Peru replaces national police director

President Alan García swore in the new director of Peru’s national police today. Gen. Octavio Salazar replaces Gen. David Rodríguez amid a growing drug trade connected to remnants of Shining Path guerrillas. Before his promotion, Salazar was the head of Lima’s Seventh Police Division. During the ceremony, García stressed the importance of fighting corruption and [...]

Government to push for permanent registry for ex-convicts sentenced on terrorism charges

President Alan Garcia is preparing a bill that would require all Peruvians who have served prison sentences for terrorism to periodically report in with authorities for the rest of their lives, Cabinet Chief Jorge Del Castillo said Monday. “What we are seeking is a law that says, ‘You have been sentenced for terrorism, have murdered [...]

Specter of Shining Path dragged out ahead of Fujimori trial

Jailed ex-President Alberto Fujimori is scheduled to face his first human rights abuse trial Dec. 10 to answer for his regime’s brutal excesses to tame the Shining Path insurgency during his 10-year rule. Coincidently, members of his political party spent all last week trying to muster support for a vote of censure against President Alan [...]

Peru interior minister: deadly attack on police station not sign of new insurgency group

Interior Minister Luis Alva Castro rejected claims that a new insurgency is responsible for the attack on an Ocobamba police station in Peru’s southern Apurímac department. “The existence of a new terrorist group is pure speculation,” he told daily Peru.21. “The intelligence services have rejected this possibility.” Officers at the station said 70 to 80 [...]