The Peruvian Government awarded the Defender of Democracy Medal in the Grade of Grand Cross to National Police Special Intelligence Group (GEIN) members for their participation in the capture of Shining Path terror group leader Abimael Guzman.
During a special ceremony at Lima-based Government Palace, the statesman commended GEIN for its painstaking job that, even though no one might have expected it, got the support of authorities.
The ceremony was also attended by Vice-Presidents Martin Vizcarra and Mercedes Araoz, Prime Minister Fernando Zavala, as well as Interior Minister Carlos Basombrio.
Fuerza Popular party leader Keiko Fujimori was also present as one of the guests.
The decoration was granted to 86 members of GEIN —an intelligence unit set up in 1990 within the police anti-terrorism squad DIRCOTE in order to capture terror leaders nationwide.
Likewise, the resolution stresses GEIN agents' courage and sacrifice in performing their duties in defense of homeland security.
The document was inked by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and Prime Minister Fernando Zavala.
GEIN
Grupo Especial de Inteligencia (Special Intelligence Group) was an elite Peruvian National Police team that battled terrorism in the early 90s.
GEIN is best-known for the successful execution of operation Victoria (Victory). The operation led to the capture of Shining Path's founder Abimael Guzman, who has been serving a life sentence.
The Inca nation's dark 1980-2000 terrorist episode is estimated to have claimed over 69,000 lives, according to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC).
Much of said fatalities are attributed to Shining Path, responsible for brutal terror attacks such as the Tarata Bombing, as well as massive assassinations in rural Peru.
Published: 9/12/2017