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Abimael Guzman, the face of terror in Peru

Photo: AFP

16:00 | Lima, Sep. 11.

Shining Path terrorist organization ringleader Abimael Guzman Reinoso, who —for many years— was the most wanted terrorist in Peru with a US$1 million bounty on his head, died on Saturday morning.

Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) began illegal armed activities during presidential elections in May 1980 by burning ballot boxes in the Andean town of Chuschi (Ayacucho region), when the South American country was returning to democracy after a period of military rule.

Since then, the Philosophy professor went into hiding and led a war against the nation,

bringing death, causing thousands of disappearances, and destroying public property for over a decade.

According to Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Shining Path was the first group to perpetrate violence in the country and was responsible for 54% of reported deaths.

The terrorist organization used acts of extreme violence and unprecedented cruelty to frighten the population.

In 1990, the National Police of Peru created the Special Intelligence Group (GEIN) to capture the terror leaders.

Guzman was captured as he met with other members of Shining Path's central committee on September 12th, 1992, at Maritza Garrido Lecca's house in Lima's Surquillo district.

86-year-old Guzman had been serving his sentence at Callao Naval Base.

(END) FHG/VVS/MVB

Published: 9/11/2021

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Abimael Guzman, the face of terror in Peru

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