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=== Remnants (1993–present) === Guzmán's role as the leader of the Shining Path was taken over by [[Óscar Ramírez (terrorist)|Óscar Ramírez]] ("Comrade Feliciano"), who established ''Sendero Rojo'' (or PCP Pro-Seguir), aiming to reorganise the party and to continue the armed struggle while breaking with Guzmán, but not with his [[Gonzalo Thought|ideology]].<ref name="Vigara2019">{{cite journal |access-date=2023-09-05 |last=Vigara |date=2019 |doi=10.46661/americania.4912 |first=Miguel Jiménez |issn=2174-0178 |language=es |number=10 |pages=172–201 |periodical=Americanía: Revista de Estudios Latinoamericanos |title=Sendero Rojo o el Partido Comunista del Perú Marxista-Leninista-Maoísta (1992-1999) Ideología, Organización y Estrategia |url=https://www.upo.es/revistas/index.php/americania/article/view/4912 |doi-access=free |archive-date=2023-04-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230417090725/https://www.upo.es/revistas/index.php/americania/article/view/4912 |url-status=live }}<!-- auto-translated from Spanish by Module:CS1 translator --></ref> Together with Ramírez, [[Comrade Artemio|Florindo Eleuterio Flores Hala]], who controlled the Huallaga area, formed the initial leadership of the party. Sendero Rojo was disbanded after "Comrade Feliciano's capture in 1999.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Los múltiples Sendero Luminoso en el actual Perú |url=http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/bitstream/handle/10915/44799/Documento_completo.pdf?sequence=1 |access-date=2024-08-15 |archive-date=2024-12-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241208230013/http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/bitstream/handle/10915/44799/Documento_completo.pdf?sequence=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> After Ramírez's capture, the group further splintered, guerrilla activity diminished sharply, and peace returned to the areas where the Shining Path had been active.<ref name="activity">Rochlin, pp. 71–72.</ref> <timeline> ImageSize = width:600 height:100 PlotArea = width:90% height:80 left:10% bottom:20 AlignBars = justify Colors = id:SL value:rgb(1,1,0.7) # light yellow id:PS value:rgb(1,1,0.9) # very light yellow id:MP value:rgb(0.7,0.7,1) # light blue id:FH value:rgb(0.7,1,0.7) # light green id:FM value:rgb(1,0.7,0.7) # light red id:black value:black Period = from:1968 till:2025 TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal ScaleMajor = increment:10 unit:year start:1968 ScaleMinor = increment:1 unit:year start:2025 PlotData= align:center textcolor:black fontsize:7 mark:(line,black) bar:1 color:SL from: 1970 till: 1992 text: from: 1992 till: 1999 color: PS text: Pro-Seguir from: 1999 till: 2018 color:PS text: [[Militarized Communist Party of Peru|People's Revolutionary Army]] from: 2018 till: end color:MP text: [[Militarized Communist Party of Peru|MPCP]] bar:2 color:SL from: 1970 till: 1992 text:~ Shining Path (PCP-SL) from: 2001 till: end color:FH text:Huallaga faction bar:3 color:SL from: 1970 till: 1992 text:~ from: 2004 till: 2012 color:FM text:Mantaro faction </timeline> The three remaining splinter groups based themselves in the [[VRAEM]] area: *The "[[Militarized Communist Party of Peru|People's Guerrilla Army]]" (ERP)<ref name=Villasante/> led by the Quispe Palomino brothers ([[Comrade José|Víctor]] and [[Jorge Quispe Palomino|Jorge]]).<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /> *The "Communist Party of Peru – Red Mantaro Base Committee" (PCP-CBMR), established in 2001 as a base committee in the [[Mantaro Valley]] led by a "Comrade Netzel López Lozano".<ref>{{Cite news |title=Condena Fujimori atentado de Sendero Luminoso |date=2015-09-23 |url=https://vanguardia.com.mx/noticias/internacional/2844781-condena-fujimori-atentado-de-sendero-luminoso-KVVG2844781 |work=Vanguardia}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Perú |first=ONG de derechos humanos Waynakuna |title=La expansión ideológica del terrorista comité de base Mantaro rojo |url=https://waynakuna.blogspot.com/2018/04/la-expansion-ideologica-del-terrorista.html |access-date=2023-09-08 |website=ONG Waynakuna Perú}}</ref> *The "Communist Party of Peru – Huallaga Regional Committee" (PCP-CRH), a collective established in 2004 in the [[Huallaga Valley]] led by [[Comrade Artemio]].