Founder of Peru’s Shining Path died of pneumonia; remains will be sent to relatives

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – The founder of the Shining Path (Sendero Luminoso) armed rebellion, Abimael Guzman, died Saturday of pneumonia, as determined by his autopsy, and his remains may be handed over to a direct relative, Peru’s Public Prosecutor’s Office said.

A day after Guzman’s death at the Callao Naval Base prison, where he was serving a life sentence for terrorism, the Public Prosecutor’s Office said the autopsy concluded that the cause of death was bilateral pneumonia caused by a pathological agent.

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The conclusion is subject to the results of the pathological, toxicological, and chemical tests, among others ordered by the prosecutor.

Likewise, regarding the identification of Guzman, 86 years old, he added that they are waiting for the results of the biological, DNA, dactyloscopy, odontogram, and anthropological tests to which the body was submitted and that these results will be incorporated into the investigation that is in charge of the Third Corporate Provincial Criminal Prosecutor’s Office of Callao.

One of the topics of debate following the death of the terrorist leader is the destination of his remains. The authorities of the government of Pedro Castillo have lobbied for his cremation to avoid the existence of a tomb where there is a pilgrimage of his sympathizers.

Likewise, the Ministry of Justice warned that tributes in favor of terrorist leaders such as Guzman would be considered the crime of apology to terrorism, punishable with up to 15 years in prison.

However, the Public Prosecutor’s Office specified in its communiqué that the general health law and the criminal procedural code establish that “the remains must be handed over to the duly accredited direct relatives.”

In this sense, it confirmed that Iris Quiñonez asked the Third Corporate Provincial Criminal Prosecutor’s Office of Callao for the delivery of Guzman’s body, saying she has a power of attorney granted by the deceased’s wife Elena Iparraguirre, considered the number 2 of Sendero and also sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism.

According to the legal norms in force, this request will be evaluated in the next hours by the prosecutor.

Guzman’s death took place one day before the 29th anniversary of his arrest in Lima by the Special Intelligence Group Police (GEIN).