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1994-05-02
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<text>
<title>
Peru: Global Terrorism
</title>
<article>
<hdr>
Patterns Of Global Terrorism: 1991
Latin American Overview: Peru
</hdr>
<body>
<p> Terrorist activities of Peru's two insurgencies, Sendero
Luminoso (SL) and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement
(MRTA), have made Peru a dangerous country for foreigners. Of
the 59 international attacks in Peru, 34 were against US
interests. Most were probably perpetrated by the MRTA, although
SL also claimed two attacks against US facilities. Violent
terrorist attacks, which occurred on a nearly daily basis, were
spread over much of Peru but were most heavily concentrated in
Lima itself, where more than 600 terrorist attacks caused about
350 deaths. At least 2,800 people died during the year in an
unknown number of terrorist attacks in the country; a record 422
people were killed in October alone. SL continued its campaign
of assassinating teachers, clergy, engineers, development and
human rights workers, Indian peasants, and political candidates,
as well as government, police, and political party officials. SL
killed at least 10 foreigners, none of them US citizens. Nine of
the foreigners were missionaries, clergy, or economic assistance
workers.
</p>
<p> Despite extensive security precautions, President Alberto
Fujimori was the target of two terrorist attacks in November by
the MRTA. A letter bomb campaign directed against domestic
targets occurred in Lima, the first of its kind in South
America, resulting in the death of one pro-MRTA journalist and
serious injuries to three other Peruvians. It is not clear which
group, or groups, is responsible for the letter bombs. On 3
November, 17 persons were killed in the Barrios Altos
neighborhood of Lima by a group of armed men. Those responsible
have not been identified, but local human rights groups
attribute the act to a paramilitary group.
</p>
<p> The troubled Peruvian justice system has proved ineffective
in the fight against terrorism. In 1991 the Government of Peru
prosecuted no cases involving international terrorism and few
cases of domestic terrorism. A chronic lack of basic resources
plagues the judicial system. Severe staffing and morale
problems pervade the judicial and law enforcement communities
because of meager salaries. Constant terrorist actions have left
hundreds of policemen, soldiers, prosecutors, and judges dead,
injured, or co-opted. The lack of properly trained personnel, a
failure to employ modern investigative methods, and professional
rivalries between the police and prosecutors are further
impediments to terrorist prosecutions. Use of criminal forensics
is inadequate, and the Peruvians lack an effective witness
protection program. Imprisoned terrorists largely control the
facilities where they are incarcerated.
</p>
<p> The Government of Peru, nonetheless, has taken steps to
strengthen its hand against terrorism. In November, the
administration issued a series of legislative decrees designed
to strengthen the government's counterterrorism capabilities.
Among those decrees, which were subject to review by the
Peruvian Congress, are measures to reduce sentences in exchange
for information, to increase the powers of military commanders
in areas outside emergency zones, and to reorganize the police
and intelligence services.
</p>
<p>Source: United States Department of State, April 1992.
</p>
</body>
</article>
</text>