R 092125Z JUN 93

FM AMEMBASSY LIMA

TO SECSTATE WASHDC 9020

UNCLAS LIMA 06523

FOR INM -LLOYD ARMSTEAD, LAUREN HALE, ALBERT MATANO

SNAR, PE

PERUVIAN MEDIA DISCUSSION OF USG COCA FUNGUS RESEARCH

1. THE JUNE 9 ISSUE OF THE LIMA NEWSPAPER "LA REPUBLICA" CONTAINS AN ARTICLE BY INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER FRANCISCO REYES WHICH ATTRIBUTES DISPLACEMENT OF COCA CULTIVATION INTO THE LOWER

HUALLAGA VALLEY IN LARGE PART TO INFESTATION IN THE UPPER HUALLAGA BY THE FUNGUS "FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM". A PORTION OF THE ARTICLE READS AS FOLLOWS:

"IN MARCH 1991, THE INVESTIGATIVE UNIT OF "LA REPUBLICA" CALLED ATTENTION FOR THE FIRST TIME TO THE MASSIVE WILTING PRESENT IN COCA IN PARAISO AND LA MORADA, AND IN A LATER REPORT STATED THE MAGNITUDE OF THE DAMAGE: 80 PERCENT OF THE PLANTATIONS IN UCHIZA HAD BEEN AFFECTED. ON THAT OCCASION, COCA FARMERS CHARGED THAT DEA HELICOPTERS HAD DISTRIBUTED PELLETS WHICH SUPPOSEDLY CONTAINED THE FUNGUS, ALTHOUGH THE UNITED STATES EMBASSY DENIED THAT ITS GOVERNMENT WAS ENGAGING IN USE OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS TO DESTROY COCA. NEVERTHELESS, IN JUNE 1991,REPORTS OF THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION PRAISED ADVANCES IN BIOLOGICAL CONTROL AGENTS IN THE WAR AGAINST DRUGS. THOSE OFFICIAL REPORTS INCLUDED THE BUDGETS DESTINED FOR STUDY, RESEARCH AND APPLICATION OF THESE MICRO-ORGANISMS UNDERTAKEN BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE OP THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, WHICH HAVE NOW BEEN CONFIRMED BY AN OFFICIAL CONCERNED WITH THE SUBJECT. ING. LUIS GOMERO, DIRECTOR OF THE NETWORK FOR ACTION IN ALTERNATIVES TO USE OF AGRO-CHEMICALS ("LA RED IDE ACC ION EN ALTERNATIVAS AL USO DE AGRO-QUIMICOS, RRAA") STATED THAT AGENTS OF THE NORTH AMERICAN GOVERNMENT WERE DISTRIBUTING ("ARROJANDO") ‘FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM IN THE UPPER HUALLAGA WITH ‘RELATIVE SUCCESS. ‘"

2. NEITHER NAS NOR CORAH KNOWS ANY MORE ABOUT THE ING. LUIS GOMERO, OR HIS ORGANIZATION, CITED IN THIS ARTICLE, BUT THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS A STATEMENT TO THIS EFFECT ATTRIBUTED TO HIM HAS APPEARED IN A LIMA NEWSPAPER (THE PREVIOUS OCCASION WAS A BRIEF ARTICLE IN THE LARGEST LIMA. DAILY "EL COMERCIO"..) USIS LIMA IS INFORMING "LA REPUBLICA’S THAT THE ALLEGATION THAT THE UNITED STATES IS EMPLOYING THIS OR ANY OTHER BIOLOGICAL OR CHEMICAL AGENT FOR COCA ERADICATION IN PERU IS COMPLETELY FALSE.

3. ALTHOUGH WE HAVE HEARD REFERENCE IN THE PAST TO 1991 BUSH ADMINISTRATION DOCUMENTS WHICH THE REPORTER STATES CONFIRM THE EXISTANCE AND PROVIDE A BUDGET FOR USDA STUDY, RESEARCH ANDEMPLOYMENT OF BIOLOGICAL AGENTS IN DRUG CONTROL PROGRAMS, EMBASSY DOES NOT AT THIS TIME HAVE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION IN THAT REGARD. WAS WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF INM COULD PROVIDE ANY FURTHER AVAILABLE INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS REFERENCE, AND ADVISE IF DEPT OR USDA IS FAMILIAR WITH ING. LUIS GOMERO OR THE ORGANIZATION HE SUPPOSEDLY DIRECTS.

4. MANY THANKS FOR THE ASSISTANCE. BRAYSHAW