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Other Names
Partido Comunista del Peru en el Sendero Luminoso
de Jose Carlos Mariategui (Communist Party of
Peru on the Shining Path of Jose Carlos Mariategui)
Partido Comunista del Peru (Communist Party of
Peru)
PCP
Socorro Popular del Peru (People's Aid of Peru)
SPP
Ejercito Guerrillero Popular (People's Guerrilla
Army)
EGP
Ejercito Popular de Liberacion (People's Liberation
Army)
EPL
Description
Former university professor Abimael Guzman formed
Sendero Luminoso in the late 1960s, and his teachings
created the foundation of SL's militant Maoist
doctrine. In the 1980s, SL became one of the most
ruthless terrorist groups in the Western Hemisphere-approximately
30,000 persons have died since Shining Path took
up arms in 1980. Its stated goal is to destroy
existing Peruvian institutions and replace them
with a communist peasant revolutionary regime.
It also opposes any influence by foreign governments,
as well as by other Latin American guerrilla groups,
especially the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement
(MRTA).
In 2000, government authorities continued to
arrest and prosecute active SL members, including,
in April, commander Jose Arcela Chiroque, a.k.a.
Ormeno. Counterterrorist operations targeted pockets
of terrorist activity in the Upper Huallaga River
Valley and the Apurimac/Ene River Valley, where
SL columns continued to conduct periodic attacks.
Activities
Conducted indiscriminate bombing campaigns and
selective assassinations. Detonated explosives
at diplomatic missions of several countries in
Peru in 1990, including an attempt to car-bomb
the US Embassy in December. SL continued in 2000
to clash with Peruvian authorities and military
units in the countryside and conducted periodic
raids on villages. Despite numerous threats, the
remaining active SL guerrillas were unable to
cause any significant disruption to the Peruvian
national elections held on 9 April.
Strength
Membership is unknown but estimated to be 100
to 200 armed militants. SL's strength has been
vastly diminished by arrests and desertions.
Location/Area of Operation
Peru, with most activity in rural areas.
External Aid
None.
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