Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08LIMA895
2008-05-20 21:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lima
Cable title:
ANTI-SUMMIT PEACEFUL, GENERAL SECURITY A SUCCESS
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000895
SIPDIS
USDA/FAS FOR OGA/DWYER AND OCRA/ZANIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC REL PINR PE
SUBJECT: ANTI-SUMMIT PEACEFUL, GENERAL SECURITY A SUCCESS
REF: LIMA 745
Classified By: POL/C ALEXIS LUDWIG FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000895
SIPDIS
USDA/FAS FOR OGA/DWYER AND OCRA/ZANIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC REL PINR PE
SUBJECT: ANTI-SUMMIT PEACEFUL, GENERAL SECURITY A SUCCESS
REF: LIMA 745
Classified By: POL/C ALEXIS LUDWIG FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
1. (C) Summary: The "Summit of the Peoples" anti-summit (May
13-16) that coincided with the Latin America and Caribbean -
European Union Summit (EU-LAC) last week proceeded peacefully
despite government concern. The anti-summit attracted
thousands of social movement leaders from Peru, Latin America
and Europe to participate in three days of workshops on
themes critical of imperialism, "neoliberalism",
multinational corporations, etc. The dozens of protests
planned around the country during the summit failed to
materialize, and in general government security forces did an
effective and efficient job. End Summary.
Peaceful Anti-Summit
--------------
2. (C) The "Summit of the Peoples" anti-summit remained
entirely peaceful despite attracting crowds of disaffected
Peruvians and others. Anti-summit events reportedly drew
more than the 8,000 participants organizers had anticipated.
Attendees participated in a series of workshops focusing on
topics such as human rights, indigenous movements, poverty
and exclusion, social mobilization, etc. At the end of the
anti-summit, the "Permanent Tribunal of the Peoples" issued a
"ruling" condemning 24 multinationals of abusive labor
practices and exploiting "the peoples'" natural resources.
The week closed with a May 16 rally -- billed as a "mass
meeting" -- that drew approximately 1,000 people. Bolivian
President Evo Morales and former Peruvian presidential
candidate Ollanta Humala headlined this event with the
standard passionate speeches praising Cuba and Venezuela and
criticizing the United States. Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez, notably, did not appear at the rally despite the
expectations of organizers.
Nationwide Protests Fail to Materialize
--------------
3. (C) The dozens of protests threatened around the country
for summit week did not materialize. Although the Public
Ministry reported 40 peaceful protests nationwide and eight
roadblocks, the vast majority were small and hardly made the
press. The only significant event took place in Puno region
in the south, where protestors disrupted traffic and threw
rocks that reportedly killed one bystander.
Security Tight in Lima and the Provinces
--------------
4. (C) Security forces locked down parts of Lima during the
principle days of the summit with a robust and visible police
presence particularly near the event sites and hotels.
Several months before the EU-LAC summit, a group of Peruvian
police traveled to Sydney with support from State
Department's Diplomatic Security Anti-Terrorism Assistance
program (DS/ATA) to learn best practices from the Australian
experience with APEC in 2007. The impact of these
consultations and other DS/ATA training was evident in venue
access controls, motorcade security and general operational
methods and procedures.
5. (C) Our sources tell us that the police had a plan to stop
and inspect buses transporting anti-summit participants from
the provinces in order to prevent potential agitators from
reaching Lima. According to press, at least one bus headed
for the summit was turned back while attempting to cross the
border from Bolivia. In another preventative measure, the
government in February arrested seven Peruvians that
according to GOP intelligence services were planning
disturbances during anti-summit protests. (Ref A. Two have
already been released.) During the summit, however, the
police only arrested 12 people suspected of planning summit
disturbances, 10 of whom were later released.
Comment:
--------------
6. (C) We are generally encouraged by the Peruvian security
forces' solid efforts during the EU-LAC summit and believe
these bode well for APEC in November. The USG has a series
of security training modules planned for the Peruvian police
between now and November to help ensure that all goes well.
NEALON
SIPDIS
USDA/FAS FOR OGA/DWYER AND OCRA/ZANIN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 05/21/2018
TAGS: PGOV ASEC REL PINR PE
SUBJECT: ANTI-SUMMIT PEACEFUL, GENERAL SECURITY A SUCCESS
REF: LIMA 745
Classified By: POL/C ALEXIS LUDWIG FOR REASONS 1.4 (B)
1. (C) Summary: The "Summit of the Peoples" anti-summit (May
13-16) that coincided with the Latin America and Caribbean -
European Union Summit (EU-LAC) last week proceeded peacefully
despite government concern. The anti-summit attracted
thousands of social movement leaders from Peru, Latin America
and Europe to participate in three days of workshops on
themes critical of imperialism, "neoliberalism",
multinational corporations, etc. The dozens of protests
planned around the country during the summit failed to
materialize, and in general government security forces did an
effective and efficient job. End Summary.
Peaceful Anti-Summit
--------------
2. (C) The "Summit of the Peoples" anti-summit remained
entirely peaceful despite attracting crowds of disaffected
Peruvians and others. Anti-summit events reportedly drew
more than the 8,000 participants organizers had anticipated.
Attendees participated in a series of workshops focusing on
topics such as human rights, indigenous movements, poverty
and exclusion, social mobilization, etc. At the end of the
anti-summit, the "Permanent Tribunal of the Peoples" issued a
"ruling" condemning 24 multinationals of abusive labor
practices and exploiting "the peoples'" natural resources.
The week closed with a May 16 rally -- billed as a "mass
meeting" -- that drew approximately 1,000 people. Bolivian
President Evo Morales and former Peruvian presidential
candidate Ollanta Humala headlined this event with the
standard passionate speeches praising Cuba and Venezuela and
criticizing the United States. Venezuelan President Hugo
Chavez, notably, did not appear at the rally despite the
expectations of organizers.
Nationwide Protests Fail to Materialize
--------------
3. (C) The dozens of protests threatened around the country
for summit week did not materialize. Although the Public
Ministry reported 40 peaceful protests nationwide and eight
roadblocks, the vast majority were small and hardly made the
press. The only significant event took place in Puno region
in the south, where protestors disrupted traffic and threw
rocks that reportedly killed one bystander.
Security Tight in Lima and the Provinces
--------------
4. (C) Security forces locked down parts of Lima during the
principle days of the summit with a robust and visible police
presence particularly near the event sites and hotels.
Several months before the EU-LAC summit, a group of Peruvian
police traveled to Sydney with support from State
Department's Diplomatic Security Anti-Terrorism Assistance
program (DS/ATA) to learn best practices from the Australian
experience with APEC in 2007. The impact of these
consultations and other DS/ATA training was evident in venue
access controls, motorcade security and general operational
methods and procedures.
5. (C) Our sources tell us that the police had a plan to stop
and inspect buses transporting anti-summit participants from
the provinces in order to prevent potential agitators from
reaching Lima. According to press, at least one bus headed
for the summit was turned back while attempting to cross the
border from Bolivia. In another preventative measure, the
government in February arrested seven Peruvians that
according to GOP intelligence services were planning
disturbances during anti-summit protests. (Ref A. Two have
already been released.) During the summit, however, the
police only arrested 12 people suspected of planning summit
disturbances, 10 of whom were later released.
Comment:
--------------
6. (C) We are generally encouraged by the Peruvian security
forces' solid efforts during the EU-LAC summit and believe
these bode well for APEC in November. The USG has a series
of security training modules planned for the Peruvian police
between now and November to help ensure that all goes well.
NEALON