1960s, but first represented a sizable threat in the 1980s. Between 1980 and 2000 the
revolutionary group reached its peak and terrorized the country in many ways. The
purpose of the revolutionary movement originated in an attempt to overthrow the current
political regime and then install a communist philosophy in Peru (Shining Path). The
Shining Path’s leader was a philosophy professor by the name of Abimael Guzman.
Guzman was able to secure a small army of approximately ten thousand followers at its
peak (Gregory). The army was tasked with carrying out terrorist attacks to attract
government attention. According to the Council on Foreign Relations, the Shining Path’s
plan “was to use violence to bring down Peru’s democratic government, disrupt the
economy, destroy the state’s reputation among the peasantry and, ultimately, ruin its
reputation among the population in general.” (Gregory). This plan directly interfered with
the rights of Peru’s indigenous people. Citizens had a right to an elected governance that
should stand supreme regardless of opposing views. Peruvians also had the right to
whatever economic situation they were in. In other words, no internal group of radicals
should have the freewill to hurt the economy in order to send a message and ultimately
overthrow the government. The Shining Path’s mission was in direct conflict with both the
country and its citizen’s rights.
The Shining Path was able to achieve their mission in a number of ways. Primarily, as they
expanded so did their reign of terror causing economic disruption, fear among the
country’s population, and a lessened view of the government which was either perceived
as unable or unwilling to effectively halt an internal threat (Shining Path). The next way
that the Shining Path was able to reach their desired results was by weakening the
government. The government was focused on stopping an organization of communist
outlaws therefore had to focus less efforts on other matters of importance. Along with
detracting attention from the government, the group was also able to lighten its pockets.
An article in the Journal of Interamerican Studies and World Affairs estimates that the feud
between the Peruvian Government and the Shining Path cost the government in excess of
$10 billion (Shining Path). Lastly, Guzman’s mission was reached by lessening the divide
between classes. By murdering up to 70,000 people, the militia eliminated targets that they
wanted out of existence (Shining Path). As a result of these actions, the Shining Path was
