Identifier | Created | Classification | Origin |
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09LIMA1120 | 2009-08-05 14:56:00 | CONFIDENTIAL | Embassy Lima |
1. (C) Summary: The Peruvian National Police (PNP) on July 21st launched an attack on a Shining Path (SL) camp in the Upper Huallaga Valley (UHV), possibly injuring a key terrorist leader and capturing various munitions and supplies. Several contacts report that the raid was part of an increased PNP effort to target the SL UHV faction after nearly a year-long lull. The increased operations may be a response to an expansion of SL UHV, which several observers agree has recovered somewhat since mid-2008 after being nearly destroyed. Local contacts say SL's increased activity since mid-2008 has put pressure on USAID alternative development plans in the area. End Summary. PNP Attack Artemio Camp -------------------------- 2. (C) The Peruvian National Police (PNP) on July 21st launched an attack on a Shining Path (SL) camp in the Upper Huallaga Valley (UHV) chasing away the defenders and capturing various munitions and supplies. The UHV -- a stretch of jungle river valley in northern Peru -- is the operational base for the SL faction led by alias "Artemio", whose fighters are located in the northern part of Huanuco region, along a 135 kilometer stretch of the valley between Nuevo Progreso and Tingo Maria towns. Our contacts say the PNP planned the attack based on information obtained from a source inside Artemio's camp, and the PNP announced that it believes it injured the terrorist leader. The chief of security for USAID's main alternative development contractor in the UHV -- a Peruvian ex-naval intelligence officer -- said his sources in the area reported that Artemio was injured in the arm and leg, but not severely. Seizures Include Weapons, Propaganda -------------------------- 3. (C) Our police contacts tell us they seized hand grenades, ammunition, rifles, ignition devices, and military-style uniforms labelled "EGP" ("Ejercito Guerrillero Popular" or "Popular Guerrilla Army") from the captured camp. The police also recovered 3,000 leaflets with subversive propaganda encouraging residents in the area to defend coca plants with force. In addition, the police found notebooks describing plans to attack coca eradication workers and their police escorts from the CORAH program funded by our Narcotics Affairs Section. Analysts told us this propaganda was consistent with leaflets spread by SL in May that called for the defense of coca growers. General Increase in Police Operations -------------------------- 3. (C) Our police contacts and two prominent counter-drug analysts report that the camp raid was part of an increased PNP effort to target SL in recent months after nearly a year-long lull. Chief of the PNP Huallaga Front General Luis Valencia, who took the job in March 2009, told us he has already carried out 14 counter-terrorist operations, including the latest attack. He also ordered his units to step up counter-drug and crime operations in the UHV. He said his main goal is to locate and arrest Artemio, and he believes, based on his intelligence, this will be accomplished soon. The two analysts confirm they have seen indications of an increased PNP tempo, and one underscored the significance of the successful use of intelligence from inside Artemio's camp. The contract security chief added that SL columns appeared to be moving around less thanks to the increased operations. The analysts cautioned, however, that the PNP has long thought it was on the verge of capturing Artemio. Increased PNP Ops Response to SL Expansion? -------------------------- 4. (C) The PNP operations may be a response to the recuperation of SL in the UHV. Up to mid-2008, the police had scored a number of key successes against the faction, capturing several key leaders and reportedly forcing Artemio on the run. But changes in the Ministry of Interior and PNP, and a renewed GOP focus on the SL faction in the VRAE, gave Artemio time to regroup. The security chief told us that when PNP pressured eased in 2008 after SL UHV was nearly destroyed, Artemio's senior commander "Ruben" launched a recruitment drive, travelling from community to community targeting former army recruits who had finished their military service. He offered them as much as 750 Soles per month -- about $250, presumably mostly from drug money -- to join SL compared to the 400 or 450 Soles they earned with the Army, the security chief asserted. 5. (C) The security chief said SL used this method to grow from around 50 active fighters to around 200 or 225, divided into five commands, plus an unknown number of logistical supporters living in area communities. A team of PNP intelligence analysts in the UHV reported a similar process of recruitment since 2008, but argued that SL had grown no larger than 75 active fighters and said the 200 figure was overblown. Most police and analyst observers put the total number of fighters somewhere between these two figures. 6. (C) The contractor security chief said SL's increased activity since mid-2008 has put pressure on USAID alternative development plans in the area. While USAID projects have had no problems north of Nuevo Progreso, field staff for the contractor report that local leaders say SL representatives have entered their communities to warn that SL will seek to prevent the expansion of alternative development south of this point. Our United Nations partners working on alternative development in the same area say they have also been warned to withdraw. Coca eradication teams operating with police protection, on the other hand, have so far faced no pressure from SL in these areas. Comment: SL UHV Growing or on the Run? -------------------------- 7. (C) The PNP's renewed efforts in the UHV are welcome news after the GOP in 2008 refocused attention on the other principal SL faction operating in the VRAE. We do not know for sure the level of SL UHV strength, but we find very plausible the contention that it has recuperated to some extent. Either way, the PNP reportedly has good intelligence on Artemio's whereabouts, and his capture would rapidly overshadow any expansion in the past year. MCKINLEY |