Mr Ramirez, alias Feliciano, could only count on the backing of a few hundred rebels, compared to the several thousand who had belonged to the organisation a few years earlier. This rump faction of the Shining Path was largely confined to coca-producing regions in eastern Peru and no longer had the power to undermine the foundations of the state. Now, even this much-diminished incarnation of the rebel movement seems consigned to oblivion. Yet the apparent ease with which the army captured Feliciano has prompted one former President, Fernando Belaunde, to ask what took them so long. Cynical observers have raised the possibility that it suited President Fujimori's interests to keep the threat of insurgence alive and so boost his chances of a third term in office.
Presidential elections are due to be held next year.
The dangers posed by the Shining Path have certainly allowed Mr Fujimori to get away with some highly authoritarian behaviour in the past. Even under this revised constitution, Mr Fujimori's right to a third term in office remains unclear. Moreover, as the 2000 elections draw nearer, the President may find that memories of Comrade Feliciano will fade in the public mind - and with them, his reputation as the man who brought peace to Peru. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites.