New Flag - two questions?

["Chris, London" <100423.2040@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

1) I was interesting in the information that the origin of the
"shining path" phrase was from young militants who promoted
what they called "the shining path of Mariateugui"

I would be interested to know what that path was, to understand
how much it was an emphasis of one aspect of Mariategui's
politics.

What I am hoping to understand here, is to what extent
the attempt to find a revolutionary road for the people of Peru
has developed from local currents of thinking, rather than being
influenced by importing, and adapating, revolutionary ideas from
outside, prinicipally China.



2) You probably have contempt for spin doctors, but I can see why
the news agencies of the Fujimori regime  are happy to make sure
the phrase, Shining Path, occurs frequently in their press releases.

In two words, (in English only three syllables) it conveys the marketing
message in a highly concentrated form, these people are on a crazy trip.

I know how between the unbanning of the ANC and the democratic election
how often the phrase "Black on Black violence" occurred in news reports
about South Africa. It was very difficult to dent that impression.

So I sympathise and respect that the Peruvian revolutionaries do not
wish to be called Shining Path. My question is, what do they want to
be called?

Presumably the PCP is not a mass party. That would not be consistent with
Mao's theories. Most of the supporters of the Peoples War and the united
front will not be members of the PCP.

It seems strange that we do not know what they call themselves.

Chris
London





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