group,s armed actions consist of four types: agitation and propaganda, guerrilla combat, sabotage, and selective annihilation. These tactics are consistent with the recent attacks for which SL has claimed responsibility. ¶4. (U) Artemio also demanded the end of alternative development programs in their current form, arguing that USAID, the GOP's anti-drug agency DEVIDA and NGOs benefit directly from international investment while the population only receives crumbs. In their place, he called for larger infrastructure projects, e.g., electricity and highways. He also dismissed any possibility of solidarity with the people on the part of Huanuco Regional President Luzmila Templo, despite the fact that she has backed a regional ordinance legalizing coca production. Her interests, he asserted, are in winning votes for a future congressional candidacy. ¶5. (U) While the SL leader denied a direct link between his armed movement and cocaleros, he professed support for the latter, stating that his group defended cocalero interests, but not narcotrafficking. Evidence of this was his claim of responsibility for the ambush of NAS helicopters in April 2005 (Ref A). Artemio stated that his group has shown solidarity for all forms of popular organization, be they campesino or cocalero. He further stated that the appearance of new popular groups since 2000 has been a positive sign, but that he was disappointed that the groups remain divided and that the coca farmers have taken a sectarian position rather than aligning themselves with the agricultural sector. He called for the integration of cocalero, campesino and other popular movements. He also expressed "solidarity" against the government "persecution" of SUTEP, Peru,s teacher,s union. ¶6. (U) This call for unity was also made for SL itself. Artemio recognized that factions exist, even within his own Upper Huallaga region, though he attempted to gloss over them. He claimed to work with the groups led by Clay and Lee but not with Omar and "Proseguir" (the faction promoting continuation of the armed struggle). He looked for SL to regroup during its "Second Congress," but did not give further details. Regardless, he asserted that the common denominator for all factions remained their allegiance to jailed leader Abimael Guzman. ¶7. (C) COMMENT: Based on analysis of the images and declarations, the Ministry of Interior believes the interview was in fact with Artemio, who they have identified as Peruvian Citizen Jose FLORES Leon. However, the Commander of the Army and the Army Director of Intelligence told the DATT that judging from the unsophisticated responses and less than perfect physical condition of "Artemio," they believed it was possible the interview could be a hoax. ¶8. (C) COMMENT CONTINUED: Regarding the content of the interview, although Artemio presents an ambivalent relationship with the cocaleros, the ties between the groups appear certain, as the cocaleros are an important piece of the SL,s shifting strategy of greater integration with the local population (Ref B). Artemio has also attempted to align his group with other popular social movements. This outreach runs contrary to SL,s traditional rigid, non-negotiable sectarianism. While Artemio,s group remains entrenched in the Upper Huallaga, political alignment may have emerged as a new option for a group formerly committed only to armed struggle. END COMMENT. STRUBLE