A Sea Of Red

An issue that has always been near to my heart, for I've known many who have been killed by the guerilla violence (and having traveled to the areas myself). I'm glad to see at last peace will reign. It's such a beautiful place.

Artemio unmasked: Peru's Shining Path commander comes in from the cold
The ruthless fugitive agrees to let his face be shown for the first time as he calls for an amnesty

Dan Collyns
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 8 December 2011 04.46 EST

Comrade Artemio: 'We were guilty of abuses and mistakes'.
On the eastern slopes of the Andes the fast-flowing brown waters of the Huallaga river descend into the Amazon rainforest. Here the high altitude and warm climate of the broad valley create ideal conditions for growing coca, the leaf used to make cocaine. In the 1980s and 90s Colombian drug barons colluded with the Peruvian armed forces to cultivate and export tonnes of coca from the region.

Florindo Eleuterio Flores-Hala, known by the nom de guerre of Artemio, controlled the Upper Huallaga valley. To Peruvians he is a folk legend: loathed and respected in equal measure. As the commander of the Huallaga faction of the brutal communist guerrilla movement the Shining Path, he had a bloodthirsty reputation and a long reach.

He is now the only member of the Maoist-inspired faction's central committee who is still alive and at large. The movement's supreme leader, Abimael Guzman, known as "Presidente Gonzalo" to his fanatical followers, was caught in 1992, starting the group's rapid decline. He is serving a life sentence, as is his partner, Elena Iparaguirre.

Following the death last month of the leader of Colombia's Farc guerrillas, Alfonso Cano, Artemio can lay claim to being the last of a generation of Latin American guerrilla leaders. He is also one of the US's most-wanted men – the state department's Narcotics Rewards Programme offers a $5m reward for information leading to his arrest or conviction. As a result, Artemio is not an easy man to get hold of – he last spoke to the international media in 2004. Now, for the first time, he has agreed to let his face be shown.

More at: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/de ... -commander

Interesting read, jbock. I feel a little more enlightened on Peru.

Yeah I knew it was something few on here would care about, but I felt it was important that the terror that has long been afflicted upon civilians in the Andes has come to an end. Armetio has so much blood on his hands, simply because the Communist Party couldn't win? Of course, Guzman created the group but after his capture, Armetio rose through the ranks.

Basically they terrorize police, tourists, rival communist groups, etc. The Peruvian Government hasn't really been able to crack down on them until last year really. I remember when I was in Lima watching "cuarto poder" (sort of a Peru version of 60 Minutes) and seeing the tactics they used, ranging from murdering families to blowing up cliffs to cause rockslides that would block roads. I think with their defeat Peru has become a much more safer place. Lima always is, Cuzco usually is, but other places aren't so much. It just means a lot to me that this monster has finally seen the error of his ways.

That and to actually reveal his face, and open up to reporters, is in stark contrast with 35 years of Sendero's policy. Typically, international reports would be killed. Even Peruvian reporters were pretty much relegated to pressure of ammunition all around then (note that in the video interview with Armetio, a circle of armed asked bodyguards still surrounds him.)

I honestly though Shining Path had gone by the wayside in early 2000's. Glad to see things are changing.

They rose under Artemio after Guzman was captured in 1992. But between 1992-2000 they were isolated in nature. During this time, they actually began attacking places in Lima, but it was never their goal nor their aim. After Artemio came to lead, they moved back to the Andes.

jbock13 wrote:They rose under Artemio after Guzman was captured in 1992. But between 1992-2000 they were isolated in nature. During this time, they actually began attacking places in Lima, but it was never their goal nor their aim. After Artemio came to lead, they moved back to the Andes.

I remember going to the Andes in 1991 and that was how I had heard of them. Although we were on the Rgentine side we were told to be careful. I told them its not my fault their team can't guard me!

Yeah they regulate themselves mainly to places between Huanuco to Cuzco, but with some exception. Peru doesn't border Argentina, it borders Brazil and Bolivia. (so I can't help as to tell where you went). They did attack a parade in Puno about 2 years ago on Independence Day but that's the only attack to speak of near the Bolivian border. Lately they've only been regulated to Huanuco/Tarma area and the Upper Huallaga Valley (which is where they cultivate their contraband).

No it was the Chilean border on the Andes. I just remember being warned about them. And here I thought I had to worry about Nazi refugee's!