Conflict and violence: the case of Sendero luminoso

1
Conflict and violence the case of Sendero
luminoso

• 31.03.2004

2
Readings

• Guzmán (1995) We Are the Initiators. (in Starn,
  Degregori, and Kirk)
• "Nicario" (1995) Memories of a Cadre. (in Starn,
  Degregori, and Kirk)
• Poole and Rénique (1992) The Shining Path. (in
  Peru Time of Fear. London Latin American Bureau)

3
Violence in South America

• Colombia
• most violent
• 83 murders per 100,000 inhabitants
• La Violencia (1948-58)
• State imposed violence
• Military dictatorships
• Human rights concerns
• Most countries at certain periods
• Especially Argentina, Chile, Peru
• Bolivia - 189 military coups during its
  independence
• Non-state actors
• Terrorist / guerilla organizations
• Generally leftist
• Paramilitary groups, vigilante groups
• Counterviolence
• Drug-related violence

4
Manuel Rodriguez Patriotic Front (FPMR)

• Chile
• armed wing of the Chilean Communist Party
• 1983
• 50 to 100

5
Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC)

• Colombia
• 1964
• the military wing of the
• Colombian Communist Party
• Aims
• Replacing the current government with a Marxist
  regime.
• Membership
• 9,000 to 12,000 armed combatants
• Spread
• Colombia, Venezuela, Panama, and Ecuador.
• peace negotiations with the Pastrana
  administration,
• granted the group several concessions

6
National Liberation Army (ELN)

• Colombia
• 1965
• formed by urban intellectuals
• inspired by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara
• Aims
• Replacing the current government
• with a Marxist regime
• Following
• 3,000 to 6,000 armed combatants
• Spread
• Rural and mountainous areas of north, northeast,
• southwest Colombia and Venezuela border regions.

7
United Self-Defense Forces (AUC-Autodefensas
Unidas de Colombia)

• Colombia
• autodefensas or paramilitares
• 1997
• Aims
• to protect its sponsors from insurgents.
• Membership
• 8,000 paramilitary fighters
• former military and insurgent personnel
• supported by economic elites, drug traffickers,
  and local communities lacking effective
  government security
• Spread
• northern and central Colombia

8
Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA)

• Peru
• 1983
• Inspiration from Cuba and Castro
• Aims
• Establishment of a Marxist regime
• expelling imperialist elements from Peru
• primarily U.S. and Japanese influence
• control of the Japanese Embassy in Lima (1997)
• Membership
• less than 100 militants

9
Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path)

• Peru
• Late 1960s
• Abimael Guzman
• Inspiration from Maoism,Jose Carlos Mariategui
• Aims
• Communist peasant revolutionary regime
• Opposition to any influence by foreign
  governments
• Opposition to other guerrilla groups
• especially MRTA
• Current membership
• 100-200 armed militants

10
Presentations

• Poole, D. and G. Rénique 1992. Peru Time of
  Fear. London Latin American Bureau.
• CONAIE - La Confederación de Naciones Indigenas
  del Ecuador