Peru's Shining Path rebel leader captured 'Alive'

Peru's military is announcing the capture of top rebel leader, "Comrade Artemio." Artemino is the leader of the Shining Path rebel group. Peruvian authorities say that he is badly wounded as a result of his capture but is receiving adequate medical care. 

LIMA, PERU (Catholic Online) - Officials announced last Friday that Artemio, whose real name is Florindo Flores, was wounded and captured on Thursday in the remote village of Puerto Pizana in the Upper Huallaga Valley. His capture represents a significant blow to the small guerilla group he commands.

Both Peruvian and US authorities have wanted Artemio for several years. Two years ago, the US offered a reward of five million dollars for any information leading to his capture. The Peruvian government has also offered its own reward of $350,000. 

Shining Path has labeled itself as a Marxist insurgency that funds its operations through the production and sale of drugs. They have carried out their plans using terrorist tactics including mass killings. The group still clashes regularly with police and army forces resulting in some 20 - 30 deaths per year. 

According to local authorities, Shining Path is notoriously responsible for the deaths of tens of thousands of people during its period of greatest activity between 1980 and 2000. Almost 70,000 people were killed or went missing because of their activities during that time. Shining Path was previously one of the most fearsome rebel movements in Latin America. 

Artemio is a self-described Marxist who previously declared that he badly wanted to change the system of government into a socialist regime, but during an interview last December, he admitted to reporters that at, "this moment that is not possible."

Following the admission, Artemio has reportedly been seeking a truce. However, the Peruvian government has refused to negotiate with Artemio who reportedly commanded a band of 150 fighters until his capture last week. Other leaders within the dying movement have not sought a truce with the government. 

The organization has been in steady decline since 1992, following the capture of its then leader, Abimael Guzman. The group is now split into two factions operating in different coca growing regions of the country. 

The Peruvian government believes the movement is in a steady state of decline and that its days are numbered. President Ollanta Humala has vowed to stamp out the movement entirely and appears to be inching closer to success. 

. 

---

'Help Give every Student and Teacher FREE resources for a world-class Moral Catholic Education'