Ari Yacianci, Security Management Consultant at GLOHER Group, speaks with Herbert Calderón, Director of Corporate Security for Consorcio Constructor Metro 2 Lima – CCM2L about protecting and safeguarding heritage sites in Peru.

Can you provide an overview of cultural sites in Peru?

Peru used to be the center of the Incan Empire, the largest empire in pre-Columbian America.

It was established on the foundations laid by pre-Incan civilizations, which granted it a colorful mixture of different cultures.

When the Spanish conquered it in 1572, many of its remarkable features – such as its architecture and extensive road networks – remained present.

Cusco was explicitly built for resisting battles, since – being the Empire’s capital citadel – it was naturally a prime target for conquest during war.

That’s why many of its sites showcase formidable fortresses, garrisons and military bases.

Some of the city’s most notable archaeological sites are “huacas”, cemeteries, temples and caves, as well as several colonial and republican buildings.

The city’s heritage sites feature areas corresponding to different social classes, with its most secure areas being those meant to protect rulers, amass wealth, safeguard weapons, create art and bury the dead with money and other valuables.

Therefore, it’s no surprise that the richest parts of the city are those where most of the banks and museums were positioned.

Today, Cusco and other significant cities – such as Arequipa or Lima – are frequently visited and highly protected.

A significant part of their population lives off tourism, which is one of the main reasons why the Peruvian people have come to learn to appreciate their cultural heritage and heritage sites.

What are some of the specific threats and challenges Peru’s heritage sites face?

Apart from threats related to natural events such as earthquakes, landslides and forest fires, the organized homeless invasions and misappropriations of sites – while related to serious social and economic issues – pose huge challenges when protecting perimeters.

The excessive littering seen at these sites is not just an environmental problem but also a security and conservation problem, since it reduces visibility, lowers the feeling of safety and results in damage to the site’s materials.

There are also some treasure hunters called huaqueros that damage our archeological sites by bluntly excavating with various tools and attempting to extract some valuable remains in order to profit from them.

They’re not very different from robbers that target our churches, convents, monasteries and places of worship in general.

These thefts prevent scientists and researchers from studying the long-standing links between people and religion and are considered as a serious offense against the spirituality and morality of the population.

While under strong protection now, there were moments during the 19^th and 20^th centuries when it was normal to sell stolen goods from these sites in the streets, in an unrestricted and apparent manner.

This, as well as the looting during the War of the Pacific that took place from 1879 to 1884, resulted in uncountable Peruvian works of art, literature and even architecture going missing and later appearing in North American universities or European museums.

How are Peruvian heritage sites protected?

Peru’s Chan Chan Archaeological Zone was declared as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.

This zone is also currently listed as “In Danger” by them.

Aligned with UNESCO’s requirements, the Peruvian government has established several laws and directives, understanding that these sites are not only critical for preserving our national culture, but part of a universal heritage.

They establish obligations and guidelines for different physical security, surveillance, conservation and preservation needs.

They also dictate the role of the private sector, specific police divisions (such as the Tourism Division of the National Police, simply known as the Tourism Police) and the oversight of a special commission from the National Department of Culture.

Peru is also a member of INTERPOL, which has the combat against cultural heritage crimes as one of its main areas of focus.

The Tourism Police is responsible for implementing specific security measures, such as the installation of custom-designed protective mesh in archeological areas, as well as providing special support during restoration programs.

They have more than 200 specialized agents ready to protect our heritage sites at any time, mostly around citadels, which you will find across many of the country’s cities.

Also, thanks to international conventions, some of the foreign universities and museums previously mentioned have cooperated with recovery and repatriation efforts so that much of Peru’s archeological remains are being recovered progressively.

Did the period of Peruvian protests from 2022 to 2023 jeopardize the national heritage?

There have been many small incidents, but almost none of them were significant, considering the prolonged nature and magnitude of the protests.

Damage to our monuments was minimal last year, because even during times of violent political and civil unrest, protecting our heritage never stopped being a priority for our nation.

For example, on many occasions, the protesters obstructed access to heritage sites by blocking the routes to the citadels, intentionally sabotaging tourism.

However, there were no direct physical attacks on them, because our people have a heightened sense of not only how valuable they are, but also how they truly belong to all of us.

Despite this, there was one notable incident: in Lima’s center, there are multiple ancient mansions, considered an integral part of our heritage.

Some protesters threw an incendiary device which caused a fire in one of the buildings.

Fortunately, the fire department acted promptly and right now the mansion is being restored.

While it is unfortunate that it happened, thankfully that was the most serious event we’ve had in this regard.

You’re a member of the Cultural Properties Community from ASIS International. What can you tell us about it?

We are a very active community globally, as well as in the Latin American world, where we have worked diligently to build a network of Latin American security professionals that are involved with the protection of cultural heritage sites.

We have put together many online events for this community, such as multiple thematic webinars over the years, as well as making sure that the topic is properly featured in larger events, by organizing special panels during the ASIS LATAM Congress in Cancun, 2022, and Lima, 2023.

Ricardo Sanz, a dear colleague that represents this community internationally, is helping us build a relationship with the Spanish government and has achieved a remarkable success: having their Ministry of Culture participate in last year’s Congress.

This aids our ongoing efforts to develop a new commission among existing public and private organizations with the purpose of building international support to recover remains from various heritage sites.

How does your work relate to the protection of cultural heritage sites?

The model for building metro lines is universal, which means that construction will be very similar throughout Buenos Aires, Santiago de Chile or New York.

Many of the subway stations feature murals, sculptures and other historical or special objects that make the buildings containing them critical.

This means that no construction project for a metro line can forget to take into account the role of each station as a secure site for the cultural properties within it, while of course balancing this with its main role of being an accessible and safe site for the passengers that need to use this mode of public transportation.

As for movable cultural goods, the metro also plays a big role in their protection when they are being transported through urban areas.

The metro lines help coordination efforts between tourism agencies, private shipping agents (such as DHL), police forces and the government to ensure that their trip is as secure as possible.

Additionally, aside from the Tourism Police, there’s a Fiscal Police Division that performs seizures and confiscation of properties discovered during transport, such as paintings and architectural remains that may be on the move illegitimately.

This work is critical while the properties are still on Peruvian soil, since once they exit our borders unsupervised, they may enter the illicit trade market and never be seen again, even possibly ending up financing organized crime and terrorist organizations.

The same happens in the opposite case: if a cultural asset enters the country illegally, part of its journey through the illicit trade market may involve transport through the metro line.

This is why Peru’s National Police constantly coordinates international operations with INTERPOL and the private sector to provide quick and appropriate action.

For example, if Spanish authorities inform us that a painting has been seized at Madrid’s airport, they immediately notify us to assist with the recovery efforts, in case the painting ever goes through the metro, whether Peru is the source country, the transit country or the destination country.

About Herbert Calderón Alemán

Herbert is an exceptionally accomplished and experienced Peruvian security professional.

He holds countless certifications and degrees in security, fraud prevention, criminology and other areas.

He’s a member, author, instructor and volunteer leader for multiple international organizations and is well-versed in the world of cultural heritage sites.

This article was originally published in the July edition of Security Journal Americas. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.