ORIGINS OF TERRORISM IN PERÚ WITH SENDERO LUMINOSO (SHINING PATH) AND THE TUPAC'S AMARU REVOLUTIONARY MOVEMENT (MRTA)

Peru has a long history of political violence and terrorism, with two groups standing out in particular: Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) and the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA). These two groups emerged in the 1980s, during a period of social and political upheaval in Peru, and were responsible for numerous acts of terrorism, including bombings, assassinations, and kidnappings.

Sendero Luminoso was founded in 1980 by Abimael Guzman, a former philosophy professor. Guzman was influenced by the teachings of Mao Zedong and believed that a violent revolution was necessary to bring about social change in Peru. The group was initially based in the Ayacucho region of southern Peru, which was one of the poorest and most marginalized areas of the country.

The group began its campaign of violence in earnest in 1983, with a series of bombings in the capital city of Lima. The group's tactics were brutal and indiscriminate, targeting civilians as well as government officials and military personnel. Sendero Luminoso also carried out a number of high-profile kidnappings, including that of the American citizen Lori Berenson in 1995.

The group's ideology was a mix of Maoism and Peruvian nationalism, and it sought to establish a communist state in Peru. Sendero Luminoso also rejected the legitimacy of the Peruvian government and sought to overthrow it through violent means. The group gained a significant following among the rural poor, who were drawn to its anti-government message and promises of land reform.

The Peruvian government responded to Sendero Luminoso's campaign of violence with a heavy-handed counterinsurgency campaign. The military was given broad powers to detain and interrogate suspected terrorists, and the government also implemented a number of draconian measures, such as curfews and censorship of the press. The government's tactics were often brutal and indiscriminate, and they led to widespread human rights abuses.

The MRTA, on the other hand, was a Marxist guerrilla group that was founded in 1984. The group's goals were similar to those of Sendero Luminoso: it sought to overthrow the Peruvian government and establish a socialist state. The MRTA was more focused on urban areas, and its tactics included bombings and kidnappings.

The group gained international attention in 1996, when it seized the Japanese embassy in Lima and took over 70 hostages. The siege lasted for 126 days, and it ended when the Peruvian military stormed the building. One hostage and all of the MRTA militants were killed in the operation.

The origins of terrorism in Peru are complex and multifaceted. The country's long history of poverty, social inequality, and political corruption created fertile ground for extremist groups like Sendero Luminoso and the MRTA to take root. These groups were also influenced by the wider ideological currents of the Cold War, which saw Marxist and communist movements gain traction in many parts of the world.

The government's response to these groups was also a factor in the escalation of violence. The heavy-handed tactics used by the military and police often led to human rights abuses and created a sense of resentment among the civilian population. This, in turn, created a cycle of violence that was difficult to break.

Today, both Sendero Luminoso and the MRTA are largely inactive, but the legacy of their violence lives on. The scars of Peru's decades-long conflict are still visible in the country's political landscape and its society as a whole. The country has made significant strides in recent years to address some of the underlying issues that gave rise to these groups, but there is still much work to be done to ensure a peaceful and stable future for all Peruvians.

Reference: Murga-Pizarro, R. (1990). PCP-Sendero Luminoso/MRTA: apuntes sobre sus orígenes y principales diferencias ideológicas. Advocatus, (001), 69-72.