Shining Path

Shining Path, also known as "Sendero Luminoso" or the Communist Party of Peru for the Shining Path of Jose Mariategui, is considered by many to be the world's most dangerous and violent terrorist organization (Shining Path, a/k/a�, 2000). The group derives its name from Mariategui, a dedicated Marxist, who once stated that Marxism was a "shining path to the future" (Shining Path, a/k/a�, 2000, p. 1). Shining Path has, however, a Maoist orientation and emerged as a splinter party of Peru's Communist bloc. Its goal is to destroy the existing Peruvian government and to establish an Indian-led social system; this goal is to be achieved via a rural-based insurgency, facilitating the formation of a peasant revolutionary regime (Shining Path, a/k/a/, 2000). This brief essay will consider the history, leadership, goals, tactics and targeting, and terrorist connections of Shining Path.

Brief Historical Overview of Shining Path

Shining Path was formed in the later 1960s by a university professor, Abimael Guzmam, with the stated intention of destroying Peru's government and public sector institution and replacing them with a peasant revolutionary regime while ridding Peru of "foreign" influences (Sendero Luminosa (SL)�, 2001). It was not until 1980, however, that Guzman declared an official "prolonged popular war" against the Peruvian government. Initially a small, geographically marginal guerilla group when it launched its activities on the eve of Peru's democratic

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ues to hold. Under his leadership, the connection between Shining Path and drug traffickers has been affirmed and enhanced, largely to acquire the funds needed to support guerilla activities. Guzman's ideological bent was distinctly Maoist - a view that continues to dominate the group under Durand (Shining Path, a/k/a/�, 2000). Describing the movement as an indigenous peasant revolutionary party, Guzman and his successors have called for the elimination of all existing Peruvian political institutions and the creation of a populist state. Guzman's thesis was that state-led capitalism would collapse, leading to the disintegration of democratic institutions in place since 1980; by leaping outside of the system, Shining Path would empower millions of marginalized Peruvians, educate them, create power vacuums, and install its own government (Izaguirre, 1996). Goals The primary goal of Shining Path remains fixed on achieving the original objectives espoused by Guzman (Izaguirre, 1996). Today, Guzman has called for an end to sabotage and guerilla activities and engagement in unarmed struggles; Durand, outside of prison, insists that the Party's only salvation rests upon a continuation of its armed activities, though with less inte

Category: Foreign - S