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(LIP-wb) -- A ringleader of Peru's maoist terrorist group Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) threatened yesterday to resume the armed fight if the government of President Alan Garcia doesn't initiate specific negotiations for a general amnesty of his jailed group leaders within three months.

“If the government doesn't address our demands for a political solution, then we will be forced to re-initiate armed actions in three months,” a man who calls himself "comrade Artemio" told the Peruvian television program "Panorama" from a hiding place in the valley of Alto Huallaga in Peru's central Amazon rain forest.

"Artemio", claiming he is the top leader of the rebels outside of prison, made his announcement in front of about 70 uniformed followers armed with Kalashnikov AK-47 machine guns and their faces covered with ski masks.

Artemio emphasized that the Shining Path hasn't been very active since the 1992 capture of group founder Abimael Guzmán, who received a life sentence in October 2006.

“But we are rising again, we are returning to grow, we work in secrecy and we work for the future”, he said according to AFP news agency. Apparently the interview was recorded about two weeks ago.

The capture of Guzmán and his main lieutenants marked the beginning of the group's setbacks. Since then the Sendero Luminose has largely been dormant and presumably focusing its efforts on providing security and support for drug traffickers in the Peruvian jungle.
During the 1980's and 1990's the terrorist group is blamed for more than half the almost 70,000 deaths the insurgency has left.

"Artemio" maintained the imprisoned group leaders were put in a situation based on "political opinion and revenge with extreme cruelty”. A new fight would mainly have police and military forces as its targets.

While in jail, Guzmán himself proposed in August a general amnesty for all those that took part in the internal conflict.

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- Peru rebel leader threatens to keep up attacks (Reuters, Nov. 27, 2006)

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