(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