Sunday 1 February 2009

Peru News

A Peruvian navy officer has been sentenced to 20 years for the murder of a boy who was burnt alive in 1995. Three other officers were freed. His attackers suspected him of involvement with terrorism.

Here's the only English-language story I could find:
Peru navy officer gets 20 years for burning death (International Herald Tribune)

La Republica's story on the subject:
20 años de carcel a ex oficial de la Marina

And a personal reflection on the story from the blog of Susana Villaran (Span).

The BBC also has a story on the resurgence of Shining Path. All of the mainstream media seem to have run a "resurgence of Shining Path" article in the past few months... it makes sense I guess but they are all much of a muchness.
Recently the Shining Path has sprung back from relative obscurity to launch its most deadly attacks in more than a decade.

Yes, yes, we know.

As far as Gen Flores is concerned, it is not the same Maoist group which practically toppled the state in the early 1990s.

It is a breakaway group led by three brothers Jorge, Victor and Carlos Quispe Palomino, whom he accuses of being a drug-trafficking clan.

This is interesting. It's not so clear to me that the current hierarchy of Shining Path is really known, but I'll keep an eye out for these names. Sources seem to agree that they have moved into drug trafficking in a major way - whether to fund the political ideals or as a replacement for the revolutionary cause or a mixture of both remains to be seen.

Peru guerrillas tread a new path (BBC)

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