Formation of peasant patrols in the Canipaco Valley
In 1991, the obligatory formation of peasant patrols began in the Canipaco Valley, Junín, as part of the military counteroffensive against the Shining Path. The military summoned the inhabitants of each community to explain the need to organize these self-defense patrols.
The process of forming the peasant patrols in the Canipaco Valley began in 1991, after the installation of military bases in the region. The military gathered as many people as possible from each community and explained the reasons and needs for organizing the patrols. This formation was part of the state counter-offensive against the PCP-Sendero Luminoso, which had had a strong presence in the area since 1987. The installation of the military base in the Vista Alegre annex in 1990 had significantly reduced the presence of the PCP-SL throughout the area, and the peasant patrols complemented this territorial control strategy.