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Re: "Selective annihilation" - Chicago '89
"More War Will Bring Peace," Say Peru's Maoists After 15,000 Die
July 09, 1989|By George de Lama, Chicago Tribune.LIMA, PERU — The young guerrilla officer who gave his name as Jorge chose his words carefully as he tried to explain the strategy behind "selective annihilation." "All popular war is violent," he said softly. "We use selective annihilation of mayors and government officials, for example, to destroy the presence of the state and create a vacuum. Then we fill that vacuum."
He sat back and let that sink in. "Violence is an integral part of armed struggle," he said. "As the popular war advances, peace gets closer. Only more popular war will bring peace."
Dressed neatly in a sweater and slacks, Jorge's middle-class looks and pleasant demeanor belied the chilling doctrine of destruction driving Maoist Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) guerrillas as they attempt to impose their vision of a pure communist utopia on Peru.
During '89, Guns were on an infamous writing trek in Chicago. Slash, Duff & co came early to set up the place. Axl took a long road-trip to get there, apparently without telling the others in so many words that he'd be coming around on his own pace. Izzy would get around from an Indiana rehab to witness Axl tearing down the house and the rest on drugs and alcohol. The story goes Izzy turned around without even saying hello.
As luck would have it, Axl'd come across this very issue of the Tribune and the soundbyte would hit him. Just another catch-phrase for the Peruvian insurgents developed by a university professor turned Maoist rebel, Abimael Guzman. Popular war, almost like civil war in both including the common people into the conflict and pertaining an ominous double entedre.
War is never civil, but it can certainly pass as popular, a very messy coup d'etat. The Shining Path is also known as the Communist Party of Peru, and given the songs pacifist message, one can see the inclusion as a personal dig on Maoisim.
Like Chinese Democracy.
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