<ref name=":4" /><ref name=":6" /> ==== Temporary resurgence (2001–2009) ==== Although the organization's numbers had lessened by 2003,<ref name="activity" /> a militant faction of the Shining Path called ''Proseguir'' ("Onward") continued to be active.<ref>United States Department of State (2005). [https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2005/61738.htm Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Peru – 2005]. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> The group had allegedly made an alliance with the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]] (FARC) in the early 2000s, learning how to use rockets against aircraft.<ref name=":8" /> [[File:Flag of the PCP-CBMR.svg|thumb|right|Flag used by the Red Mantaro Base Committee (PCP-CBMR), established in 2001.]] On Tuesday, August 9, 2001, an armed shootout between Peruvian policemen and Shining Path guerrillas took place in [[Satipo province]]. Police forces had broken through a primary line of defence as part of a special operation while underestimating the group's numbers, who had coincidentally reunited and thus increased their numbers. This led to a shootout that lasted five hours and took the lives of four policemen and 12 ''senderistas''.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Perú: 16 muertos en enfrentamientos |date=2001-08-09 |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_1481000/1481436.stm |work=[[BBC News]]}}</ref> On 20 March 2002, a [[2002 Lima bombing|car bomb exploded outside the US embassy in Lima]] just before a visit by President [[George W. Bush]]. Nine people were killed, and 30 were injured; the attack was suspected to be the work of the Shining Path.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/1884762.stm "Peru bomb fails to deter Bush"]. [[BBC]]. 21 March 2002. Retrieved 14 April 2009.</ref> On 9 June 2003, a Shining Path group attacked a camp in Ayacucho and took 68 employees of the Argentinian company [[Techint]] and three police guards as hostages. They had been working on the [[Camisea Gas Project|Camisea gas pipeline project]] that would take natural gas from [[Cusco Region|Cusco]] to Lima.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9904E2DD1339F933A25755C0A9659C8B63 "Pipeline Workers Kidnapped"]. ''[[The New York Times]]'', 10 June 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> According to sources from Peru's Interior Ministry, the rebels asked for a sizable ransom to free the hostages. Two days later, after a rapid military response which involved a [[signals intelligence]] [[Embraer R-99|aircraft]] from the [[Brazilian Air Force]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/fsp/brasil/fc2109200326.htm|title=Jato da FAB ajuda a libertar reféns no Peru|author=Folha de S. Paulo|date=21 September 2003|access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/imprime/22972/|title=Esquadrão responsável pela vigilância da Amazônia completa 40 mil horas de voo|date=17 September 2015|access-date=7 November 2021}}</ref> the rebels abandoned the hostages; according to government sources, no ransom was paid.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/2980154.stm "Peru hostages set free"]. [[BBC]], 11 June 2003. Retrieved 17 January 2008.</ref> However, there were rumors that US$200,000 was paid to the rebels.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20050515162722/http://americas.org/item_8405 "Gas Workers Kidnapped, Freed"] Americas.org. Retrieved 17 January 2008</ref> Government forces have captured three leading Shining Path members. In April 2000, Commander [[José Arcela Chiroque]], called "Ormeño", was captured, followed by another leader, Florentino Cerrón Cardozo, called "Marcelo", in July 2003. In November of the same year, Jaime Zuñiga, called "Cirilo" or "Dalton", was arrested after a clash in which four guerrillas were killed and an officer was wounded.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3255911.stm "Peru Captures Shining Path Rebel."]. [[BBC News]], 9 November 2003. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> Officials said he took part in planning the kidnapping of the Techint pipeline workers. He was also thought to have led an ambush against an army helicopter in 1999 in which five soldiers died. In 2003, the Peruvian National Police broke up several Shining Path training camps and captured many members and leaders.