Peru: Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso), including its activities and negotiations with the government
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Publication Date | 7 March 2012 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | PER103966.FE |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Peru: Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso), including its activities and negotiations with the government, 7 March 2012, PER103966.FE, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4f97db812.html [accessed 2 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
1. Situation of the Shining Path
An article published by the Associated Press (AP) reports that [translation] "Comrade Artemio" is the leader of a Shining Path faction in the Huallaga valley, while [translation] "Comrade José" is the head of another in the Apurímac-Ene river valley (AP 8 Dec. 2011). These are key cocaine-producing regions in the country (ibid.; Al Jazeera 8 Dec. 2011). According to an article published by Le Figaro, a French newspaper, about a Peruvian television report broadcast by Frecuencia Latina in 2009, Comrade José has stated that his [translation] "organization is a new phase' of the party, with no ties to Abimael Guzman's Shining Path" (Le Figaro 26 May 2009). Guzman was the Shining Path's founder (Noticias24 1 Feb. 2012). He was arrested in 1992 (BBC 7 Dec. 2011; AP 8 Dec. 2011) and is serving a life sentence (The Guardian 8 Dec. 2011).
2. Shining Path's Activities
2.1 Shining Path's Criminal Activities
According to the Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010, published by the United States Department of State, the Shining Path is a "terrorist organization" involved in narcotics trafficking (U.S. 8 Apr. 2011, 1). The report further states that the Shining Path was responsible for "killings and other human rights abuses, including the recruitment of child soldiers, extortion, and intimidation" (ibid.). An article published by the Christian Science Monitor, an international news agency based in Boston, United States (n.d.), indicates that these groups obtain their funding through drug trafficking, bank robbery and extortion (The Christian Science Monitor 10 Jan. 2012).
According to two sources, although the Shining Path is no longer the threat it once was, Shining Path guerrilla groups who are active in the cocaine-producing regions continue to engage in "sporadic clashes" with police and soldiers (BBC 7 Dec. 2011; The Christian Science Monitor 10 Jan. 2012). An AP article published on 14 December 2011 and posted on the Aol Latino website reports that a soldier was killed and 12 others were wounded when soldiers were ambushed by the Shining Path. According to the Country Reports for 2010, Shining Path members were involved in 136 "terrorist acts" that resulted in the killings of 25 people (6 police officers, 9 soldiers and 10 civilians) in the Huallaga Valley region (U.S. 8 Apr. 2011, 4). From 2008 to November 2011, more than 50 members of the security forces were killed by the Shining Path (InSight Crime 30 Nov. 2011).
According to an AP article, the Shining Path formed an alliance with local drug trafficking groups (14 Dec. 2011; see also InSight Crime 30 Nov. 2011). During an interview with Radio Programas del Perú (RPP), an expert on drug trafficking stated that they had noted the presence of the Mexican Sinaloa cartel in Peru since January 2011 (NOTIMEX 9 Dec. 2011). He stated that the Mexican drug traffickers are working mainly with the faction headed by Comrade José (ibid.). Similarly, an article published by the Peru This Week website reports that Comrade José has been working with drug traffickers (10 Jan. 2012). According to the expert quoted by NOTIMEX, the members of this faction of the Shining Path offer protection in particular to drug laboratories and to drug traffickers and are involved in transporting cocaine (NOTIMEX 9 Dec. 2011). According to the AP article, this protection is offered to drug traffickers in exchange for money (14 Dec. 2011.).
An article published by InSight Crime-Organized Crime in the Americas, a website based in the United States and Colombia that deals with organized crime in Latin America and the Caribbean (n.d.), notes that "[e]ach time the troops strike a blow against the drug traffickers, the Shining Path reacts with a counterattack" (InSight Crime 30 Nov. 2011).
2.2 Shining Path's Political Activities
An article published by InSight Crime in January 2012 reports that the Movement for Amnesty and Fundamental Rights (Movimiento por amnistía y derechos fundamentales, Movadef) filed for political party status (19 Jan. 2012). According to two sources, the group has ties to the Shining Path (Enlace Nacional 2 Feb. 2012; Noticias24 1 Feb. 2012) and is led by two of the lawyers working for Abimael Guzman, also known as [translation] "President Gonzalo" to his followers (ibid.).
According to two sources, the Shining Path has infiltrated the country's universities and colleges (El Comercio 1 Feb. 2012; RPP 2 Feb. 2012). According to an article published by El Comercio, a Lima-based newspaper, a number of Shining Path leaders who had been imprisoned became teachers or university professors or joined the Unified Trade Union of Education Workers of Peru (Sindicato unitario de trabajadores en la educación del Perú, SUTEP) after they were released (El Comercio 1 Feb. 2012). Through Movadef, they are apparently trying to do political work by attempting to [translation] "obtain political amnesty for the Shining Path, by presenting it as a revolutionary group and by presenting the terrorists as political prisoners and Abimael Guzmán as a misunderstood philosopher" (ibid.).
