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Colombian rebels beat path to Peru
The Shining Path has never been that friendly to journalists, so trying to make contact is very difficult. In Lima I met members of left-wing parties that have traditionally had links with the Shining Path, and put out the word that I wanted to contact the guerrillas who in the early 1990s brought Peru to its knees. When the Shining Path leader, Abimael Guzman - known as President Gonzalo - was captured in 1993, the rebel movement all but collapsed. But recently they have become active again, kidnapping and invading villages to force the local population to listen to their communist rhetoric. Yet when a contact finally came forward, it was not from the Peruvian but from the Colombian guerrillas. "I hear that you are based in Colombia and that you know my boss," said an intense looking man known as 'El Flaco', meaning the thin one. He was not from the Shining Path, but rather Latin Americaâs most powerful rebel group, the FARC, or Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, with whom I had spent a great deal of time over the years. I was surprised by his presence in Peru, and shocked by his message. "There are many of us here, from the Bolivarian Movement," he said, referring to the FARCâs political wing. We are recruiting Peruvians for the revolution, and now have almost 1000 former members of the Shining Path." The FARC control almost 40% of the country, but it is mostly the low lying jungles of the Amazon where there are few people. But under pressure from the Colombian army, which is backed by US helicopters and intelligence, the guerrillas have established camps in all the neighbouring counties: Peru, Venezuela, Brazil, Ecuador and Panama. Colombiaâs war is in danger of becoming much of South Americaâs war. The political situation in South America could not be better for the Marxist rebels of the 20,000-strong FARC. In Bolivia, the US-backed president was overthrown, and one of the fastest rising new politicians is vehemently anti-American and wants to legalise drug production. Venezuelaâs president has been accused of supporting Colombiaâs guerrillas and is allied to Americaâs old enemy, Fidel Castro of Cuba. The presidents of Peru and Ecuador - both US allies - are facing low levels of support and street protests. "Our time is coming," said El Flaco, his eyes burning with fervour. "The revolution will sweep through Latin America, and the gringos will be sent back home." With that he shook my hand and strode out of the hotel, leaving behind some guerrilla propaganda. I never did find the Shining Path. After meeting El Flaco, there seemed no point. Posted by: Paul Moloney 2004-02-07 |
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