Insurgent Peru, Emerging Peru. Notes on 40 Years of Armed Struggle 1963-2003

This work recounts the history and characterizes the acts perpetrated by Sendero Luminoso in a manner quite different from what most authors had accustomed us to. In the presentation of this book the author states: "Today the youngest, who only receive and know the version of the 'messianic delirium of Abimael Guzmán,' illustrated with examples of cruelty from the last twenty years, can effectively identify 'armed struggle' with 'murderous terrorism' (of course, one would have to forget that the independence of Peru was won against the Spanish through armed struggle). Today those who are not so young, and who know the history of the past half-century, can and must bear witness to the antecedents, causes, and effects of the struggles in Peru. Without letting their eyes be covered by the self-interested vision of those who want to reaffirm submission, kill all rebellion in the nest, and demonize consistent popular struggles. The demands and popular struggles will continue, surely, as long as the real situation of oppression and exploitation that is ours continues; and people will continue to demand the healthy life and fair treatment that everyone deserves. And the people will continue to fight with whatever means they can access, and it will always be so."