Peru: Current information on the state protection available to a non-commissioned Technical Police officer who has received death threats from the Shining Path
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 June 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PER27146.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Peru: Current information on the state protection available to a non-commissioned Technical Police officer who has received death threats from the Shining Path, 1 June 1997, PER27146.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ac4868.html [accessed 17 September 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
The following information was provided by a professor of political science at Boston University who specializes in Peruvian politics and military matters during a 16 June 1997 telephone interview with the DIRB.
State protection is not widely available to police officers and whether it is granted depends on the severity and the number of death threats received by the officer. The availability of state protection also depends on the rank of the officer and his or her influence within the police force. For example, an officer with a well-connected family member within the police apparatus is more likely to receive state protection.
The following information was provided by a representative of the Andean Commission of Jurists (Comisión Andina de Juristas, CAJ) in an 18 June 1997 letter sent to the DIRB by electronic mail.
Some security measures exist for officers who have been threatened because of their "countersubversive" activities. For example, an officer may be relocated to another geographical location or, depending on his or her rank, could be appointed to a diplomatic post. Police functions normally involve some level of risk, and most officers who have participated in "countersubversive" activities or have been involved in fighting "terrorism" have neither requested nor received state protection.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB 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
Andean Commission of Jurists (CAJ), Lima. 18 June 1997. Letter sent by electronic mail.
Professor of political science specializing in Peruvian politics and military issues, Department of Political Science, Boston University. 16 June 1997. Telephone interview.
Additional Sources Consulted
Andean Newsletter [Lima]. 1996-1997.
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1996. 1997.
Foreign Broadcast Information Service (FBIS) Daily Reports.
Latinamerica Press [Lima]. 1997.
Latin America Weekly Report [London]. 1997.
Lima Times. 1996-1997.
Police Studies: The International Review of Police Development [West Yorkshire]. 1996.
Problèmes d'Amérique Latine [Paris]. 1996-1997.
On-line search of news articles. (NEXIS)