Peru: State of emergency extended in VRAEM region /update 1

Event

The government has once again extended a state of emergency in the VRAEM area by 60 days. A total of 54 districts located in the regions of Ayacucho, Cusco, Huancavelica, and Junín are impacted. The state of emergency - implemented to facilitate the fight against drug traffickers (so-called narco-terrorists) operating in the area - will now remain in effect until at least early October 2018.

Under the state of emergency, a number of constitutional rights are suspended, including the freedoms to assemble and move freely, and police will be able to search persons and homes without a warrant. Furthermore, the National Police and the armed forces will remain in control of security in the area.

The concerned districts are:

• Ayacucho:
  o    Huanta province: Huanta, Ayahuanco, Santillana, Chaca, Sivia, Llochegua, Canayre, Uchuraccay, Pucacolpa, and Luricocha
  o    La Mar province: San Miguel, Anco, Ayna, Chungui, Oronccoy, Santa Rosa, Tambo, Samugari, and Anchihuay
• Huancavelica:
  o    Tayacaja province: Pampas, Huachocolpa, Quishuar, Salcabamba, Salcahuasi, Surcubamba, Tintaypuncu, Roble, Andaymarca, Daniel Hernández, and Colcabamba
  o    Churcampa province: Chinchihuasi, Churcampa, La Merced, Pachamarca, Paucarbamba, and San Pedro de Coris   
  
• Cusco:
  o    La Convención province: Echarate, Megantoni, Kimbiri, Pichari, Vilcabamba, Inkawasi, Villa Kintiarina, and Villa Virgen
• Junín
  o    Satipo province: Llaylla, Mazamari, Pampa Hermosa, Pangoa, Vizcatán del Ene, and Río Tambo
  o    Concepción province: Andamarca and Comas
  o    Huancayo province: Santo Domingo de Acobamba and Pariahuanca
  

Context

The VRAEM region (Valley of the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro Rivers) - made up of parts of Ayacucho, Huancavelica, Cuzco, and Junín - was largely ignored by the Peruvian government until 2006, allowing criminal groups to thrive and poverty rates to remain extremely high. Joint police and army patrols are now regularly carried out in the area. According to the UN, one-third of the cocaine produced worldwide comes from this area, totaling up to 400 tons per year. The Shining Path, concentrated in the VRAEM region, remains Peru's largest armed group, although its level of activity has fallen sharply since its peak in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, its members are principally involved in drug trafficking.

Advice

Due to the presence of armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to the VRAEM region, as well as areas along the Colombian border.