Peruvian Maoists written off too early

Peruvian authorities continue to investigate the terrorist act committed March 21 in Lima. A bomb exploded not far from the US embassy. It was decided at once that unknown terrorists in this way “celebrated” US President Bush’s visit to the South American country. Some observers speculated about left-wing Maoist organizations Sendero Luminoso and the Tupac Amaru Revolution Movement.

Peruvian authorities also turned out to be sure of who was behind the explosion. On Monday, deputy internal minister of Peru Gino Costa reported that Sendero Luminoso was implicated in the explosion near to US embassy, in which nine people died and more than 30 were injured. According to Costa, “although the investigation is not finished yet, the group responsible for the terrorist act and some of the participants in the terrorist act have been found. This is one of the bloody units of “Senderists,” led by comrades Alipio and Dalton.” However, the Sendero Luminoso leaders categorically deny their implication in the explosion. Of course, they cannot be easily trusted, but the fact is that all the leaders of this terrorist organization are in prisons.

The Senderists, who have not been active for several years, are capable of organizing such a terrorist act without somebody’s assistance, which, however, easily could be rendered to them by narco-Mafia.

Cooperation between the Maoists and the narco-Mafia has been known about for a long time. In exchange for security, the Senderists have been receiving pretty solid financial help, which is enough to organize a large terrorist act. However, it is also possible, that Sendero Luminoso and Tupac Amaru movement are really not implicated in the terrorist act. In this case, only the narco-Mafia remains, which is powerful enough to do so without the help of terrorists. However, there is one question: why do the drug dealers wish to speak so loudly? Just to demonstrate their force: we are so powerful, we fear nobody and nothing.

So, at the moment, it is not only left-wing terrorist groups that are dangerous for Peruvian authorities (as well as those of other South-American countries). Therefore, these states are not powerful enough to control both terrorists and the narco-Mafia.

Vasily Bubnov PRAVDA.Ru

Translated by Vera Solovieva

Read the original in Russian: http://www.pravda.ru/main/2002/04/03/39160.html