GOP DECLARES EMERGENCY TO QUELL VIOLENT PROTESTS

UNCLAS LIMA 001765 SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PE ASEC SUBJECT: GOP DECLARES EMERGENCY TO QUELL VIOLENT PROTESTS IN SOUTH REF: LIMA 1731 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The GOP on November 4th declared a state of emergency in the southern city of Tacna and directed the military to maintain order after violent protestors attacked and burned several government buildings. The protests erupted on October 30th after Congress passed a bill that would redistribute some mining royalty payments from Tacna to neighboring region Moquegua. The state of emergency and an increase in police have restored calm to Tacna for now. Tacna is located far from Lima and events there are unlikely to have any impact on the APEC Summit. End Summary. ¶2. (U) The GOP on November 4th declared a state of emergency in the southern city of Tacna and directed the military to maintain order after violent protestors attacked and burned government buildings. The state of emergency, which will last 30 days, allows the government to arrest protestors without a judicial order and to search private homes, and restricts the rights of free transit and assembly. Currently, about 1,850 military and police are patrolling the city, according to Prime Minister Yehude Simon. ¶3. (SBU) The violent protests in Tacna erupted on October 30th after Congress passed a bill that would redistribute some mining royalty payments from Tacna to neighboring region Moquegua. That day, some two thousand protestors overwhelmed police and burned down two government buildings. (Reftel) On November 4th, after a brief truce, a smaller group of more radical protestors attacked two police stations and a municipal building. A local contact told Poloff the protestors numbered no more than 400, including about 100 he described as nothing more than drug addicts and vandals (although the press reported 4,000 protestors). The clashes left two dead and 48 wounded civilians, as well as 29 injured police. ¶4. (U) The state of emergency and increase in police have restored calm to Tacna for now. On November 5th, local radio stations reportedly called for people to protest peacefully by marching and banging pots. Businesses remained closed throughout the 5th, but press reports that some banks and stores slowly began to reopen on the 6th. Comment: Protests Far From Lima -------------- ¶5. (SBU) Tacna is far Lima -- over 650 miles -- on Peru's southern border with Chile. Protests in Tacna generally do not affect Lima and are unlikely to have any impact on the upcoming APEC Summit. MCKINLEY