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Shining Path guerrilla leader gunned down in shoot out with Peru's military

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


Peru's military reported another victory on Sunday evening in their battle against remnants of the Shining Path terrorist group when they managed to locate the organization's second in command, Juan Laguna Domínguez.

Upon finding the group of terrorists, a shot-out took place between guerrillas and a Special Forces team, leaving Dominguez dead.

The second in command's bodyguards made away with his body.

Juan Domínguez, also known as Piero, Lee, Barbón or Clay II, was shot at 11 p.m. Sunday evening in Huamalíes, one of the 11 provinces in the highland region of Huánuco.

Domínguez was found when military intelligence discovered the terrorist leader was possibly attending a birthday celebration and told the army of his whereabouts.

It was reported that a Special Forces unit had been on Domínguez' trail for several weeks but had not been able to capture him.

The battle lasted for one hour and took place when Peru's military surprised the heavily armed guerrillas as they were making their way through the rough terrain.

Domínguez was gunned down and two other insurgents were wounded.

According to authorities, the group left behind clothes, communications equipment, weapons and a great deal of ammunition. A radio with the name "Clay 2" was also found by the military.

Although Domínguez' body has not been found, General EP Walberto Zevallos Rodríguez, head of the Special Forces' third brigade, confirmed that "Piero" had been killed.

According to Zevallos, the military intercepted a call made by the terrorist group requesting reinforcements and reporting Piero had been killed.

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# CapitanDan says :
20 May, 2008 [ 11:43 ]

Peru must remain vigilant and keep these terrorists on the run. This shows the Military of Peru is up to the task. They should be commended. How's that song go, "Another one bites the dust". Chau

# David says :
20 May, 2008 [ 11:52 ]

Captain Dan, Perhaps I can ask you to shed some light on this subject for me. Who sposors or funds the shining path. I am aware of there actions but here in the States we do not get full information, only the very basic info/reports.

I hate being ignorant on subjects as important as this. Anyone who can help, your comments are welcome.

David

# CapitanDan says :
20 May, 2008 [ 12:44 ]

Hola David, The term terrorist has been used loosely in this topic by the author and myself. Terrorist organizations usually have a goal and will do anything to accomplish this goal. and has a political agenda.This group is no more than organized criminals or commonly known as Gangsters. They have no ideals except to further their gangs own agenda. This agenda is to attack the local Police , extort money and food from the locals and control the drug trade in their area of operations. These gangs have a loose fitting hierarchy and ties with other local and foreign gangs and drug runners.In light of the recent discovery of the computers in Ecuador by the Colombians and confirmation by Interpol it seems that Chavez has been helping these Narco Gangs in an attempt to gain influence. He has according to Interpol ,been furnishing these bandits with medicine, weapons and communications equipment. The public should be finding out more in the coming weeks. Chau

# Mike says :
20 May, 2008 [ 15:41 ]

That's not exactly true. The Shining Path is a Maoist organization, and in the past was the most ideologically-driven insurgency in Latin America, and perhaps even the world. They were dogmatically Maoist, to the point where they revered Mao as a sort of secular god and saw Abimael Guzman as his prophet.

However, nowadays they appear to be heavily involved in narcotics trafficking, and they have probably sold out their ideology to an extent.

The Peruvian military has probably killed about ten "number two" members of the Shining Path in the past year, so this is really no big deal. As long as Artemio and Alipio are on the loose, the Shining Path is still around.

# jb says :
20 May, 2008 [ 21:29 ]

Mike, you are correct.  SL survives today primarily from money made from the trafficking of drugs.  There is no moral, ideological source for their "cause" anymore.  They are common criminals....no more than organized crime (mafia).  The problem is they operate in areas where there is not a large presence of PNP.  They ambush the police.  They terrorize locals who have no means to defend themselves.  They no longer have any popular support base -- outside of a hundred or so sympathizers.  Good for the police in this encounter.

# David says :
20 May, 2008 [ 23:48 ]

So in short, the “shining path" movement use to stand for something of substance, weather you agree or disagree with the substance is another story.
 
