2009 Chile–Peru espionage scandal
The 2009 Chile–Peru espionage scandal was a diplomatic crisis that occurred when a Peruvian court ordered the arrest of two Chilean military officers over allegedly bribing Peruvian air force officer Ariza Mendoza.[1] The charges against the Peruvian air force officer were: revealing national secrets, espionage and money-laundering.[2] Mendoza was purportedly receiving between $5,000 and $8,000 per month in return for reporting national secrets to Chile.[3]
Peruvian President Alan Garcia left Singapore just before the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in order to return home to deal with the crisis.[4]
The American ambassador in Lima, P. Michael McKinley, wrote in a leaked cable that the "Peruvian reaction seems exaggerated given the relatively limited scale of the espionage, and suggests political opportunism along with an instinctive reaction to any problem involving Chile."[citation needed] Ambassador McKinley further stated that the timing of the scandal was unfortunate because Peru had "begun to more seriously focus on defeating Shining Path narco-terrorists in the Apurimac-Ene River Valley".[citation needed]
References[edit]
- ^ "Peru and Chile in 'spy' scandal". BBC News. 14 November 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "Air force officer arrested in Peruvian spy scandal". theguardian.com. 15 November 2009. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "Chile, Peru dispute about scandal". Indiana Daily Student. 2 December 2009. Archived from the original on 9 March 2014. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ "Peru's president exits summit after report of spy charges against officer". cnn.com. November 15, 2009. Archived from the original on 12 July 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2016.