Drug Wars - Peru

Drug Wars Ð'- Peru

Coca is a native to South America and the chewing of coca leaves has been practiced there since 3000 B.C. In the 1400s, the Inca operated coca plantations. They chewed the leaves for religious and medicinal purposes and to fight off fatigue and hunger. The Spanish introduced coca to Europe where it was only occasionally used until the 1800s. In 1855, cocaine was extracted from coca leaves. Then cocaine became widely used for medicinal purposes, treatment of morphine addiction, in tonics, and even soft drinks. Cocaine is still used world wide by people of all ages, colors, social groups, religion, and economic status.

Peru is the world's largest single source of coca leaves, providing about two-thirds of the cocaine produced in the world. Today cocaine is big business in Peru. There are approximately 1 million Peruvian peasants that are growing an estimated 600,000 acres of coca. Many coca leaves grown in Peru are flown to Columbia to be processed but some of the Peruvian farmers are involved in the processing also. For many Peruvian farmers growing and processing coca leaves are depended on for their livelihood; but for others in Peru, there are billions of dollars to be made off of cocaine and for them it is worth fighting for.

One such group is an organization of insurgent guerrillas in Peru called the Shining Path. Their goal is to destroy the existing government and replace it with a communist government. They are involved heavily in drug trafficking and the money they make is used for terrorism and acts of war. They are ruthless murderers, who have killed thousands, including women and children. In the past 20 years, war between Shining Path and Peru has claimed the lives of 30,000 Peruvians. They offer farmer protection and money for their coca crops and are now convincing farmers to plant poppy seeds as well.

Many members of the Peruvian government are also involved in drug trafficking. The current president of Peru, Alan Garcia Perez, was suspected of being involved in drug trafficking along with high level corruption and theft during his first presidency in 1985-1990. Then when Alberto Fujimori was elected, his government proved to be just as bad. Rumors of corruption and drug involvement were plentiful. The military and the police, at that time were responsible for many rapes, killings, and disappearances. During Fujimore's