As you point out, the Shining Path guerrillas in Peru, despite their vicious practices, have been gaining ground and are heavily involved in the coca-growing region.

Peru's government has increased the police presence in coca-growing regions, signed a new eradication plan with the American government and declared narcotics a national security issue.

Tonight, during a thunderstorm here in the coca-growing region of Caqueta, Mr. Canas, the mayoral candidate, was explaining his intention to vote despite the threats.

Cochabamba is on the western edge of the Chapare, the main coca-growing region in an otherwise impoverished country that is the world's second largest producer of cocaine.

The Huallaga valley is Peru's main coca-growing region, and produces much of the raw material for about half the world's cocaine.

Mr. Pastrana has proposed an international aid plan to support alternative development in coca-growing regions, as well.

The fighting is breaking out as the rebels brace for American-backed multibillion-dollar counternarcotics operations to begin in the coca-growing regions of Putumayo.

In Bolivia's other major coca-growing region, Los Yungas, another story is unfolding.

Its strategy is based on the voluntary participation of farmers from all coca-growing regions in the country.

The attack in a remote coca-growing region in northeast Peru, was the second by rebels in a month.