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Peru rebel rejects surrender call | Peru rebel rejects surrender call |
(about 3 hours later) | |
The leader of Peru's remaining Shining Path rebels has apparently rejected a call to surrender and demanded new negotiations with the government. | The leader of Peru's remaining Shining Path rebels has apparently rejected a call to surrender and demanded new negotiations with the government. |
In a radio interview, a man who said he was Comrade Artemio stated the leftist group would never lay down its arms. | In a radio interview, a man who said he was Comrade Artemio stated the leftist group would never lay down its arms. |
Instead, he said, a political deal and an amnesty were needed. | Instead, he said, a political deal and an amnesty were needed. |
The Shining Path wrought havoc in Peru during the 1980s and early 1990s, but violence fell after the arrest of leader Abimael Guzman in 1992. | |
'No surrender' | 'No surrender' |
Comrade Artemio, whose real name is Filomeno Cerron Cardoso, leads what is left of the group. | Comrade Artemio, whose real name is Filomeno Cerron Cardoso, leads what is left of the group. |
In his first apparent interview in almost two years, he told a local radio station near the rebel stronghold, Radio La Luz in Aucayacu in Huanuco region, that the rebels completely rejected an ultimatum issued by Peru's national police chief to surrender. | |
"We still insist that what is needed is a political solution, what is needed is a general amnesty and national reconciliation," he said. | "We still insist that what is needed is a political solution, what is needed is a general amnesty and national reconciliation," he said. |
"We're never going to turn over our arms and surrender. He knows that very well, that we're not going to do it; and why should we have to do it?" | "We're never going to turn over our arms and surrender. He knows that very well, that we're not going to do it; and why should we have to do it?" |
Peru's defence minister said there was no proof that the recording of the interview was genuine so refused to comment further. | Peru's defence minister said there was no proof that the recording of the interview was genuine so refused to comment further. |
The Shining Path nowadays is just a fraction of its former size, reports the BBC's Dan Collyns from Lima, but its fighters still control remote coca-growing areas of Peru's central jungle and are heavily involved in the drugs trade. | The Shining Path nowadays is just a fraction of its former size, reports the BBC's Dan Collyns from Lima, but its fighters still control remote coca-growing areas of Peru's central jungle and are heavily involved in the drugs trade. |
Experts say there are no more than 150 fighters and they no longer present a threat to national security. | Experts say there are no more than 150 fighters and they no longer present a threat to national security. |
The group has killed dozens of policemen and anti drugs workers in recent years, but it is a far cry from the Maoist-inspired organisation of the 1980s and 1990s which tried to impose a communist regime and in the process saw almost 70,000 people killed, our reporter adds. | The group has killed dozens of policemen and anti drugs workers in recent years, but it is a far cry from the Maoist-inspired organisation of the 1980s and 1990s which tried to impose a communist regime and in the process saw almost 70,000 people killed, our reporter adds. |