Editing Shining Path (section)

==== 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 &#124; 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 &#124; 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" &#124; 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&nbsp;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" />