Óscar Ramírez

Óscar Ramírez Durand
Leader of the Shining Path
In office
September 1992 – July 14, 1999
Preceded by Abimael Guzmán
Succeeded by Comrade Artemio
Personal details
Born (1953-03-16) 16 March 1953
Political party Communist Party of Peru - Shining Path
Relations Vladimiro Montesinos
Residence National Penitentiary Institute (Peru)

Óscar Ramírez Durand (born 16 March 1953), who is commonly known as Comrade Feliciano, was one of the leaders of the Shining Path, a Marxist, Leninist, Maoist group in Peru.[1]

Biography

Ramírez is the son of a retired Peruvian general and the second of seven brothers. Being studious from a young age and enjoying mental challenges such as chess, Ramírez was awarded the medal of academic excellence from the College of Saint Francis of Assisi in Arequipa, Peru.

Capture and imprisonment

Ramírez assumed control of the Shining Path after Abimael Guzmán was captured by the authorities in 1992.[2] Ramírez himself was captured in 1999[1] and sentenced to life imprisonment. He would be granted a retrial in 2004.[3]

In June 2006, Ramírez was sentenced to 24 years in prison for the alleged crimes he committed during the internal conflict in Peru.[4] He is currently being held at the naval base in Callao.

His reduced sentence is the result of his collaboration with Peruvian authorities and enmity with Guzmán: in 2003 he described him to the Caretas magazine as a "psychopath" and stated that "He (Guzmán) was always a coward and a traitor". He went as far as declaring, before the Truth and Reconciliation Commission his renewed belief in democracy, his call for remaining subversives to lay down arms, his expectation for new civilian trials and his condolences for the victims of the conflict.[5] Caretas has also published extracts from his conversations with the former head of the Peruvian National Intelligence Service, Vladimiro Montesinos in which family links with the terrorist emerged, both being cousins.[6]

In March 2013 he testified in the trial of the recently imprisoned leader, Artemio.[7] During the audience he apologized to the country for the crimes committed by Shining Path.[8]

References

  1. 1 2 "Shining Path Rebel Leader Is Captured in Peru". The Washington Post. 1999-07-15. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  2. ↑ "Shining Path's leader finally captured". The Scotsman. 1999-07-15. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  3. ↑ "Peru's Shining Path Leaders to Face Trial". Associated Press. 2004-10-19. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  4. ↑ "Peru court hands rebel leader 24-year sentence after civilian retrial". Associated Press. 2006-06-14. Retrieved 2010-09-09.
  5. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dUM9HWik3qk in Spanish
  6. ↑ http://www.caretas.com.pe/Main.asp?T=3082&idE=640&idS=228#.UjZuVT_8l2g
  7. ↑ http://elcomercio.pe/actualidad/1555807/noticia-feliciano-se-presenta-juicio-contra-camaradaartemio
  8. ↑ http://peru21.pe/politica/feliciano-pidio-perdon-al-peru-crimenes-sendero-luminoso-2123725


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