Document #1328118
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
Information on the presence in Venezuela of individuals linked to the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso, SL) was scarce among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, in February 1998 Venezuelan police detained Cecilia Nuñez Chipana, an SL member wanted by Peru in connection with her alleged involvement in a number of violent incidents, including a 1992 bombing in Lima in which more than 20 people died (El Universal 15 Mar. 1998; Notitarde 5 Mar. 1998). Arrested in Caracas, she had reportedly entered Venezuela on 1 October 1997 using a passport belonging to her sister (ibid.; El Universal 15 Mar. 1998). Nuñez was deported to Peru on 3 July 1998 (CAJ July 1998).
Estimates of the size of the Peruvian diaspora in Venezuela vary, ranging from 100,000 to 300,000 individuals, of whom 50 per cent are believed to be in the country illegally (El Peruano 22 Aug. 2002). However, no mention of whether such individuals have been subjected to threats or violence by the SL could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
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. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Comisión Andina de Juristas
(CAJ). July 1998. Cronología Andina.
"Perú-Julio 1998." http://www.cajpe.org.pe/cronolog/julpe2.htm
[Accessed 22 Sept. 2003]
Notitarde [Valencia]. 5 March
1998. "Tribunal admitió 'Habeas Corpus' de 'Camarada Ana.'"
http://historico.notitarde.com/1998/03/05/sucesos/sucesos7.html
[Accessed 19 Sept. 2003]
El Peruano [Lima]. 22 August
2002. "Crisis en Venezuela agrava situación de 300 mil
peruanos." http://www.editoraperu.com.pe/and_on/edc/02/08/22/pol/pol10.html
(Google cache) [Accessed 19 Sept. 2003]
El Universal [Caracas]. 15
March 1998. "'Camarada Lucía' sí tiene prontuario
terrorista." http://www.el-universal.com/1998/03/15/15132AA.shtml
[Accessed 19 Sept. 2003]
Additional Sources Consulted
IRB databases
Latin American Regional Reports:
Andean Group [London]. 1996-Sept. 2003
Latin American Weekly Report
[London]. June 1997-Aug. 2003
Unsuccessful attempts to contact the
Asociación de Instituciones Peruanas en Venezuela
(Adipev)
Internet sites, including:
El Comercio [Lima]
Peruanos en Venezuela.
El Universal [Caracas]
Venezuela Analítica
[Caracas]
Vheadline [Caracas]
World News Connection (WNC)