<ref name=PGT2003>United States Department of State, Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism. 29 April 2004. [https://2001-2009.state.gov/s/ct/rls/crt/2003/31640.htm "Patterns of Global Terrorism: Western Hemisphere Overview"]. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> By late October 2003, there were 96 attacks in Peru, projecting a 15% decrease from the 134 kidnappings and armed attacks in 2002.<ref name=PGT2003/> Also for the year, eight<ref name="DRL2003">United States Department of State. 25 February 2004. [https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2003/27916.htm Country Reports on Human Rights Practices – 2003: Peru]. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> or nine<ref name=PGT2003/> people were killed by the Shining Path, and 6 ''senderistas'' were killed and 209 were captured.<ref name=PGT2003/> [[File:Artemioandfriends.jpg|thumb|right|[[Comrade Artemio]], now captured and serving a life sentence in prison]] In January 2004, a man known as [[Comrade Artemio]] and identifying himself as one of the Shining Path's leaders, said in a media interview that the group would resume violent operations unless the Peruvian government granted amnesty to other top Shining Path leaders within 60 days.<ref>Issue Papers and Extended Responses. [http://www2.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/research/rir/?action=record.viewrec&gotorec=437340 Available online] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206015221/http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/research/rir/?action=record.viewrec&gotorec=437340 |date=6 December 2008}}. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> Peru's Interior Minister, Fernando Rospigliosi, said that the government would respond "drastically and swiftly" to any violent action. In September that same year, a comprehensive sweep by police in five cities found 17 suspected members of a "Huallaga Regional Committee" ({{lang|es|Comité Regional Huallaga}}; CRH). According to the interior minister, eight of the arrested were school teachers and high-level school administrators.<ref>[http://www.larepublica.com.pe/component/option,com_contentant/task,view/id,53820/Itemid,0/ "En operativo especial capturan a 17 requisitoriados por terrorismo"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328171709/http://www.larepublica.com.pe/component/option,com_contentant/task,view/id,53820/Itemid,0/ |date=28 March 2008}}. ''[[La República (Peru)|La República]]'', 29 September 2004. Retrieved 16 January 2008. {{in lang|es}}</ref> Despite these arrests, the Shining Path continued to exist in Peru. On 22 December 2005, the Shining Path ambushed a police patrol in the [[Huánuco Region|Huánuco region]], killing eight.<ref>[https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D04E2D81430F931A15751C1A9639C8B63 "Rebels Kill 8 Policemen"]. ''The New York Times'', 22 December 2005. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> Later that day, they wounded an additional two police officers. In response, then President [[Alejandro Toledo]] declared a state of emergency in Huánuco and gave the police the power to search houses and arrest suspects without a warrant. On 19 February 2006, the Peruvian police killed Héctor Aponte, believed to be the commander responsible for the ambush.<ref>[http://www.larepublica.com.pe/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=103189&Itemid=2&fecha_edicion=2006-02-20 "Jefe militar senderista ‘Clay’ muere en operativo policial"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080328171820/http://www.larepublica.com.pe/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=103189&Itemid=2&fecha_edicion=2006-02-20 |date=28 March 2008}}. ''La República'', 20 February 2006. Retrieved 20 January 2008. {{in lang|es}}</ref> In December 2006, Peruvian troops were sent to counter renewed guerrilla activity, and according to high-level government officials, the Shining Path's strength has reached an estimated 300 members.<ref>[[The Washington Times]]. 12 December 2006. "Troops dispatched to corral guerrillas."</ref> In November 2007, police said they killed Artemio's second-in-command, a guerrilla known as JL.