Army War College (U.S.)

Charles R. DeWitt

Sendero Luminoso, or as it is more commonly known, the Shining Path, strikes a chord of fear in the hearts of the Peruvian people. To Sendero's supporters they are freedom fighters, but to the world community they are fanatic insurgents. Since 1980, Sendero Luminoso, under the leadership of Abimael Guzman, has used random acts of violence in an effort to dismantle the democratic government of Peru. The Indians, who occupy a remote geographical area of Peru, have been exploited for centuries and disregarded by their government. Guzman and his followers addressed the inequities and problems of the Indian population of this nation. Thus, Sendero Luminoso found fertile ground for its philosophy among the Indians and succeeded in building an effective revolutionary base. This organization could not only destroy the democratic institutions of Peru, but could serve as a catalyst for instability throughout the region. The United States, without becoming militarily involved in Peru's internal strife, needs to promote economic development and the growth of democratic political institutions in this region in order to preclude wholesale bloodshed if Sendero Luminoso achieves its goal.

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