Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LIMA1155
2006-03-23 22:41:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lima
Cable title:
MRTA LEADER VICTOR POLAY SENTENCED TO 32 YEARS IN
how-toVZCZCXYZ0001 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHPE #1155 0822241 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 232241Z MAR 06 FM AMEMBASSY LIMA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9379 INFO RUEHBO/AMEMBASSY BOGOTA PRIORITY 3151 RUEHCV/AMEMBASSY CARACAS PRIORITY 9208 RUEHLP/AMEMBASSY LA PAZ MAR 3142 RUEHQT/AMEMBASSY QUITO PRIORITY 0153 RUEHSG/AMEMBASSY SANTIAGO PRIORITY 0326 RUEHGL/AMCONSUL GUAYAQUIL PRIORITY 4158
UNCLAS LIMA 001155
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KJUS ASEC PE
SUBJECT: MRTA LEADER VICTOR POLAY SENTENCED TO 32 YEARS IN
PRISON
REF: A. 05 LIMA 373
B. 04 LIMA 5721
Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Handle Accordingly
UNCLAS LIMA 001155
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KJUS ASEC PE
SUBJECT: MRTA LEADER VICTOR POLAY SENTENCED TO 32 YEARS IN
PRISON
REF: A. 05 LIMA 373
B. 04 LIMA 5721
Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Handle Accordingly
1. (U) On 3/21, Peru's National Anti-Terrorism Court imposed
a 32-year prison sentence on Victor Polay Campos, the founder
and principal commander of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary
Movement (MRTA) terrorist group. Polay was found guilty of
multiple counts of murder, bombing, kidnapping and extortion,
including terrorist attacks against U.S. interests (Ref B).
2. (U) This was the second trial for Polay and his
co-defendants on these charges -- their retrial was ordered
by the Constitutional Tribunal in 2003 when it invalidated
sentences imposed during the Fujimori regime. Since Polay
has already been incarcerated since 1992, the new sentence
means that he will be eligible for release in 2023.
3. (U) The MRTA's second in command, Miguel Rincon Rincon,
received a 32-year sentence, and ten other members of the
group's top echelon were given prison terms ranging from 15
to 28 years. The Court also ordered the MRTA leaders to pay
civil reparations of 50 million soles (approximately $15
million). Defense attorneys immediately filed for an
annulment of the sentences, and requested that an appeal be
heard by the Supreme Court.
4. (SBU) State Prosecutor for Terrorism Cases Guillermo
Cabala criticized the Court's decision on 3/22, claiming that
the sentences given the MRTA leaders were far too lenient.
Cabala said that life sentences would have been appropriate
for at least some of the MRTA figures, and that the Court
erred in considering these terrorists as common criminals,
instead of members of organized crime. (NOTE: From the
beginning of this trial, Cabala has carried on an
intermittent campaign in the press questioning the abilities
of Anti-Terrorism Court Chief Justice Pablo Talavera. In
private meetings with Emboffs, Cabala has complained that his
office is cramped, ill-equipped and understaffed, while the
Anti-Terrorism Court functions in a modern facility and with
ample resources. END NOTE.)
5. (SBU) COMMENT. Even though the Peruvian Police are still
seeking a number of MRTA fugitives who have yet to answer for
past crimes, there is little evidence that the MRTA is
currently active as a terrorist organization. Most recent
reports that make reference to the group have to do with
distribution of pro-MRTA propaganda, or with former members
organizing themselves in criminal conspiracies for their own
(and not the MRTA's) benefit (Ref A). END COMMENT.
STRUBLE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PTER KJUS ASEC PE
SUBJECT: MRTA LEADER VICTOR POLAY SENTENCED TO 32 YEARS IN
PRISON
REF: A. 05 LIMA 373
B. 04 LIMA 5721
Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Handle Accordingly
1. (U) On 3/21, Peru's National Anti-Terrorism Court imposed
a 32-year prison sentence on Victor Polay Campos, the founder
and principal commander of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary
Movement (MRTA) terrorist group. Polay was found guilty of
multiple counts of murder, bombing, kidnapping and extortion,
including terrorist attacks against U.S. interests (Ref B).
2. (U) This was the second trial for Polay and his
co-defendants on these charges -- their retrial was ordered
by the Constitutional Tribunal in 2003 when it invalidated
sentences imposed during the Fujimori regime. Since Polay
has already been incarcerated since 1992, the new sentence
means that he will be eligible for release in 2023.
3. (U) The MRTA's second in command, Miguel Rincon Rincon,
received a 32-year sentence, and ten other members of the
group's top echelon were given prison terms ranging from 15
to 28 years. The Court also ordered the MRTA leaders to pay
civil reparations of 50 million soles (approximately $15
million). Defense attorneys immediately filed for an
annulment of the sentences, and requested that an appeal be
heard by the Supreme Court.
4. (SBU) State Prosecutor for Terrorism Cases Guillermo
Cabala criticized the Court's decision on 3/22, claiming that
the sentences given the MRTA leaders were far too lenient.
Cabala said that life sentences would have been appropriate
for at least some of the MRTA figures, and that the Court
erred in considering these terrorists as common criminals,
instead of members of organized crime. (NOTE: From the
beginning of this trial, Cabala has carried on an
intermittent campaign in the press questioning the abilities
of Anti-Terrorism Court Chief Justice Pablo Talavera. In
private meetings with Emboffs, Cabala has complained that his
office is cramped, ill-equipped and understaffed, while the
Anti-Terrorism Court functions in a modern facility and with
ample resources. END NOTE.)
5. (SBU) COMMENT. Even though the Peruvian Police are still
seeking a number of MRTA fugitives who have yet to answer for
past crimes, there is little evidence that the MRTA is
currently active as a terrorist organization. Most recent
reports that make reference to the group have to do with
distribution of pro-MRTA propaganda, or with former members
organizing themselves in criminal conspiracies for their own
(and not the MRTA's) benefit (Ref A). END COMMENT.
STRUBLE