Peru in 1980 was beginning its first democratic election in twelve years. The last twelve years being spent under military rule. There were parties from the left and the right in contention . Not the ideal time to start a revolution? Abimael Guzman thought so . He couldn’t have been more correct. Accidently. A large “peasant” population, a transitional Democracy, corrupt police and a weary military made ripe the fruit of revolution .
Peru is dominated by two cultures, distinct in some ways and interwoven in others. The Amerindian, indigenous peoples descended from the conquered Incan empire, and the predominantly white descendants of their Spanish conquerors, who retain vestiges of European culture and religion . The rural, inland, and …show more content…
Now twelve years later he was back on the ballots. No matter who or which party won the election the military was out the door. As it happens Belaunde won . As a result of the coup a decade earlier , Belaunde feared the power of the military. He cut the military budget. Limited its intelligence capacity, and placed military commanders under the control of civilian bureaucrats. Many of which were ousted twelve years earlier for incompetence.
The military fearing to be relegated even more had done some “house cleaning” on its way out. The intelligence units of the military had been keeping files on the Shining Path. When the new government took over, those files were missing. Did the military leaders fear looking incompetent for not going after the radical SL ? Or were they possibly hoping for the chance to save the day ? Probably both . As attacks by SL increased over the next few years the military begged to be put into the fight. Sadly however, by the time the Democratic Government knew there was a fight it was a little …show more content…
Number 1 : the Shining Light took there cellular security very serious. Too serious. The cell leaders were the only ones that knew anyone else in the movement. This is a good idea for operational security. With a movement that was pre cell phones or internet however, it was like cutting the head off of a snake. If a cell leader was killed or captured that cell was all but useless. Number 2 : Guzman didnt “grow “ his grass roots support in Lima until much later in his campaign. During one of his early “Plenarys” he was accused of “Hoxism” by a member of his inner circle. “ Hoxism” asserts the right of nations to pursue socialism by different paths, dictated by the conditions in that country. The accusation of “Hoxism” caused, to a degree the Shining Path to put aside its semi-legal work in the cities until 1986. The MOTC, Movement of Laborers, Workers and peasants, the urban standard-bearer during those first months, was silently pushed to the side. Only in 1986 did the Shining Path begin to once again emphasize semi-legal and open actions, which were meant to increase their grass-roots support.
In September of 1992 Abimail Guzman was finally captured by military intelligence. After so many leaders being killed or captured and losing their main leader, the movement came to a halt. This was the bloodiest insurgency in South American history. The Shining Path killed thousands of people. Soldiers, police and
Peru is dominated by two cultures, distinct in some ways and interwoven in others. The Amerindian, indigenous peoples descended from the conquered Incan empire, and the predominantly white descendants of their Spanish conquerors, who retain vestiges of European culture and religion . The rural, inland, and …show more content…
Now twelve years later he was back on the ballots. No matter who or which party won the election the military was out the door. As it happens Belaunde won . As a result of the coup a decade earlier , Belaunde feared the power of the military. He cut the military budget. Limited its intelligence capacity, and placed military commanders under the control of civilian bureaucrats. Many of which were ousted twelve years earlier for incompetence.
The military fearing to be relegated even more had done some “house cleaning” on its way out. The intelligence units of the military had been keeping files on the Shining Path. When the new government took over, those files were missing. Did the military leaders fear looking incompetent for not going after the radical SL ? Or were they possibly hoping for the chance to save the day ? Probably both . As attacks by SL increased over the next few years the military begged to be put into the fight. Sadly however, by the time the Democratic Government knew there was a fight it was a little …show more content…
Number 1 : the Shining Light took there cellular security very serious. Too serious. The cell leaders were the only ones that knew anyone else in the movement. This is a good idea for operational security. With a movement that was pre cell phones or internet however, it was like cutting the head off of a snake. If a cell leader was killed or captured that cell was all but useless. Number 2 : Guzman didnt “grow “ his grass roots support in Lima until much later in his campaign. During one of his early “Plenarys” he was accused of “Hoxism” by a member of his inner circle. “ Hoxism” asserts the right of nations to pursue socialism by different paths, dictated by the conditions in that country. The accusation of “Hoxism” caused, to a degree the Shining Path to put aside its semi-legal work in the cities until 1986. The MOTC, Movement of Laborers, Workers and peasants, the urban standard-bearer during those first months, was silently pushed to the side. Only in 1986 did the Shining Path begin to once again emphasize semi-legal and open actions, which were meant to increase their grass-roots support.
In September of 1992 Abimail Guzman was finally captured by military intelligence. After so many leaders being killed or captured and losing their main leader, the movement came to a halt. This was the bloodiest insurgency in South American history. The Shining Path killed thousands of people. Soldiers, police and