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7116301.stm "Peru police 'kill leading rebel'"]. [[BBC]]. Retrieved 13 January 2008.</ref> In September 2008, government forces announced the killing of five rebels in the [[Vizcatan]] region. This claim was subsequently challenged by the [[APRODEH]], a Peruvian human rights group, which believed that those who were killed were in fact local farmers and not rebels.<ref>[https://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN09325588 "Peru army may have killed farmers – rights group"]. [[Reuters]]. Retrieved 11 June 2009.</ref> That same month, Artemio gave his first recorded interview since 2006. In it, he stated that the Shining Path would continue to fight despite escalating military pressure.<ref>[https://www.usatoday.com/news/topstories/2008-09-18-2891478017_x.htm "Peru rebel leader refuses to lay down arms"]. AP. Retrieved 11 June 2009.</ref> In October 2008, in [[Huancavelica Region]], the guerrillas engaged a military convoy with explosives and firearms, demonstrating their continued ability to strike and inflict casualties on military targets. The conflict resulted in the death of 12 soldiers and two to seven civilians.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7664107.stm "Peru rebels launch deadly ambush'"]. [[BBC]]. Retrieved 11 June 2009.</ref><ref>[http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/10/international/i081213D15.DTL "Peru says 14 killed in Shining Path attack"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081011191325/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fn%2Fa%2F2008%2F10%2F10%2Finternational%2Fi081213D15.DTL |date=11 October 2008}}. Associated Press. Retrieved 11 June 2009.</ref> It came one day after a clash in the Vizcatan region, which left five rebels and one soldier dead.<ref>[http://www.chinapost.com.tw/international/americas/2008/10/11/178195/1-Peruvian.htm "1 Peruvian soldier, 5 rebels killed in military campaign"]. Associated Press. Retrieved 11 June 2009.</ref> In November 2008, the rebels utilized hand grenades and automatic weapons in an assault that claimed the lives of 4 police officers.<ref>[https://archive.today/20120903130159/http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5jhH0I44QVP2nNc9pM0bXZUkgxkvg "Peru's Shining Path kill four police in ambush"]. AFP. Retrieved 11 June 2009.</ref> In April 2009, the Shining Path ambushed and killed 13 government soldiers in Ayacucho.<ref name="Rebels kill 13 soldiers in Peru">[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7995524.stm "Rebels kill 13 soldiers in Peru"]. BBC. Retrieved 12 April 2009.</ref> Grenades and dynamite were used in the attack.<ref name="Rebels kill 13 soldiers in Peru"/> The dead included eleven soldiers and one captain, and two soldiers were also injured, with one reported missing.<ref name="Rebels kill 13 soldiers in Peru"/> Poor communications were said to have made relay of the news difficult.<ref name="Rebels kill 13 soldiers in Peru" /> The country's Defense Minister, [[Antero Flores Aráoz]], said many soldiers "plunged over a cliff".<ref name="Rebels kill 13 soldiers in Peru" /> His prime minister, [[Yehude Simon]], said these attacks were "desperate responses by the Shining Path in the face of advances by the armed forces" and expressed his belief that the area would soon be freed of "leftover terrorists".<ref name="Rebels kill 13 soldiers in Peru" /> In the aftermath, a Sendero leader called this "the strongest [anti-government] blow{{nbsp}}... in quite a while".<ref name="Shining Path rebels stage comeback in Peru">{{cite news|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/04/21/peru.shining.path/index.html|title=Shining Path rebels stage comeback in Peru|date=21 April 2009|access-date=24 April 2009|publisher=CNN}}</ref> In November 2009, Defense Minister [[Rafael Rey]] announced that Shining Path militants had attacked a military outpost in southern Ayacucho province. One soldier was killed and three others wounded in the assault.<ref>[https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sdut-peru-rebels-attack-army-outpost-killing-1-soldier-2009nov05-story.html "Peru rebels attack army outpost, killing 1 soldier"]. [[Associated Press]]. Retrieved 4 January 2022.