MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Peru promises to defeat any terrorist resurgence

The Peruvian government believes remnant elements from the Shining Path guerrilla-terrorist organization are behind the uprising in the southern city of Ilave where the mayor was mob-lynched by a furious crowd in the main square a few weeks ago, according to reports in the main newspapers of Lima.

"Correo" quotes Interior Minister Javier Reategui saying that intelligence reports indicate that Shining Path rebels were involved in the violent protests in Ilave where demonstrators are continuing to protest for the release of six suspects allegedly involved in the lynching of Mayor Cirilo Robles last April 26.

"There are some serious indications that protestors and agitators were mostly from Shining Path and maybe even Red Nation. These are terrorist groups that take advantage of situations looking for political reactions", stressed Mr. Reategui.

Red Path split from the main Shining Path organization in 1993 when the historical leader of Shining Path, Comrade Abimael Guzman negotiated a peace agreement with the government after proclaiming his movement's political and military defeat.

Actually a reportedly Aymara Indian organization is spearheading the indefinite walkout in Ilave claiming it's the first step to recovering the Aymara nation, one of the main tribal groups in the Andean highlands of South America.

The Peruvian National Elections Court named a new mayor but local Aymara leaders rejected the nomination arguing he belongs to the same political party as the deceased Mr. Robles, whom they accused of corruption.

Mr. Reategui denies any "cultural" vindication in the protests as was believed originally but rather motivated by drug traffickers and smugglers who, as usually happens in the Andes highlands, help finance subversive and terrorist groups.

Mr. Reategui warned that a state of emergency will be declares in Ilave if there's any resumption of violence. Some 4,000 protestors have taken part in the so-far peaceful strike which has seen some blocking of highways.

Peruvian courts have issued another 40 arrest warrants in connection with the lynching, indicated Mr. Reategui.