On 1 February 2012, two sources reported that Movadef had cancelled its registration as a political party, explaining that [translation] "the State had launched a campaign of political persecution against communists and Marxists-Leninists-Maoists-Gonzalo thought" (Noticias24 1 Feb. 2012; Noticias Univisión 1 Feb. 2012). No other information on Movadef could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
3. Negotiations with the Government
A number of sources reported that, in December 2011, Comrade Artemio stated that the Shining Path had been defeated (BBC 7 Dec. 2011; AP 8 Dec. 2011) by the government (ibid; Al Jazeera 8 Dec. 2011). He announced a cease-fire by his faction and called for a military truce in order to begin negotiations with the government (AP 8 Dec. 2011; The Guardian 8 Dec. 2011; InSight Crime 19 Jan. 2012; BBC 7 Dec. 2011; CNN 7 Dec. 2011) with a view to a peace agreement (AP 8 Dec. 2011; Al Jazeera 8 Dec. 2011). However, he stated that the faction led by Comrade José would not participate in the truce (ibid.).
In February 2011, according to an article published in the Peruvian daily newspaper Diario Voces, members of the Shining Path led by Artemio distributed 2,000 brochures in the city of Juanjui announcing a cease-fire and a call for national reconciliation (Diario Voces 8 Feb. 2012). The article reports that these brochures contained statements that showed [translation] "the irreconcilable differences that exist" between them and the other Shining Path faction (ibid.).
Artemio stated that, although his group did not want to launch any further attacks, it would remain [translation] "on the defensive" in case they were attacked (AP 8 Dec. 2011). Artemio's group was prepared to lay down their weapons on the condition that the government be "serious about wanting to end the armed conflict" (BBC 7 Dec. 2011). Artemio offered to lay down weapons in exchange for the release of the Shining Path's founder (The Guardian 8 Dec. 2011) and other prisoners (CNN 7 Dec. 2011).
According to a CNN article, the Shining Path has made several attempts to begin negotiations with the Peruvian government since 2003 (7 Dec. 2011). Two other sources also mention unsuccessful attempts on the part of Comrade Artemio to contact the government (AP 8 Dec. 2011; InSight Crime 19 Jan. 2012). In a statement made to the media in December 2011, the Peruvian minister of defence [translation] "rejected" Comrade Artemio's call for negotiations, stating that [translation] "there is no possibility of negotiation with the government" (El Tribuno 8 Dec. 2011). For his part, Artemio considered the answer unacceptable, as he was asked for "unconditional surrender, laying down of arms, and coordinates for stockpiles" (CNN 7 Dec. 2011). He also stated that the government had offered him money to turn himself in, money that he could use to leave the country (ibid.).
4. Arrest of Artemio
According to a number of sources published in February 2012, Artemio was arrested (Peru This Week 12 Feb. 2012; Perú21 13 Feb. 2012; NOTIMEX 12 Feb. 2012; BBC 12 Feb. 2012). According to a BBC article, a confrontation took place on 9 February 2012 between the Shining Path and the [translation] "special forces," and Artemio was shot in the chest and in the hand (ibid.). According to the same source, Artemio was taken to a clinic, where he was given first aid (ibid.). However, he was then abandoned near a river by his soldiers (ibid.; Peru This Week 12 Feb. 2012), where the armed forces arrested him (NOTIMEX 12 Feb. 2012).
Quoted in an article published on 13 February 2012 by Noticias Univisión, a US Spanish-language news site, the technical secretary for the state legal defence council (secretaria técnica del consejo de Defensa Jurídica del Estado) announced that Artemio could be charged with [translation] "terrorism" and with drug trafficking if the investigation revealed [translation] "indications that [Artemio] was involved directly or through his armed group in illegal drug trafficking or property laundering." Quoted in the same article, the director of the Legal Defence Institute (Instituto de Defensa Legal) stated that there is a risk that [translation] "the other Shining Path faction led by Comrade José' will want to fill the void' left by [Artemio's] capture" (Noticias Univisión 13 Feb. 2012). According to the article, Artemio was taken to the police counter-terrorism office on 14 February for questioning (ibid.).
