Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09LIMA1166
2009-08-12 21:06:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Lima
Cable title:
SENDERO ARREST: GOP AND ANAYLSTS ACCOUNTS DIFFER
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C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001166
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PTER PE
SUBJECT: SENDERO ARREST: GOP AND ANAYLSTS ACCOUNTS DIFFER
REF: LIMA 1094
Classified By: Amb. P. Michael McKinley for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001166
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PTER PE
SUBJECT: SENDERO ARREST: GOP AND ANAYLSTS ACCOUNTS DIFFER
REF: LIMA 1094
Classified By: Amb. P. Michael McKinley for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Peruvian National Police (PNP) and the
Interior Ministry's intelligence unit on August 9 captured
Felix Victoriano Mejia Ascencio ("Mono"),who the GOP claims
is a high-ranking leader in the Upper Huallaga
Valley (UHV) faction of Sendero Luminoso. According to law
enforcement contacts, Mejia was considered leader "Artemio's"
number four, and in charge of Artemio's security detail for
part of the region. Several outside analysts say Mejia's
arrest is less significant. End summary.
2. (C) Peruvian National Police (PNP) and the Interior
Ministry's intelligence unit on August 9 captured Felix
Victoriano Mejia Ascencio ("Mono"),who security officials
claim is a high-ranking leader in the UAV faction of Sendero
Luminoso. The PNP's special investigative unit, which works
closely with the Embassy, assisted with Mejia's arrest in a
bar near the town of Aucayacu. About three weeks earlier,
PNP had attacked UHV SL leader "Artemio's" camp, as a part of
a stepped-up counter-terrorism effort (reftel). Since March,
PNP has captured two or three low-ranking senderistas,
including the August 6 PNP arrest of "Arly," which also
received some media coverage.
3. (C) According to law enforcement officials, Mejia is in
UHV leader Artemio's "inner circle," and considered his
number four operative, in charge of security for part of the
region. Mejia allegedly participated in several recent
ambushes, and had had an arrest warrant for terrorism charges
pending since November 2008. One of Mejia's brothers (Percy
Mejia Ascencio) is incarcerated for terrorism, and another
(Edgar Nicanor Mejia Ascencio - "Izula") is also thought to
be in Artemio's inner circle.
4. (C) Both a prominent SL analyst and the chief of security
for USAID's main alternative development contractor in the
UHV argued that Mono's capture is less significant, and said
their sources contradict police accounts. The security
contractor said the captured terrorist actually worked for
Artemio's logistics unit and was merely in charge of
extorting payments from local businesses. Both the analyst
and the security contractor said that Mono's brother Izula is
actually Artemio's number four, and downplayed Mono's
importance in the organization.
Comment: PNP Exaggerating Success?
--------------
5. (C) While each arrest is important in the GOP's struggle
against SL, it appears Mejia's capture is not the lethal blow
the GOP originally portrayed it to be.
MCKINLEY
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/11/2019
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PTER PE
SUBJECT: SENDERO ARREST: GOP AND ANAYLSTS ACCOUNTS DIFFER
REF: LIMA 1094
Classified By: Amb. P. Michael McKinley for reasons 1.4(b) and (d).
1. (C) Summary. Peruvian National Police (PNP) and the
Interior Ministry's intelligence unit on August 9 captured
Felix Victoriano Mejia Ascencio ("Mono"),who the GOP claims
is a high-ranking leader in the Upper Huallaga
Valley (UHV) faction of Sendero Luminoso. According to law
enforcement contacts, Mejia was considered leader "Artemio's"
number four, and in charge of Artemio's security detail for
part of the region. Several outside analysts say Mejia's
arrest is less significant. End summary.
2. (C) Peruvian National Police (PNP) and the Interior
Ministry's intelligence unit on August 9 captured Felix
Victoriano Mejia Ascencio ("Mono"),who security officials
claim is a high-ranking leader in the UAV faction of Sendero
Luminoso. The PNP's special investigative unit, which works
closely with the Embassy, assisted with Mejia's arrest in a
bar near the town of Aucayacu. About three weeks earlier,
PNP had attacked UHV SL leader "Artemio's" camp, as a part of
a stepped-up counter-terrorism effort (reftel). Since March,
PNP has captured two or three low-ranking senderistas,
including the August 6 PNP arrest of "Arly," which also
received some media coverage.
3. (C) According to law enforcement officials, Mejia is in
UHV leader Artemio's "inner circle," and considered his
number four operative, in charge of security for part of the
region. Mejia allegedly participated in several recent
ambushes, and had had an arrest warrant for terrorism charges
pending since November 2008. One of Mejia's brothers (Percy
Mejia Ascencio) is incarcerated for terrorism, and another
(Edgar Nicanor Mejia Ascencio - "Izula") is also thought to
be in Artemio's inner circle.
4. (C) Both a prominent SL analyst and the chief of security
for USAID's main alternative development contractor in the
UHV argued that Mono's capture is less significant, and said
their sources contradict police accounts. The security
contractor said the captured terrorist actually worked for
Artemio's logistics unit and was merely in charge of
extorting payments from local businesses. Both the analyst
and the security contractor said that Mono's brother Izula is
actually Artemio's number four, and downplayed Mono's
importance in the organization.
Comment: PNP Exaggerating Success?
--------------
5. (C) While each arrest is important in the GOP's struggle
against SL, it appears Mejia's capture is not the lethal blow
the GOP originally portrayed it to be.
MCKINLEY