World
 
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Iraq ain't no Peru, say South American mercenaries
By Patrick Fort
AFP
BAGHDAD
Petroleumworld.com 08 16 06
"No women, no beer, no fiesta," a Peruvian mercenary said gloomily as he manned his post inside the Iraqi capital's ultra-protected Green Zone.
Around a thousand of his countrymen along with a handful of Chileans make up a security detail in this immense fortified sector of Baghdad, which houses the Iraqi government's offices and the US and British embassies.
The South Americans comprise a "third rung" of security, behind Iraqi regular soldiers and a unit of Georgians, members of the US-led coalition forces from the former Soviet republic.
The Peruvians are employed by the private US security firm Triple Canopy based in Virginia, and they wear their employer's uniforms emblazoned with the slogan: "Assess, Avert, Achieve."
They are barred from speaking to the media and so all those interviewed by AFP spoke on condition of anonymity. Their US superiors on site also refused to speak to a reporter, citing orders from their head office in the United States.
About a year ago, the Peruvians replaced the famed Nepalese Gurkhas who had served in the British army, but not because the South Americans were judged more competent. They replaced the Nepalese because they were cheaper.
A western private security operative from a modern army -- such as an American, a Briton or a South African -- can earn between 8,000 and 16,000 dollars (6,200 to 12,500 euros) per month, one private security official said.
The Gurkhas were earning around 3,000 dollars per month. The Peruvians earn about one third of that.
One told of wages amounting to 1,000 dollars per month, another of "40 dollars per day." The pay is better than what Iraqi soldiers earn, but far from being a gold mine.
"It's still money. It's what we're here for, that's for sure," said one Peruvian security man, who said he was recruited by a subsidiary of Triple Canopy.
Other companies employ Colombians, Mexicans or Panamanians.
"The Colombians have good training and experience and it's less expensive to hire them," one specialist said.
The South Americans, who are all former soldiers aged between 25 and 40, mostly come from poor, rural areas. Most say they have some Indian heritage, and some speak very little English.
Their missions last one year, with a break after six months for home leave.
In their position as the third line of defense, the Peruvians are not typically exposed to grave danger. Most have never left the Green Zone and some ask: "What's the Red Zone like?" in reference to the rest of Iraq.
Indeed, their primary enemy is the heat, as most are posted in exposed guard posts.
"It's rough. It's a lot hotter than in Peru," said one man, his face dripping with sweat.
A car drives up to the entrance of an official building. One of the Peruvians hastily checks the identity of the driver because another car has already driven in behind the first one.
"Our bosses don't want there to be a line of cars. You have to go fast," he said.
Boredom is their other key enemy.
"There is nothing to do here," said one man. "We work, we go back to the barracks and that's it."
"We watch television," said another. "But we'd like to be able to go out a bit at night."
AFP 151051 GMT 08 06
Copyright ©2006 AFP. All Rights Reserved.
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