Peru's rugged terrain has complicated government efforts to tackle remnants of the Shining Path movement.

By Daisy Johnson

On 6 June 2012, an estimated 30 guerrillas associated with Peruvian insurgent group the Shining Path raided the local pipeline company Transportadora de Gas del Peru’s (TGP) base camp in the Echarate district of south-central Cusco department.

Nineteen gas workers and a helicopter pilot were temporarily held hostage during the attack. The assailants left behind a letter maintaining that they would respect both foreign and national investment projects in the region, but warning workers against collaborating with state security forces.

This appears to be a significant departure from the rebels’ previous position in which they rejected the presence of oil companies in the Alto Huallaga (Upper Huallaga) valley and the Apurimac and Ene River Valley (Valle de los Ríos Apurímac y Ene; VRAE) region. (more…)