</ref> ==== Continued downfall ==== On 28 April 2010, Shining Path rebels in Peru ambushed and killed a police officer and two civilians who were destroying coca plantations of Aucayacu, in the central region of Haunuco, Peru. The victims were gunned down by sniper fire coming from the thick forest as more than 200 workers were destroying coca plants.<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8648299.stm "Peru rebels ambush and kill coca plantation clearers".] BBC, 28 April 2010</ref> Following the attack, the Shining Path faction, based in the Upper Huallaga Valley of Peru and headed by Florindo Eleuterio Flores Hala, alias Comrade Artemio, was operating in survival mode and lost 9 of their top 10 leaders to Peruvian National Police-led capture operations. Two of the eight leaders were killed by PNP personnel during the attempted captures. The nine arrested or killed Shining Path (Upper Huallaga Valley faction) leaders include Mono (Aug. 2009), Rubén (May 2010), Izula (Oct. 2010), Sergio (Dec. 2010), Yoli/Miguel/Jorge (Jun. 2011), Gato Larry (Jun. 2011), Oscar Tigre (Aug. 2011), Vicente Roger (Aug. 2011), and Dante/Delta (Jan. 2012).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elcomercio.pe/peru/653636/noticia-senderistaizula-responsable-secuestro-asesinato-40-civiles |title=Senderista 'Izula' es responsable del secuestro y asesinato de 40 civiles | El Comercio Perú |publisher=Elcomercio.pe |date=13 October 2010 |access-date=26 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602084111/http://elcomercio.pe/peru/653636/noticia-senderistaizula-responsable-secuestro-asesinato-40-civiles |archive-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://elcomercio.pe/peru/691519/noticia-policia-nacional-capturo-cabecilla-terroristasergio-alto-huallaga |title=Policía Nacional capturó a cabecilla terrorista 'Sergio' en el Alto Huallaga | El Comercio Perú |publisher=Elcomercio.pe |date=30 December 2010 |access-date=26 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602033457/http://elcomercio.pe/peru/691519/noticia-policia-nacional-capturo-cabecilla-terroristasergio-alto-huallaga |archive-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.pnp.gob.pe/direcciones/dircote/logros.html |title=Policía Nacional del Perú |publisher=Pnp.gob.pe |access-date=26 April 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121024061407/http://www.pnp.gob.pe/direcciones/dircote/logros.html |archive-date=24 October 2012}}</ref> This loss of leadership, coupled with a sweep of Shining Path (Upper Huallaga Valley) supporters executed by the PNP in November 2010, prompted Comrade Artemio to declare in December 2011 to several international journalists that the guerrilla war against the Peruvian Government has been lost and that his only hope was to negotiate an amnesty agreement with the Government of Peru.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://elcomercio.pe/politica/1344679/noticia-entrevista-camaradaartemio-no-vamos-realizar-mas-ataques |title=Entrevista con senderista 'Artemio': "No vamos a realizar más ataques" | El Comercio Perú |publisher=Elcomercio.pe |date=7 December 2011 |access-date=26 April 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602164832/http://elcomercio.pe/politica/1344679/noticia-entrevista-camaradaartemio-no-vamos-realizar-mas-ataques |archive-date=2 June 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> On 12 February 2012, Comrade Artemio was found badly wounded after a clash with troops in a remote jungle region of Peru. President [[Ollanta Humala]] said the capture of Artemio, nicknamed ''Operation Crepúsculo'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cayó "Artemio": Operación Crepúsculo |url=https://panamericana.pe/panorama/politica/101121-cayo-artemio-operacion-crepusculo |access-date=2023-09-05 |website=Panamericana Televisión}}</ref> marked the defeat of the Huallaga faction, located in a central area of cocaine production. President Humala has stated that he would now step up the fight against the remaining bands of Shining Path rebels in the Ene-Apurímac valley.