Now it just exists pretty much to terrorize and plunder.

Would that be a fair statement?

# Michael says :
21 May, 2008 [ 08:38 ]

That's pretty much it.  Except that before they terrorized and plundered while reciting Maoist doctrine.

# rice and sugar says :
21 May, 2008 [ 09:59 ]

Peru needs an intelligent mind to help us against terrorism: Fujimori. Despite the trial ordeal he is going through, El chino protected Peruvians. He knew what he was doing! Unfortunately, some innocent blood was shed as well (La Cantuta), and although my heart goes out to the families of these students, we cannot forget that Fujimori's intentions were to get rid of SHining Path, and bring peace back to Peru. Viva el Chino!

# fish heads and rice says :
21 May, 2008 [ 11:58 ]

well maybe he could still help out from his NEW command post?

# manolete says :
23 May, 2008 [ 19:21 ]

el peru esta todavia azotado por el terrorismo,algunos no quieren aceptarlo pero es verdad el chino no se equivoco como en toda guerra algunos inocentes mueren en una lucha confusa y cruel como fue la guerra anti-subversiva.

# manolete says :
23 May, 2008 [ 19:21 ]

el peru esta todavia azotado por el terrorismo,algunos no quieren aceptarlo pero es verdad el chino no se equivoco como en toda guerra algunos inocentes mueren en una lucha confusa y cruel como fue la guerra anti-subversiva.

# David says :
24 May, 2008 [ 19:32 ]

manolete says: Hey how about English! And once would be fine thank you!

I case you take it the wrong way: Would you please keep all comments to English only, this is an English only web site and we would like to make sure that all of our readers can understand the comments left by yourself and others.  

# manolete says :
26 May, 2008 [ 18:05 ]

I am sorry for writing in spanish,but I forgot for a moment that this was an only englihs website.What i wrote was that shining path has a lot of innocent people dead,because it is very hard to set apart terrorist and civilians.They use alot of tricky methods to get theirs ways,those people are not ignorant,most of these peoples are college graduatedes,that is why i often wonder why is this all about,poverty,drugs what is it? power.do you want to change the world? well,let me tell you buddy.you will never do it.they just killing the wrong people an making peru poorest and poorest.Who brought communist to peru? russia,china,cuba who did?The only thing that will get peru out poverty will be discipline,more jobs,better education,raise the salaries pay well to those people who deserve.this will change but only with ollanta.

# manolete says :
26 May, 2008 [ 18:05 ]

I am sorry for writing in spanish,but I forgot for a moment that this was an only englihs website.What i wrote was that shining path has a lot of innocent people dead,because it is very hard to set apart terrorist and civilians.They use alot of tricky methods to get theirs ways,those people are not ignorant,most of these peoples are college graduatedes,that is why i often wonder why is this all about,poverty,drugs what is it? power.do you want to change the world? well,let me tell you buddy.you will never do it.they just killing the wrong people an making peru poorest and poorest.Who brought communist to peru? russia,china,cuba who did?The only thing that will get peru out poverty will be discipline,more jobs,better education,raise the salaries pay well to those people who deserve.this will change but only with ollanta.

# manolete says :
26 May, 2008 [ 18:05 ]

I am sorry for writing in spanish,but I forgot for a moment that this was an only englihs website.What i wrote was that shining path has a lot of innocent people dead,because it is very hard to set apart terrorist and civilians.They use alot of tricky methods to get theirs ways,those people are not ignorant,most of these peoples are college graduatedes,that is why i often wonder why is this all about,poverty,drugs what is it? power.do you want to change the world? well,let me tell you buddy.you will never do it.they just killing the wrong people an making peru poorest and poorest.Who brought communist to peru? russia,china,cuba who did?The only thing that will get peru out poverty will be discipline,more jobs,better education,raise the salaries pay well to those people who deserve.this will change but only with ollanta.

# fish heads and rice says :
26 May, 2008 [ 21:25 ]

ollanta????????? he was financed by the comunism! also he has almost been forgotten is that you? humala?