Specific references to a guerrilla attack on a D.I.D., S.A. convoy could not be found in the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, in July 1995, members of the Shining Path attacked geologists at a US mining company in the Department of La Libertad (US News Online 12 Sept. 1997). A Peruvian employee of the company was killed during the attack (ibid.). On 8 March 1996, the Shining Path attacked vehicles in Sánchez Carrión [La Libertad] (Ideele Dec. 1996, 95). On 19 March 1996, a "terrorist" group attacked the Gicomsa mining complex in Trujillo (Caretas 9 May 1996). According to Caretas, the attackers took explosives, radio transistors, and money (ibid.). New Flag, a New York-based publication posted by the Peru People's Movement (MPP), cited a 19 March 1996 Expresso article [described elsewhere in the publication as a "government mouthpiece,"] that said the Shining Path had attacked a mining company operation in the district of Tayabamba, Province of Pataz, Department of La Libertad in which "a large quantity of explosives, dynamite, and weapons were captured" (n.d.). On 6 September 1996, another mining complex in Pataz was attacked [La Libertad] (Ideele Dec. 1996, 95).

According to the President of the Corporación Minera Nor Perú in Lima, the company with which transportation company D.I.D., S.A. had a contract during the time of the alleged incidents, there were no encounters between either themselves or D.I.D., S.A. and the Shining Path or any other guerrilla group in February 1996 (6 Aug. 1999). In a telephone interview, a representative of La Industria, a Trujillo-based newspaper, stated that there were three incidents involving guerrilla groups in the department of La Libertad in February 1996, none of which involved mining or transportation companies (9 August 1999). The Research Directorate was unable to find additional and/or corroborative information.

According to the Vancouver-based Pan American Silver Corporation, the parent company of the Corporación Minera Nor Perú, Nor Perú's mining complex is on a Shining Path corridor (10 Aug. 1999). The mine is located between two mountain passes, which are known to be used by the guerrilla group (ibid.).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

Caretas [Lima]. 9 May 1996. No. 1413. "Sendero ¿Estás?" http://www.caretas.com.pe/1413/sendero/sendero.htm [Accessed 9 Aug. 1999]

Corporación Minera Nor Perú, Lima. 6 August 1999. Telephone interview with the President.

Ideele [Lima]. December 1996. "Zone Norte." Lima, Peru: Instituto de Defensa Legal.

La Industria [Trujillo]. 9 August 1999. Telephone interview with representative.

New Flag [New York]. n.d. "Newsbriefs: November 1995 - May 1996." (Peru People's Movement) http://www.blythe.org/peru-pcp/newflag/nf0401/n0596.htm [Accessed 9 Aug. 1999]

Pan American Silver Corporation, Vancouver. 10 August 1999. Telephone interview with Manager of Health, Safety and Environment.

US News Online. 12 September 1997. "Peru Advisory." http://www.usnews.com/usnews/nycu/travel/trwper.htm [Accessed 9 Aug. 1999]

IRB Databases, LEXIS/NEXIS