<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17005739 |work=BBC News |title=Peru Shining Path leader Comrade Artemio captured |date=13 February 2012}}</ref> Walter Diaz, the lead candidate to succeed Artemio,<ref name="iiqvz">{{cite web|author=Christopher Looft|title=Peru Arrests 'Successor' to Captured Shining Path Leader|url=http://insightcrime.org/insight-latest-news/item/2307-peru-arrests-successor-to-captured-shining-path-leader |date=5 March 2012|access-date=6 March 2012}}{{dead link|date=May 2016|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> was captured on 3 March,<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17253453 |work=BBC News |title=Peruvian police capture 'Shining Path boss' Walter Diaz |date=4 March 2012}}</ref> further ensuring the disintegration of the Alto Huallaga valley faction.<ref name="iiqvz" /> On 3 April 2012, Jaime Arenas Caviedes, a senior leader in the group's remnants in Alto Huallaga Valley<ref name="uuooboov" /> who was also regarded to be the leading candidate to succeed Artemio following Diaz's arrest,<ref>[http://insightcrime.org/insight-latest-news/item/2444-peru-arrests-comrade-artemios-right-hand-man] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120412015116/http://insightcrime.org/insight-latest-news/item/2444-peru-arrests-comrade-artemios-right-hand-man|date=12 April 2012}}</ref> was captured.<ref name="uuooboov">{{cite news| url=http://www.peruviantimes.com/05/peru-captures-shining-path-leader-in-upper-huallaga/15474/| work=Peruvian Times| title=Peru Captures Shining Path Leader In Upper Huallaga| author=Andean Air Mail & Peruvian Times| date=5 April 2012| access-date=5 April 2012}}</ref> After Caviedes, alias "Braulio",<ref name="uuooboov" /> was captured, Humala declared that the Shining Path was now unable to operate in the Alto Huallaga Valley.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-17633498|work=BBC News|title=Shining Path 'defeated' in Alto Huallaga stronghold|date=6 April 2012|access-date=4 June 2012}}</ref> Shining Path rebels carried out an attack on three helicopters being used by an international gas pipeline consortium on 7 October, in the central region of Cusco.<ref>{{cite news|title=Peru rebels burn helicopters at jungle airfield|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-19858757|publisher=BBC|access-date=9 October 2012|work=BBC News|date=7 October 2012}}</ref> According to the military Joint Command spokesman, Col. Alejandro Lujan, no one was kidnapped or injured during the attack.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rebels Burn 3 Helicopters in Peru |url=https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rebels-burn-helicopters-peru-17413345 |publisher=ABC News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121007063357/https://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/rebels-burn-helicopters-peru-17413345 |archive-date=7 October 2012}}</ref> The capture of Artemio effectively ended the war between Shining Path and the Government of Peru.<ref name=":3" /> Comrade Artemio was convicted of terrorism, drug trafficking, and money laundering on 7 June 2013. He was sentenced to life in prison and a fine of $183 million.<ref>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-22821052 "Peru's Shining Path leader jailed for life for terrorism."] BBC News. 7 June 2013. Retrieved 11 August 2013.</ref> On 11 August 2013, [[Comrade Alipio]], the Shining Path's leader in the Ene-Apurímac Valley, was killed in a battle with government forces in Llochegua.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/Special/2013/08/13/Peru-captures-Sendero-Luminosos-No-2-man-Comrade-Alipio/UPI-53221376426270/ |title=Alejandro Borda Casafranca, 2 other Senderistas killed in Peru |work=United Press International |date=13 August 2013 |access-date=26 April 2014}}</ref> On 9 April 2016, on the eve of [[2016 Peruvian general election|the country's presidential elections]], the Peruvian government blamed remnants of the Shining Path for a guerrilla attack that killed eight soldiers and two civilians.<ref>[http://www.ticotimes.net/2016/04/11/death-toll-climbs-10-peru-guerrilla-attack "Death toll climbs to 10 in Peru guerrilla attack on election eve"] Tico Times. 11 April 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2016.