ConflictBarometer_2015

THE AMERICAS
In addition, Defense Minister Bernardino Soto Estigarribia accused
the military of acting unilaterally and eventually would
resign on November 5. On September 4, members of the EPP
entered an estate in Colonia Pacola, capturing three members
of the Mennonite community and four farmers. They later
released the hostages, leaving an EPP pamphlet at the scene
as well as one shed, two tractors, a car, and four chainsaws
torched.
On September 7, the FTC found both ACA and EPP uniforms
in an abandoned pick-up truck in Horqueta, Concepción,
leading authorities to the conclusion that the two groups
were again reunited after the ACA's emergence in September
2014. The alleged ACA logistics chief, Daniel Rivarola Areco,
was arrested on September 8.
On November 16, the FTC killed ACA leader Alfredo Jara Larrea
and three other heads of the group in a shootout in the
district of Yby Yaú, Concepción.
Several farmers' and workers' organizations organized
protests throughout the year, demanding a fair distribution
of land. For instance, in late October, thousands of farmers
led by the Pyahurã political party and the National Farmers'
Federation marched towards the capital Asunción to protest
the ''unsustainable development model,'' demanding instead
the creation of a ''patriotic junta'' to protect farmer interests.
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PERU (OPPOSITION MOVEMENTS)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 2008
Conflict parties: opposition movements vs. government
Conflict items: system/ideology, resources
The conflict over resources and the orientation of the political
system related to socio-environmental issues such as
water pollution, water shortage, and better working conditions
between various opposition groups and the government
remained violent. Throughout the year, many of the nationwide
demonstrations and strikes in the mining sector turned
violent.
On January 23, local farmers blocked the entrance to the
Las Aguilas mine in Ocuviri, Puno region, and hurled rocks
with slingshots at police officers. In turn, the latter used
tear gas to disperse the crowd. The protesters accused the
mining company Cimesa of having contaminated their water
resources. The clash left two police officers dead. Three days
later, indigenous communities occupied at least 14 oil wells
operated by the company Pluspetrol in Loreto region. They
demanded compensation for environmental damages resulting
from land exploitation and oil contamination. The Achuar
indigenous community ended the occupation one month
later, after they had reached an agreement with Pluspetrol.
On February 10, police forces killed at least one protester in a
demonstration against natural gas exploration in Pichanaqui,
Junin region. Further, 37 civilians and 38 police officers were
injured as a crowd stormed the Juan Valer Sandoval Army
base used by Pluspetrol. Energy and Mines Minister Eleodoro
Mayorga and other cabinet members traveled to Pichanaqui
one day later to initiate dialogue with protest leaders.
Demonstrations against the proposed Tia Maria mining
project also flared up again in Arequipa region. Although,
Mayorga had issued a statement in early April announcing
that the project would not contaminate water, protests continued.
On April 22, police forces killed one protester and
injured several others during clashes. Another protester was
killed by police officers on May 5, as they tried to clear a
highway blocked by about 500 people. The following day,
protesters killed one officer and injured four others using
metal chains and rocks. On May 9, the government deployed
further 2,000 police officers to Islay, Arequipa region, to
restore order. After further clashes, the mining company
Southern Copper announced a 60-day interruption of the
project. On May 23, the government declared a 60-day state
of emergency for Islay after approx. 400 protesters had
blocked the Pan-American Highway. In clashes, police forces
killed one civilian.
In August, another mine conflict turned violent in the town
of La Oroya, Junin region. Protesters called for flexible environmental
standards, which would help to reopen the La
Oroya mine. Police officers killed at least one protester and
wounded further two dozen people while attempting to clear
the Carretera Central Highway.
A further protest against the Las Bambas mine project erupted
in the town of Challhuahuacho, Apurimac region, by the end
of September. The government deployed 1,500 police and
150 military officers to the region where 15,000 people had
gathered to protest against the mine project. On September
28, police forces killed four protesters and wounded a dozen
others when approx. 2,000 people tried to enter the mine.
One day later, the government declared a 30-day state of
emergency and deployed further military personnel. mgm
PERU (SHINING PATH)
Intensity: 3 | Change: | Start: 1980
Conflict parties:
SL vs. government
Conflict items: system/ideology, subnational predominance,
resources
The conflict between the left-wing Maoist rebel group Shining
Path (SL) and the government over subnational predominance
and resources remained violent.
SL had split up into Huallaga Regional Committee (CRH) and
Center Regional Committee (CRC) years before, with only
the latter remaining the fighting force in Apurímac, Ene, and
Mantaro river valley (VRAEM). In 2015, the National Counterterrorism
Directorate estimated the number of active fighters
at 170 to 200. The government accused SL of protecting and
operating with coca growers and drug traffickers in VRAEM,
the main coca growing region in the country.
In February, the government established a no-fly zone over
VRAEM and in August, Congress approved legislation that allowed
the Peruvian Air Force to shoot down small planes suspected
of smuggling narcotics. By late June, the Armed Forces
and the National Police (PNP) had destroyed 86 clandestine
airstrips used by drug traffickers, 195 drug labs, and had
seized 13 light aircrafts. On February 12, SL attacked a military
base in La Mar province, Ayacucho region, wounding one
soldier. In reaction to the attack, the government extended
the state of emergency in parts of the departments Huánuco,
San Martín and Ucayali. On June 1, the US Treasury's Office
of Foreign Assets Control labeled SL as a significant foreign
narcotics trafficker. On June 28, the police arrested the SL's
logistics chief Neymer Keni ''Pepe'' Maldonado Bermeo (CRH)
in the district of La Pólvora, San Martín region. Thereafter, the
government lifted the 30-year lasting state of emergency in
the Alto Huallaga jungle. On July 21, SL killed one military
officer and wounded another near Paquichari, Ayacucho re-
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