Peru: A New Beginning, Or Back to the Past?

Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo Manrique's government has started a new drive to finish off Shining Path guerrillas attempting to make a comeback. This could be a signal that Toledo is still in control in the last months of his administration, or a way of showing that Toledo's government can deal with Shining Path as quickly and effectively as former President Alberto Fujimori's administration. External forces such as Venezuela and ghosts from the past like Fujimori and Shining Path could influence Peru's April 9 presidential election; however, with the election, Peru could well defy expectations and choose a path toward stability.