</ref> Shining Path snipers killed three police officers in the Ene Apurimac Valley on 18 March 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.insightcrime.org/news-briefs/recent-attack-police-shows-shining-path-still-strong|title=Recent Attack on Peru Police Shows Shining Path Still Strong|last=Goi|first=Leonardo|website=www.insightcrime.org|language=en-gb|access-date=1 July 2017}}</ref> In a document 400 pages in length recovered from a mid-level Shining Path commander and analyzed by the Counter-Terrorism Directorate ([[DIRCOTE]]) of the National Police, the Shining Path planned to initiate operations against the Government of Peru that included killings and surprise attacks beginning in 2021, the bicentennial of Peru's independence.<ref name=":5" /> Objectives were created to first attack public officials, then regain lost territory and then finally overthrow the government.<ref name=":5" /> ==== VRAEM stronghold ==== Into the 2020s, Shining Path has existed in remaining splinter groups.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="activity" /> The main remaining group, called the [[Militarized Communist Party of Peru]] (MPCP) of about 450 individuals remained in the [[Valle de los Ríos Apurímac, Ene y Mantaro]] (VRAEM) region, reportedly making revenue by escorting cocaine traffickers and are reportedly led by two brothers; Víctor and [[Jorge Quispe Palomino]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" /> The MPCP has attempted to recharacterize themselves to distance itself from the original Shining Path groups that had attacked rural communities in the area, describing Guzmán as a traitor.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /> According to [[InSight Crime]], Shining Path's stronghold in the VRAEM, headquartered in Vizcatán, is a similar strategy as the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]].<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=20 March 2017|title=Recent Attack on Peru Police Shows Shining Path Still Strong|url=https://www.insightcrime.org/news/brief/recent-attack-police-shows-shining-path-still-strong/|access-date=4 December 2020|website=[[InsightCrime]]}}</ref> Another notable splinter group called the Communist Party of Peru – Red Mantaro Base Committee (PCP-CBMR),<ref>{{cite web |title=The dangerous network of Sendero Luminoso in Peru and abroad |url=https://larazon.pe/la-peligrosa-red-de-sendero-luminoso-en-peru-y-el-exterior/ |website=La Razón |date=20 April 2018 |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> which remains loyal to Abimael Guzman,<ref>{{cite web |title=In Defense of Gonzalo Thought! |url=https://mantarorojo.blogspot.com/2011/01/en-defensa-del-pensamiento-gonzalo.html |website=Mantaro Rojo |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> also operates in the VRAEM region. According to the human rights organization Waynakuna Peru, the PCP-CBMR has infiltrated schools in the area setting up "Popular Schools" to spread the group's propaganda.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sendero Indoctrinates Children In Popular Schools |url=https://waynakuna.blogspot.com/2017/10/sendero-adoctrina-ninos-en-escuelas.html |website=Waynakuna |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> The group has in the past signed documents<ref>{{cite web |title=Joint Declaration: The international unity of the communists demands the defeat of revisionism and centrism! |url=https://cedema.org/digital_items/4754 |website=CeDeMA |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> with the [[Communist Party of Ecuador – Red Sun]]. Following a five-year intelligence operation that began in 2015 and was codenamed Operation Olimpo, 71 alleged members of the Shining Path's United Front and People's Guerrilla Army were arrested on 2 December 2020.<ref name=":7" /> Alfredo Crespo, the secretary general of MOVADEF and Guzmán's former lawyer, was included among those arrested.<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 December 2020|title=Estos son los videos y audios que demuestran cómo Sendero se reinventó en Movadef {{!}} POLITICA|url=https://peru21.pe/politica/estos-son-los-videos-y-audios-que-demuestran-como-sendero-se-reinvento-en-movadef-noticia/|access-date=5 December 2020|website=[[Peru21]]|language=es}}</ref> Operation Olimpo included 752 military personnel and 98 government prosecutors that utilized evidence obtained through wiretapping, undercover agents and surveillance.<ref name=":7" /> Those arrested were charged with operating shell operations to initiate terrorist activities in Callao and Lima.<ref name=":7" />
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