The shining Path's Goals and Beliefs
Abimael Guzman and the followers of the Shining Path were influenced by Marxist ideology. When Guzman later traveled to the countryside of China, he was influenced by Maoist theory. The Shining Path group was focused on left-wing politics and destroying existing political institutions. The group wanted to overthrow the government of Peru and eventually replace the democratic state with a communist regime.
The group's strategy was to use violence to hurt democratic institutions, scare citizens to participate with the government, hurt the economy of Peru, and to destabilize the aid and services that the government gave to citizens. The group attempts to hurt Peru and its government by targeting local authorities, police, and political leaders. Its target list expanded to include wealthy locals, state agency heads, and civilians also. The group often hacked its victims to death with machetes to save ammunition. The group also operated in the rural and remote jungle areas. Since 1983, the Shining Path killed as many as 11,000 civilians.
The Shining Path is not sponsored by any state and has no links to other terrorist groups. It claims that it is the only true communist revolutionary movement still remaining.
The group's strategy was to use violence to hurt democratic institutions, scare citizens to participate with the government, hurt the economy of Peru, and to destabilize the aid and services that the government gave to citizens. The group attempts to hurt Peru and its government by targeting local authorities, police, and political leaders. Its target list expanded to include wealthy locals, state agency heads, and civilians also. The group often hacked its victims to death with machetes to save ammunition. The group also operated in the rural and remote jungle areas. Since 1983, the Shining Path killed as many as 11,000 civilians.
The Shining Path is not sponsored by any state and has no links to other terrorist groups. It claims that it is the only true communist revolutionary movement still remaining.