GOP DEALS ANOTHER BLOW TO SL REMNANTS

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 003707 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/23/2017 TAGS: PGOV PINR PTER SNAR PE SUBJECT: GOP DEALS ANOTHER BLOW TO SL REMNANTS REF: LIMA 2927 Classified By: DCM James D. Nealon. Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (U) A Peruvian National Police (PNP) operation, carried out in the early morning hours of November 27, killed one and captured eight members of the "Shining Path" (Sendero Luminoso) organization in the Upper Huallaga River Valley (UHV) in Huanuco Region. Epifanio Espiritu Acosta, known as "Comrade JL", third in the UHV organization and leader of its forces on the western side of the Huallaga River, was killed in the attack. The eight suspects captured included the organization's ideological chief, "Comrade Julian", as well as the head of personal security for the group's leader. (UHV-SL leader "Comrade Artemio," is a top priority target of continuing PNP security operations.) Two suspects were injured in the confrontation and transported to a nearby hospital for medical attention. The other six were taken to Lima for questioning. ¶2. (C) Comment: This is a big success for the PNP, and one that sent the Minister of Interior Alva Castro hurrying out to the region to participate in the action. Coupled with earlier strikes (ref A),this most recent PNP operation has dealt a severe blow to the SL remnant group of approximately 150 members operating in the Upper Huallaga Valley. Peruvian authorities have long claimed they were closing in on "Comrade Artemio". Now, with key members of his support structure gone, Artemio is more vulnerable. His capture would deal a death blow to the Upper Huallaga Valley-based SL organization. (A separate SL remnant column of some 350 members continues to operate in the VRAE.) Analysts see the successful security operation as an example of the effective and rapid use of intelligence to counter narco-terrorism in Peru -- a practice the GOP will need to continue if its efforts to stem narco-terrorism are to succeed. MCKINLEY