Editing Shining Path (section)

==== VRAEM stronghold ====
Into the 2020s, Shining Path has existed in remaining splinter groups.<ref name=":3" /><ref name="activity" /> The main remaining group, called the [[Militarized Communist Party of Peru]] (MPCP) of about 450 individuals remained in the [[Valle de los Ríos Apurímac, Ene y Mantaro]] (VRAEM) region, reportedly making revenue by escorting cocaine traffickers and are reportedly led by two brothers; Víctor and [[Jorge Quispe Palomino]].<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":6" /><ref name=":8" /> The MPCP has attempted to recharacterize themselves to distance itself from the original Shining Path groups that had attacked rural communities in the area, describing Guzmán as a traitor.<ref name=":3" /><ref name=":5" /> According to [[InSight Crime]], Shining Path's stronghold in the VRAEM, headquartered in Vizcatán, is a similar strategy as the [[Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia]].<ref name=":8" /><ref>{{Cite web|date=20 March 2017|title=Recent Attack on Peru Police Shows Shining Path Still Strong|url=https://www.insightcrime.org/news/brief/recent-attack-police-shows-shining-path-still-strong/|access-date=4 December 2020|website=[[InsightCrime]]}}</ref>

Another notable splinter group called the Communist Party of Peru – Red Mantaro Base Committee (PCP-CBMR),<ref>{{cite web |title=The dangerous network of Sendero Luminoso in Peru and abroad |url=https://larazon.pe/la-peligrosa-red-de-sendero-luminoso-en-peru-y-el-exterior/ |website=La Razón |date=20 April 2018 |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> which remains loyal to Abimael Guzman,<ref>{{cite web |title=In Defense of Gonzalo Thought! |url=https://mantarorojo.blogspot.com/2011/01/en-defensa-del-pensamiento-gonzalo.html |website=Mantaro Rojo |date=21 January 2011 |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> also operates in the VRAEM region. According to the human rights organization Waynakuna Peru, the PCP-CBMR has infiltrated schools in the area setting up "Popular Schools" to spread the group's propaganda.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sendero Indoctrinates Children In Popular Schools |url=https://waynakuna.blogspot.com/2017/10/sendero-adoctrina-ninos-en-escuelas.html |website=Waynakuna |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> The group has in the past signed documents<ref>{{cite web |title=Joint Declaration: The international unity of the communists demands the defeat of revisionism and centrism! |url=https://cedema.org/digital_items/4754 |website=CeDeMA |access-date=20 August 2023}}</ref> with the [[Communist Party of Ecuador – Red Sun]].

Following a five-year intelligence operation that began in 2015 and was codenamed Operation Olimpo, 71 alleged members of the Shining Path's United Front and People's Guerrilla Army were arrested on 2 December 2020.<ref name=":7" /> Alfredo Crespo, the secretary general of MOVADEF and Guzmán's former lawyer, was included among those arrested.<ref>{{Cite web|date=5 December 2020|title=Estos son los videos y audios que demuestran cómo Sendero se reinventó en Movadef {{!}} POLITICA|url=https://peru21.pe/politica/estos-son-los-videos-y-audios-que-demuestran-como-sendero-se-reinvento-en-movadef-noticia/|access-date=5 December 2020|website=[[Peru21]]|language=es}}</ref> Operation Olimpo included 752 military personnel and 98 government prosecutors that utilized evidence obtained through wiretapping, undercover agents and surveillance.<ref name=":7" /> Those arrested were charged with operating shell operations to initiate terrorist activities in Callao and Lima.<ref name=":7" />