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SHINING PATH. Liliana Cadena Sher’rie Gonzales CRJU 477. What is the Shining Path?. Origin: Peru, South America Translation of “Sendero Luminoso” (SL) Maoist guerrilla organization Established in late 1960’s Founder: Abimael Guzman Reynoso. Founder Abimael Guzman.
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SHINING PATH Liliana Cadena Sher’rie Gonzales CRJU 477
What is the Shining Path? • Origin: Peru, South America • Translation of “Sendero Luminoso” (SL) • Maoist guerrilla organization • Established in late 1960’s • Founder: Abimael Guzman Reynoso
Founder Abimael Guzman • Philosophy Professor: San Augustine University, Arequipa • Used profession to entice students’ interest
Maoist Theory • Emphasis on Revolutionary Mass Mobilization • Mobilizing and organizing peasantry • Organizing rural base areas and increased coordination among guerilla organizations • Transition to conventional warfare • “Political power comes from the barrel of the gun.”
Secret Meetings • Known as Central Committee • Held in Ayacucho • Formed Revolutionary Directorate • Ordered militias to start “armed struggle”
First Military School • Militants composed of ordinary people; not professional soldiers • Taught military tactics and weapons use
First “act of war” • First Presidential election in over 12 years • Shining Path declined participation • Launched a guerilla war in Ayacucho • May 17,1980 burned ballot boxes
Group Motto • “Long live the People’s War” • “It is right to rebel” • Destruction of existing institutions • Restructure under communist ideals
Violence on the rise • SENDERO LUMINOSO: Responsible for nearly 50% of deaths between 1980 and 1996. • GOVERNMENT FORCES: Believed to be responsible for roughly half the 60,000 deaths or “disappearances” between 1980-97. • MRTA (MOVIMIENTO REVOLUCIONARIO TUPAC AMARU): Responsible for just 3% of killings by insurgents
Terrorist Tactics • “Popular trials” • Slitting throats (machetes), strangulation, stoning and burning • Car bombs • Assassinations
Terrorist Activity • 1983 - Sabotaged electrical towers in Lima, set fire to Bayer Industrial Plant • 1985 - Blew up electrical towers, detonated car bombs at government palace and justice palace • 1985 - Assassination attempt on President of Peruvian National Electoral Council • 1991 – Controlled majority of central and southern Peru, and Lima • Estimated membership of 10,000
Terrorist Activity (cont.) • 1991- Killed three priests • 1992- Assassination of Maria Elena Moyano, a notable community organizer • 2002 – U.S. Embassy car bombing precedes visit of President Bush • 9 Fatalities; 30 Injuries • 2005 – Ambushed police patrol • 8 Fatalities; 2 Injuries
Decline • September 12, 1992 - Guzman arrested on charges of terrorism and treason • Sentenced to life in prison • 1999 – Successor, Oscar Ramirez, captured • Sentenced to life in prison • Retrial: 24 year sentence • Peasants formed anti-Shining Path brigades (Rondas)
Current Leader • Comrade Artemio • CIA World Factbook lists identity as Gabriel Macario • No verifiable information on Comrade Artemio • Current membership estimated at 300-500
Quote from Abimael “I am a revolutionary combatant and totally reject being a terrorist.” - Shining Path founder: Abimael Guzman Reynoso
Video Clip • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TFMwMeSqFBI
References Council on Foreign Relations. (2005). Shining Path, Tupac Amaru (Peru, leftists). Retrieved January 31, 2007, from http://www.cfr.org/publication /9276/ Human Rights Watch Report. (2006, July). Alan Garcia’s Second Chance: Human Rights Accountability in Peru. Retrieved February 08, 2007, from http://www.hrw.org/pub/memos /peru0806.pdf Human Rights Watch Report. (2005, January). Country Summary, Peru. Retrieved January 31, 2007, from http://hrw.org/wr2k5/pdf/peru.pdf TKB Data Service. (2006). Shining Path. Retrieved from http://www.tkb.org /Group.jsp?groupID=111 Wilkipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. (2007). Maoism. Retrieved February 08, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maoism Wilkipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. (2007). Shining Path. Retrieved February 08, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia. org/w /index.php?title= Shining_Path&oldid=107509151