SL Leader Artemio Allegedly Calls for Truce

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 000107

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 2020/01/29
TAGS: PREL PGOV PTER SNAR PE
SUBJECT: SL Leader Artemio Allegedly Calls for Truce

CLASSIFIED BY: James D. Nealon, DCM; REASON: 1.4(B),(D)


1. (C) A man identifying himself as Sendero Luminoso (SL - Shining
Path) leader Comrade "Artemio" called a rural radio station on
January 26, announcing in a live broadcast that SL would stop all
military action in order to sit down and negotiate with the GOP.
Artemio's call for a truce follows on the heels of a former SL
member's recent announcement of a new SL-affiliated political
organization. Peruvian authorities have rejected the notion of
negotiations with SL members, and analysts are scratching their
heads about what these events mean about SL in the long run.


2. (C) A man identifying himself as Sendero Luminoso (SL -
Shining Path) leader Comrade "Artemio" called a radio station in
Aucayacu (Upper Huallaga Valley - UHV) on January 26, announcing in
a live broadcast that SL will stop all military action in order to
sit down and negotiate with the GOP, the Red Cross, churches, and
other groups. Artemio heads the "Acuerdista" faction of SL in the
UHV. This faction remains loyal to SL founder Abimael Guzman, in
contrast to the reputed rival "Proseguir" faction in the Valley of
the Apurimac and Ene Rivers (VRAE),and has been closely associated
with local coca growers. In his message, Artemio said he regretted
the deaths of young police and military members ("cannon fodder")
incurred during clashes with SL, and said his group would from now
on only defend itself from attacks, but not initiate assaults.
Artemio denied being a "narcoterrorist" (a term used by some
analysts and politicians),and claimed he was and always would be a
socio-political fighter for the people. At the same time, he
surprisingly disassociated himself from the local coca growers'
association. He also asked listeners to ignore the large sum
(around $300,000) offered for information leading to his capture,
claiming that he is working for peace for all Peruvians.


3. (C) Artemio's call for a truce follows on the heels of a former
SL member's announcement of a new political movement. Just days
ago, Dr. Alfredo Crespo Reynoso, former SL member and attorney for
incarcerated SL founder and maximum leader Abimael Guzman,
announced the launching of a new political organization called "The
Movement for Amnesty and Fundamental Rights," with an eye towards
its participation in the 2011 presidential elections. Speaking
before an audience in Ayacucho's "Teacher's House," Crespo asserted
that the new organization appears at a time when the country is
undergoing its "second largest generalized crisis." He also
indicated that the group would be composed of popular
organizations, artists, intellectuals, and relatives of terrorists
currently serving prison sentences. Crespo said that the aims of
the Movement for Amnesty and Fundamental Rights include the
strengthening of labor rights, child protection, freedom of speech,
and efforts to reinstate workers who were fired because of their
political affiliations. (Note: Crespo has long maintained that
Abimael Guzman is not a terrorist. He was instrumental in
publishing Guzman's book last year entitled "The Fist and the
Letter." At the book launching in September 2009 he emphasized the
end of SL's armed struggle and hinted at Guzman's interest in
entering politics. End note.)


4. (C) COMMENT. Following the radio broadcast of Artemio's plea,
Prime Minister Javier Velasquez Quesquen and Defense Minister
Rafael Rey Rey immediately rejected the idea of negotiating with SL
members, and expressed skepticism of Artemio's message. Analysts
are scratching their heads about what these events mean about SL in
the long run. Several Embassy contacts involved in the Peruvian
Nationalist Party and emerging political movements have told us
they believe Guzman's armed struggle is over and the time has come
for SL to enter electoral politics. Others, who have asserted that
the UHV and VRAE factions may not be entirely divorced from one
another, take a longer view of SL and wonder if Acuerdistas'
flirtation with truces and electoral politics is part of an overall
strategy that secretly includes the ongoing armed struggle in the
VRAE. End comment.
McKinley