SHINING PATH SHOOTS DOWN HELICOPTER IN THE VRAE

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001299

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 09/02/2019
TAGS: PTER SNAR SOCI PGOV MOPS PE
SUBJECT: SHINING PATH SHOOTS DOWN HELICOPTER IN THE VRAE

Classified By: Ambassador P. Michael McKinley for
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).


1. (C) Summary: Presumed Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, SL)
forces downed a Peruvian air force (FAP) MI-17 helicopter
yesterday, killing its pilot and co-pilot. This was the
latest example in a recent spate of deadly attacks in the
Apurimac-Ene River Valley (VRAE) attributed to the SL,
including four attacks there in the last ten days. The latest
casualties bring the total of military deaths in the VRAE to
around 40 in the last 16 months. Some 25 policemen have
reportedly been killed in the same period, though mostly in
the Upper Huallaga valley (UHV). Senior GOP officials,
including President Garcia, have maintained that the up-tick
in violence is SL's response to the military's more
aggressive incursions into its drug-producing territories.
Some local analysts, however, contend that the attacks
reflect SL's increased capabilities and reach in the VRAE --
and the GOP's continued lack of political will and structured
engagement to meaningfully tackle the problems in the VRAE.
End Summary.

September 2 Incident
--------------

2. (C) According to some initial press accounts, the
following incident took place on September 2 near the town of
Sinaycocha, Santo Domingo de Acobamba District, Huancayo
Province in Junin Region: At around 5 PM, one of two Peruvian
Air Force MI-17 helicopters on the same mission was struck by
a rocket propelled grenade (RPG) on its tail rotor, as it
attempted to extract three soldiers who had previously been
wounded in a fire-fight in the area. These reports indicate
that the pilot and co-pilot were subsequently killed by SL
small arms fire after the helicopter had crash-landed. The
fate of any other passengers who may have been on board the
craft is unclear and similar sources suggest that soldiers
from the original patrol may also be missing or surrounded by
SL forces. We note that other Embassy contacts dispute this
version of events and contend that the helicopter was
probably brought down entirely by small arms fire (probably
7.62 mm machine gun) and that its crew was killed before the
craft hit the ground.

Other Incidents
--------------

3. (C) Other armed clashes have taken place in the VRAE in
recent days. For example, on August 26, two soldiers were
killed in two separate encounters with presumed SL forces
near San Antonio de Carrizales, in Huancayo Province.
According to military sources, as many as four SL members may
have been killed during the second clash, but this
information was unconfirmed, since the SL maintains the
practice of removing its dead from the battlefield. Also last
week, three soldiers were wounded in a fire-fight with SL in
the same area and on August 31, two more soldiers in the VRAE
were wounded by SL rifle fire.

Comment:
--------------

4. (C) The immediate fall-out from the September 2 Sinaycocha
incident included a call from vice-president Giampietri to
purchase armored helicopters for the VRAE. The downing of
helicopters is a rare occurrence in the VRAE, but bound to
happen sooner or later according to our military contacts.
Peruvian Air Force Major General Antonio Karacic (Please
Protect) recently told Emboffs that SL has the money and
contacts to purchase MANPADS if it wanted to. But he claimed
that SL was dissuaded from buying MANPADS because its
narcotrafficking partners feared that the introduction of
sophisticated anti-aircraft weapons into the VRAE theater
would "attract unwanted attention which would be bad for
business." End Comment.
MCKINLEY