As indicated in previous Responses, in guerrilla warfare it is difficult to define control of an area. However, recent reports do mention areas of operation or presence of MRTA (Movimiento Revolucionario Tupac Amaru) groups. Estimates of the current strength of the MRTA could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate, although the information provided below may provide an indication.

In October 1997 the police captured, in the province of Chanchamayo, nine members of a "logistic support group" that obtained money, food and supplies for "small MRTA groups" operating in the central jungle areas of Chanchamayo, Villa Rica, Perené, San Luis de Shuaro and Pichanaki (El Comercio. 22 Oct. 1997). The group was captured after it had raided the township of Puerto Villa Union, and was in possession of three assault rifles, six shotguns, grenades and other explosives; the police attributed to this group a number of past assassinations, raids and robberies of villages and transport vehicles (ibid.).

Also in October 1997 the police captured an MRTA member in Lima who had participated in numerous robberies and kidnappings since his escape from prison in 1990 (ibid. 18 Oct. 1997). However, the man reportedly had distanced himself from the MRTA and had become part of a criminal gang that included two of his brothers (ibid.).

In April 1998 a report by the National Anti-Terrorism Directorate of the National Police (DINCOTE) indicated that the MRTA had centred its "political activity," aimed at recruiting youths not known to police forces, in the mountain areas of Puno and Huancayo and in the central jungle areas of Villa Rica and Oxapampa (AFP 20 Apr. 1998). Links with the Chilean Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front (FPMR) reportedly had been renewed with the goal of establishing an "Andean Liberation Army" (EAL), and to finance its activities the MRTA had been extorting businesses operating in the Peruvian jungle (ibid.). The Bolivian Minister of Government later denied assertions contained in the DINCOTE report referring to possible links of the MRTA operating in Bolivia (La Razon 24 Apr. 1998).

In May 1998 the police found an MRTA training centre and an armament factory, the former near Huarochirí and close to the city of Lima, and the latter located in the metropolitan Lima district of Vitarte (El Comercio 16 May 1998). Although only one woman belonging to the MRTA was reportedly captured during the operation, which was carried out by police agents of the southern zone of Lima, the facilities suggested the involvement of numerous persons; the armament captured at both locations included bazookas, rifle grenades, assault rifle ammunition and chemicals used in the preparation of car-bombs (ibid.). A training centre similar to that found near Huarochiri was uncovered in 1995 in Cieneguilla, in the outskirts of the capital (ibid.).

The most recent report involving the MRTA refers to the capture of its "most important column" in the central jungle of Peru (El Comercio 13 Sept. 1998; ibid. 9 Sept. 1998). An intelligence operation planned and conducted by the DINCOTE, followed by a joint action of units from the VII Police Region and the 31st Army Division based in the area, resulted in the capture of six MRTA members during a village party on 30 August 1998; the six, which reportedly belonged to "special forces" of the "Juan Santos Atahualpa Front," included the unit's logistics commander (mando logístico), who led security forces to four arsenals in hideouts distributed throughout the jungle region of Junin department (ibid.). By 6 September two other members of the group had been captured, including the leader of the guerrilla front, as well as an MRTA member in Lima (ibid.). The arrested were being investigated for terrorist acts committed throughout the last three years in the districts of Pichanaki and Perené in Junin department, and in the district of Villa Rica in Oxapampa province, department of Pasco; they stand accused of murdering civilians, policemen and political authorities, extorting farmers, coffee growers and lumberers of those regions, robbing passenger transport vehicles, and carrying out actions for disruptive and propaganda purposes (acciones de agitación y propaganda) (ibid.). Police investigations determined that, at the time of the arrest, the group was planning to murder diplomatic, church, military and political personalities, including commandos who participated in the release of hostages at the Japanese ambassador's residence in 1997, and carry out other actions in Lima and the central jungle to disrupt the October municipal elections (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.

Agence France Presse (AFP). 20 April 1998. "Le MRTA menace toujours le Pérou, un an après la prise d'otages de Lima." (NEXIS)

El Comercio [Lima]. 13 September 1998. "La DINCOTE planeó y dirigió golpe al MRTA en la selva." [Internet] http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe/webcomercio/ 1998/9/15/fs3n286.htm [Accessed 23 Oct. 1998]

_____. 9 September 1998. "Terroristas del MRTA pretendían obstaculizar elecciones municipales." [Internet] http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe/webcomercio/1998/ 9/9/fs13n45.htm [Accessed 23 Oct. 1998]

_____. 16 May 1998. "Centro de entrenamiento se hallaba cerca de Huarochirí." [Internet] http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe/webcomercio/4/1998/5/16/ vacio03.txt.html [Accessed 23 Oct. 1998]

_____. 22 October 1997. "Desarticulan célula del MRTA en la selva central." [Internet] http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe/2/1997/10/22/vacio12/txt/html [Accessed 23 Oct. 1998]

_____. 18 October 1997. "Capturan a emerretista que se dedicaba al secuestro." [Internet] http://www.elcomercioperu.com.pe/webcomercio/main%5Fpub/1997/10/18/ vacio27.txt.html [Accessed 23 Oct. 1998]

La Razon [La Paz, in Spanish]. 24 April 1998. "Minister Rejects Peruvian Report on MRTA Rebels'Activities." (BBC World Service 28 Apr. 1998/NEXIS)