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Peru: The Terrorist Threat to Americans(b)(3)

Over the last two years Peru, and particularly Lima, pro-Nicaragua Marxist group that more narrowly has experienced some of the highest rates of terrorism focuses its attacks against foreign targets, particularly in the world. Most attacks by Peru's two active US and Japanese facilities. Unlike the SL, the insurgent groups, the fanatically ethnocentric Sendero MRTA has generally used political violence to draw Luminoso (SL) and the urban-based Tupac Amaru attention to its political program, so far has attacked Revolutionary Movement (MRTA), have been property far more than people, and has been quick to directed at official Peruvian targets. During 1986, take credit for its attacks.

(b)(3) however, there was a fourfold increase in the number of attacks against foreign official and international Rising Urban Terrorism business facilities. Given these trends, we believe the The main terrorist threat to US citizens is in Lima. likelihood of American casualties—even if incurred Despite some tougher antiterrorist measures, violent incidentally—is rising. No Americans have been attacks in Lima are increasing in both number and killed by terrorists in Lima but, because of the large lethality. Our data base indicates that since the American resident and tourist presence in the capital, beginning of 1985 some 300 serious incidents have we believe they could become victims when

occurred in the Lima metropolitan area. Forty government, commercial, or tourist sites are bombed persons—all Peruvians—have been killed in Lima or come under strafing attack. The danger to

during that period, including nine who were innocent Americans is almost as great in the countryside, bystanders. Police reports indicate that the SL has where two Americans were killed last year when been overwhelmingly responsible for the deaths. (b)(3) guerrillas bombed the popular Cusco-to-· Machupicchu tourist train. (b)(3)

Our review of SL attacks during 1986 indicates that it

is still hitting hardest at Peruvian targets. Indeed, 31 Peru's Terrorist Groups

of the 40 persons killed in Lima since early 1985 were Guerrilla and terrorist violence in Peru has escalated engaged in counterterrorism or local police duties. dramatically recent years and poses increasingly The assassinations last year in Lima of two Peruvian serious security problems for Americans. The largest Navy admirals, moreover, received international press and most dangerous insurgent group is the SL, whose coverage, heightening the perception at home and 4,000 to 5,000 armed guerrillas are waging both an abroad of growing political instability and personal increasingly active urban terrorist campaign in Lima insecurity in Peru.[ (b)(3) and a low intensity rural insurrection throughout the country. Since it initiated armed struggle in 1980, the Terrorist attacks in Lima during 1986 also show, SL has developed into the second-largest guerrilla however, a dramatic four-fold increase over the 1985 movement in South America-behind the

levels of strikes against foreign targets. In February Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) 1986 the SL bombed six foreign diplomatic missions, and is probably the most brutal movement ever to including the US Embassy. SL, being generally appear in the region. SL's violent tactics aim at the antiforeign rather than specifically anti-American, total elimination of the influence of Peru's whites and also struck at the Soviet Embassy twice last year and mestizos, and the,

wounded six Soviet sailors in a terrorist attack last August. For its part, the MRTA attacked the US

any kind in Peru.(b)(3) reviles foreign influences of

Peru's other terrorist group, the MRTA, is a small, Lima-based movement of several hundred activists at most. In contrast with SL, the MRTA is a Castroite,

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Secret

DI TR 87-004 26 February 1987

Approved for Release: 2017/09/13 C05922884