DisclaimersA Social Studies project for Manjusrians by Manjusrians. The content of the blog is purely for educational purposes; it does not represent the view of the organization or the individual.
Dear diary,
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Background information
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
The Shining Path began in late 1960s as a small communist revolutionary group led by a philosophy professor named Abimael Guzmán. The Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso), is regarded as a Maoist terrorist organization in Peru. When it first launched the internal conflict in Peru in 1980, its stated goal was to replace what it saw as *bourgeois democracy with "New Democracy." The Shining Path believed that by imposing a *dictatorship of the *proletariat, inducing cultural revolution, and eventually sparking world revolution, they could arrive at pure communism.
Main goal of Shining Path: Overthrow the existing Peruvian government and political institutions and replace them with a communist revolutionary command.
Motto: "Long live the People's War," "It is Right to Rebel"
*bourgeois - belonging to, characteristic of, or consisting of the middle class.
*dictatorship - a country, government, or the form of government in which absolute power that is exercised by a dictator.
*proletariat - the class of wage earners, esp. those who earn their living by manual labor or who are dependent for support on daily or casual employment; the working class.
*Source - http://www.dictionary.com/
Shining Path's strategy
-To use violence to bring down Peru's democratic government, disrupt the economy, destroy the state's reputation among the peasantry and, ultimately, ruin its reputation among the population in general.
Example:
A New York Times report looking at rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Shining Path violence says the group hacked its victims to death with machetes to save ammunition.
Decline of Shining Path
Leader of Shining Path was (Guzmán) captured on SEpt 12 and imprisonment in 1992 destroyed the group’s chain of command, and remnants of the group now operate mainly in remote jungle areas. Initially, Shining Path targeted local authorities, such as mayors, mid-level bureaucrats, police, and local political leaders. Since 1983, however, the group has gradually expanded its list to include wealthy locals and state agency heads.
Resurgence of Shining Path
Recent information suggests that Shining Path has staged a moderate resurgence in the mountainous regions of Peru. The reformed Shining Path has managed to inflict minor damage on Peru's military and police force. In August 2008, the Peruvian military launched a operation against Shining Path, which resulted in several counterattacks, including an October 2008 ambush that killed at least a dozen soldiers. Analysts from the Center for International Policy noted that Shining Path is too weak to launch a major offensive to take over the country, but Peruvians are afraid the group will gain supporters among rural residents who feel neglected by the government.
Currently, the head of the rebel group, known as Comrade Artemio, is the only high-profile Shining Path leader who has not been caught or killed. On March 25, 2008, Shining Path members working with drug traffickers killed a police officer and wounded eleven on an anti-drug patrol. The unit is said to have been lead by Comrade Artemio. Artemio has stated that even though the Shining Path hasn't been very active since the 1992 capture of Guzmán, they intend to grow and work in secrecy.
The Shining Path began in late 1960s as a small communist revolutionary group led by a philosophy professor named Abimael Guzmán. The Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso), is regarded as a Maoist terrorist organization in Peru. When it first launched the internal conflict in Peru in 1980, its stated goal was to replace what it saw as *bourgeois democracy with "New Democracy." The Shining Path believed that by imposing a *dictatorship of the *proletariat, inducing cultural revolution, and eventually sparking world revolution, they could arrive at pure communism.
Main goal of Shining Path: Overthrow the existing Peruvian government and political institutions and replace them with a communist revolutionary command.
Motto: "Long live the People's War," "It is Right to Rebel"
*bourgeois - belonging to, characteristic of, or consisting of the middle class.
*dictatorship - a country, government, or the form of government in which absolute power that is exercised by a dictator.
*proletariat - the class of wage earners, esp. those who earn their living by manual labor or who are dependent for support on daily or casual employment; the working class.
*Source - http://www.dictionary.com/
Shining Path's strategy
-To use violence to bring down Peru's democratic government, disrupt the economy, destroy the state's reputation among the peasantry and, ultimately, ruin its reputation among the population in general.
Example:
A New York Times report looking at rebuilding efforts in the aftermath of Shining Path violence says the group hacked its victims to death with machetes to save ammunition.
Decline of Shining Path
Leader of Shining Path was (Guzmán) captured on SEpt 12 and imprisonment in 1992 destroyed the group’s chain of command, and remnants of the group now operate mainly in remote jungle areas. Initially, Shining Path targeted local authorities, such as mayors, mid-level bureaucrats, police, and local political leaders. Since 1983, however, the group has gradually expanded its list to include wealthy locals and state agency heads.
Resurgence of Shining Path
Recent information suggests that Shining Path has staged a moderate resurgence in the mountainous regions of Peru. The reformed Shining Path has managed to inflict minor damage on Peru's military and police force. In August 2008, the Peruvian military launched a operation against Shining Path, which resulted in several counterattacks, including an October 2008 ambush that killed at least a dozen soldiers. Analysts from the Center for International Policy noted that Shining Path is too weak to launch a major offensive to take over the country, but Peruvians are afraid the group will gain supporters among rural residents who feel neglected by the government.
Currently, the head of the rebel group, known as Comrade Artemio, is the only high-profile Shining Path leader who has not been caught or killed. On March 25, 2008, Shining Path members working with drug traffickers killed a police officer and wounded eleven on an anti-drug patrol. The unit is said to have been lead by Comrade Artemio. Artemio has stated that even though the Shining Path hasn't been very active since the 1992 capture of Guzmán, they intend to grow and work in secrecy.