According to a number of sources, Walter Díaz Vega, alias "Freddy" or "Percy", allegedly took command of the Shining Path faction in the wake of Artemio's arrest (InSight Crime 5 Mar. 2012; The Andean Air Mail and Peruvian Times 6 Mar. 2012; Latin American Herald Tribune 6 Mar. 2012). Considered to be "Artemio's right-hand man" (ibid.), he was arrested in early March 2012 (InSight Crime 5 Mar. 2012; The Andean Air Mail and Peruvian Times 6 Mar. 2012). According to the director general of the police, he was responsible for organizing "an armed column to kill the (National Police) officers [who had] infiltrated [the group] to capture Artemio" (Latin American Herald Tribune 6 Mar. 2012; see also InSight Crime 5 Mar. 2012). Diaz Vega was imprisoned (The Andean Air Mail and Peruvian Times 6 Mar. 2012) and may be charged with multiple crimes (Latin American Herald Tribune 6 Mar. 2012).
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim for refugee protection. Please find below the list of sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Al Jazeera. 8 December 2011. "Leader of Shining Path Faction Admits Defeat."
Andean Air Mail and Peruvian Times [Lima]. 6 March 2012. "Peru Police Capture Shining Path Leader's Successor."
Associated Press (AP). 14 December 2011. "Perú: Un soldado muerto y 12 heridos por ataques rebeldes."
_____. 8 December 2011. "Perú: Líder senderista anuncia cese de ataques y pide tregua."
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). 12 February 2012. "El éxito de Humala ante Sendero Luminoso."
_____. 7 December 2011. "Peru's Shining Path Defeated, Rebel Leader Admits."
Cable News Network (CNN). 7 December 2011. Mariano Castillo. "Shining Path Leader Says It's Defeated."
The Christian Science Monitor [Boston]. 10 January 2012. Geoffrey Ramsey. "How Mexico's Zapatista Guerrillas Stayed Clear of Organized Crime."
_____. _____. N.d. "About the Christian Science Monitor."
El Comercio [Lima]. 1 February 2012. Hans Huerto Amado. "Qué le queda ahora al Movadef y Sendero: hablan los expertos."
Diario Voces [Tarapoto]. 8 February 2012. "Sendero Luminoso reparte volantes alusivos a su lucha en Juanjui."
Enlace Nacional. 2 February 2012. "Sendero Luminoso sigue activo' afirma Rubén Vargas, especialista en seguridad y narcotráfico."
Le Figaro. 26 May 2009. Julie Connan. "Pérou : les enfants-soldats du Sentier lumineux."
The Guardian. 8 December 2011. Dan Collyns. "Artemio Unmasked: Peru's Shining Path Commander Comes in From the Cold."
InSight Crime - Organized Crime in the Americas. 5 March 2012. Christopher Looft. "Peru Arrests 'Successor' to Captured Shining Path Leader."
_____. 19 January 2012. Christopher Looft. "Peru Govt Seeks to Block Shining Path from Politics."
_____. 30 November 2011. Hannah Stone. "Peru's Rebel Remnants Move Deeper into the Drug Trade."
_____. N.d. "About InSight - Organized Crime."
Latin American Herald Tribune. 6 March 2012. "Peruvian Police Capture Shining Path's New Leader."
Noticias24 [Venezuela]. 1 February 2012. "Movimiento guerrillero Sendero Luminoso desiste de convertirse en partido político."
Noticias Univisión. 13 February 2012. "Líder de Sendero Luminoso 'Artemio' puede ser acusado de narcotráfico."
_____. 1 February 2012. "Grupo ligado a Sendero Luminoso desiste de inscribirse como partido en Perú."
NOTIMEX, Agencia de Noticias del Estado Mexicano. 12 February 2012. "Capturan a líder de Sendero Luminoso en Perú."
_____. 9 December 2011. "Denuncian alianza del cártel de Sinaloa y Sendero Luminoso en Perú."
Perú21. 13 February 2012. "Capturan herido a "Artemio" y lo traen a Lima para juicio."
Peru This Week. 12 February 2012. Manuel Vigo. "Shining Path Leader Artemio Captured Alive in Peru."
_____. 10 January 2012. Manuel Vigo. "Shining Path Leaders Will Be Captured Soon, Says Peru's PM."
Radio Programas del Perú (RPP). 2 February 2012. "Advierten presencia de Sendero Luminoso en universidades del país."
El Tribuno [Salta, Argentina]. 8 December 2011. "Perú: gobierno descarta negociar con jefe de una facción de Sendero Luminoso."
United States. 8 April 2011. Department of State. "Peru." Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2010.
Additional Sources Consulted
Internet sites, including: Agencia Peruana de Noticias Andina; Andina News Agency; Amnesty International; Articuloz; Capital Humano y Social; Caretas; Courrier International; Diario Ojo; European Country of Origin Information Network; Freedom House; Hoy Perú; Human Rights Watch; Instituto Prensa y Sociedad; Inter-American Commission on Human Rights; International Relations and Security Network; Prensa; La República; United Nations — Refworld, ReliefWeb.
