(SBU) PERU: MILITARY AND SECURITY TOPICS

S E C R E T STATE 040708 NOFORN SIPDIS E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/23/2034 TAGS: PINR MCAP PGOV PREL PE SUBJECT: (SBU) PERU: MILITARY AND SECURITY TOPICS (C-AL9-00736) REF: A. LIMA 000225 ¶B. LIMA 000246 ¶C. LIMA 000330 ¶D. LIMA 000329 ¶E. LIMA 000345 Classified By: SUZANNE MCCORMICK, DIR., INR/OPS. REASON: 1.4(C). ¶1. (S/NF) WASHINGTON ANALYSTS GREATLY APPRECIATE POST'S EFFORTS TO PROVIDE INSIGHT INTO PERUVIAN SECURITY ISSUES. ANALYSTS ARE WORKING ON CURRENT AND LONG-TERM ASSESSMENTS OF PERU'S CAPABILITIES TO COUNTER SENDERO LUMINOSO (SL),CURRENT ISSUES WITHIN THE PERUVIAN MINISTRY OF INTERIOR, AND THE STATUS OF PERUVIAN MILITARY RELATIONSHIPS WITH REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL PARTNERS. AS TIME AND RESOURCES PERMIT, WE WOULD APPRECIATE ADDITIONAL REPORTING ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS AND QUESTIONS, IF POST CAN ACQUIRE THE INFORMATION IN THE COURSE OF NORMAL DUTIES. MANY THANKS, AND REGARDS FROM WASHINGTON. ¶A. (S/NF) HOW IS INTERIOR MINISTER CABANILLAS DOING IN HER NEW POSITION? WHAT DO INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIALS THINK ABOUT HER PERFORMANCE? DOES SHE SEEM TO FAVOR CERTAIN UNITS OVER OTHERS? IF SO, WHICH UNITS? WHAT ARE HER PERSONAL PRIORITIES? HOW IS HER RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT GARCIA? ¶B. (S/NF) WHAT WERE SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WITH FORMER INTERIOR MINISTER HERNANI? HOW WAS HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT GARCIA AND OTHER SENIOR GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS? DOES CABANILLAS OR ANY OTHER CURRENT INTERIOR MINISTRY OFFICIAL EVER REACH OUT TO HERNANI? ¶C. (S/NF) WHAT IS THE PERUVIAN MILITARY'S ASSESSMENT OF THE CURRENT SECURITY SITUATION IN THE APURIMAC AND ENE RIVER VALLEY REGION (VRAE) AND UPPER HUALLAGA VALLEY? DOES THE MILITARY BELIEVE THAT THE UNITS CURRENTLY STATIONED THERE ARE CAPABLE OF HANDLING THE SITUATION? ARE THERE ANY PLANS TO ADD ADDITIONAL UNITS, REMOVE UNITS, OR OTHERWISE CHANGE THE STRATEGY? WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THE MILITARY UNITS' EQUIPMENT IN THE VRAE AND UPPER HUALLAGA? ¶D. (S/NF) PLEASE PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THE CAPABILITIES OF THE PERUVIAN NATIONAL POLICE. WHAT IS THE LEVEL OF COOPERATION BETWEEN THE POLICE AND MILITARY, ESPECIALLY IN THE VRAE AND UPPER HUALLAGA VALLEY? ¶E. (S/NF) WHICH COUNTRY(IES) IS THE PERUVIAN MILITARY REACHING OUT TO FOR ASSISTANCE? WHAT TYPES OF ASSISTANCE IS LIMA SEEKING? WHICH WEAPONS SYSTEMS DOES IT WANT TO PROCURE? ¶2. (U) PLEASE CITE C-AL9-00736 IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF REPORTING IN RESPONSE TO THE ABOVE QUESTIONS. CLINTON