---
category: "Extremism & Violent Networks"
tags:
  - Person
summary: "Head of the English department at the University of San Cristobal in Peru and a national leader of the Shining Path guerrilla movement."
---

[[Roberto]] was the head of the English department at the [[University of San Cristobal]] in [[Ayacucho]], [[Peru]]. He was also a member of the national leadership of [[Shining Path]] (El Sendero Luminoso).[^1]

[[Roberto]] invited [[Ari Ben-Menashe]] to his home, where he explained the [[Shining Path|movement's]] ideas for [[Peru]] after they took over, including a free market based on a kibbutz-like commune and Inca culture. He also confessed that [[Abimael Guzman Reynoso]], the movement's founder, was alive, despite rumors of his death.[^1]

[[Roberto]] facilitated [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] meeting with [[Abimael Guzman Reynoso|Guzmán]] and acted as a liaison for the purchase of rare minerals for [[Israel|Israel's]] nuclear program. He also requested hair lotion from [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe]] as a personal favor. [[Roberto]] was aware of the military's surveillance and the dangers involved in [[Ari Ben-Menashe|Ben-Menashe's]] activities.[^1]

### Footnotes
[^1]: Ben-Menashe, Ari. *Profits of War: Inside the Secret U.S.-Israeli Arms Network*. TrineDay, 1992.