MINISTER SAYS SHINING PATH COULD STAGE ATTACKS ON US INTERESTS IN MAY

Overseas Security Advisory Council ^ | May 13, 2002 | Lima Radio Programas del Peru via OSAC

[LurkedLongEnough]

The following is translated text from Lima Radio Programas del Peru:

Interior Minister Fernando Rospigliosi told a press conference that remnants of the Shining Path [SL] are trying "to reorganize their political activities in some of the country's universities." He also reiterated his warning that the guerrillas could attack US interests this month.

"The Counterterrorism Directorate (Dircote) is closely monitoring people linked to the Shining Path who are trying to reorganize their political activities in some universities," Rospigliosi pointed out, although he did not specify in which universities SL was trying to reactivate. "I hope it will not have greater importance and that Peruvian students will give some thought to the destructive influence that terrorism had a decade ago," the minister added at the press conference.

With the presence of SL splinter groups in precise regions "we cannot speak of a terrorist resurgence because terrorism in Peru has been defeated politically and militarily and has no possibility of making a comeback," he added.

He also reiterated his warning of 3 May that the SL could commit attacks against US interests during this month, as the Maoist group marks 22 years of armed action.

"Yes, it might be against US interests," the minister said at that time amid the possibility that attacks might come from the SL, a group that on 17 May 1980 began a grass roots war in the country that has claimed more than 26,000 lives in two decades.

The previous evening two bomb scares at the Peruvian-American Cultural Institute (ICPNA) alerted residents, but following an exhaustive search the police ruled out that explosive devices had been activated there.

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La bumpa.

[Tacis]

Shining Path is furious that the new President would not free their girl, American Laurie Berenson. So, the plan is a series of attacks on the prison where they think she is held. But, it is likely that before they strike, Berenson the terrorist will be returned her the maximum security prison located on a mountain top where she was previously held. In fact, she may already be there. An attack on an American target will be used as a diversion.