Abimael Guzmán, creator and leader of the Shining Path, dies in Peru

The founder and leader of the Shining Path terrorist gang, Abimael Guzmán, has died aged 86, while serving a life sentence for terrorism at Callao Naval Base, as reported RPP Noticias radio station.

Guzmán, whose exact cause of death has not been specified, has presented in recent weeks a series of health problems for which he was treated in the maximum security prison where he was serving his sentence.

However, he refused to be transferred to a health center, after refusing to eat for a few days.

The first authority to comment on the news was Health Minister Hernando Cevallos, who told reporters that “no one wants anyone killed for more crimes than they have committed”, but that ” it is regrettable like any person who dies under any circumstance “.

The organization known since 1980 was identified by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (CVR) as responsible for the deaths of some 69,000 people in Peru following the terrorist violence unleashed by this group between 1980 and 2000.

In recent years, various political branches of Sendero have promoted the idea of ​​pardon and the release of Guzmán and the sentenced Senderista leaders in search of reconciliation, but the issue has not been well received by the public. public or political sectors.

Agencies. MC