Carved in Stone. The Women of Shining Path

"When I began to write these pages in 1991, few were paying attention to the presence of women in Sendero Luminoso. Although their importance was revealed to me simply through analysis of recent press reports on subversive actions, the participation of women was for others always a subordinate phenomenon. Lured by men, deceived by men, manipulated by men. The dominant image was that of a woman lacking political vision and used as an instrument by these violent, psychopathic, bloodthirsty men. These women were far from subordinate, far from stupid. In fact many were quite intelligent and had thought long and deeply about the personal and political consequences underlying their decision to join Sendero Luminoso. With some of them I had long and complicated political discussions. With others I felt an immediate horror upon hearing them sing the hackneyed slogans of praise for carnage, intolerance, and terror." Robin Kirk.