Comrade Artemio

Who is Comrade Artemio?

Florindo Eleuterio Flores Hala, known as Comrade Artemio is a former leader of the Peruvian Maoist, terrorist group Shining Path. Along with Comrade Alipio, he was one of the highest-ranking members of the Shining Path who had not been imprisoned or killed. However on February 12, 2012, he was captured by a combined force of the Peruvian Army.

Flores went to high school in Camana, Camana Province, Arequipa Department. He served in the Peruvian Army in the 221 Tank Battalion in Locumba, Tacna in 1979. He ended his service in December 1980. His face appears in the August 1989 video where Comrade Gonzalo appears dancing "Zorba the Greek" with all the Shining Path high command.

Very little was known about Comrade Artemio. He has appeared on video tapes, but always wearing a ski mask, often with an extra piece of cloth sewed on to hide his eyes. Messages supposed to have been written by him make the claim that he is only the regional commander of the Shining Path for the Huallaga Valley, implying that he is not the leader of the entire movement. This might be because he takes the imprisoned former leaders to be the true leaders and doesn't believe their orders for the Shining Path to lay down its arms.