Internal conflict in Peru

Quick Facts: Who was Internal conflict in Peru?

Subject:

Internal conflict in Peru

Known for:

Armed conflict in Peru between the government and Maoist groups like Shining Path.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

The internal conflict in Peru is an armed conflict between the Government of Peru and the Maoist guerrilla group Shining Path. The conflict's main phase began on 17 May 1980 and ended in December 2000. From 1982 to 1997 the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) waged its own insurgency as a Marxist–Leninist rival to the Shining Path. As fighting intensified in the 1980s, Peru had one of the worst human rights records in the Western Hemisphere and experienced thousands of forced disappearances while both the Peruvian Armed Forces and Shining Path acted with impunity, sometimes massacring entire villages. Fifty thousand to 70,000 people were killed, making it the bloodiest war in the country's independent history.

Career & Major Achievements

This includes many civilians who were targeted by all factions. The Indigenous peoples were disproportionately attacked, with 75% of those killed speaking Quechua as their native language. The conflict is characterized by multiple serious violations of human rights. Since 2000, the number of deaths has dropped significantly, with the conflict becoming somewhat dormant. The economy and demographic makeup of Peru by the 20th century left a space for the Maoist politics of the Shining Path to enter.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Over 40% of the population were part of the rural peasantry, overwhelmingly from an indigenous background that lived in chronic poverty which established a support base for the Shining Path. In addition, the movement of the initially left-wing American Popular Revolutionary Alliance toward the right opened a vacuum for Marxist revolutionary thought. The first guerrilla outbreaks arose in Peru in the early 1960s, during the Moderate Civil Reform, when the Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR), a guerrilla group founded and led by Luis de la Puente Uceda, began its first attacks against the Peruvian State in 1962. However, despite training in Fidel Castro's Cuba, the MIR was often in an unstable state, as they were based in the Amazon. As a result, its members were easily killed by the police and the armed forces.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1962: 1962 Milestone — The first guerrilla outbreaks arose in Peru in the early 1960s, during the Moderate Civil Reform, when the Revolutionary Left Movement (MIR), a guerrilla group founded and led by Luis de la Puente Uceda, began its first attacks against the Peruvian State in 1962.
2. 1980: 1980 Milestone — The conflict's main phase began on 17 May 1980 and ended in December 2000.
3. 1982: 1982 Milestone — From 1982 to 1997 the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA) waged its own insurgency as a Marxist–Leninist rival to the Shining Path.
4. 2000: 2000 Milestone — Since 2000, the number of deaths has dropped significantly, with the conflict becoming somewhat dormant.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Internal conflict in Peru

True or False: “The Peruvian internal conflict was primarily fought exclusively by indigenous groups against foreign invaders.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While Indigenous peoples were disproportionately attacked, the conflict involved the Government of Peru fighting Maoist guerrilla groups like Shining Path and MRTA.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Internal conflict in Peru