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

[Roberto](/people/roberto/) was the head of the English department at the [University of San Cristobal](/organizations/university-of-san-cristobal/) in [Ayacucho](/places/ayacucho/), [Peru](/places/peru/). He was also a member of the national leadership of [Shining Path](/organizations/shining-path/) (El Sendero Luminoso).[^1]

[Roberto](/people/roberto/) invited [Ari Ben-Menashe](/people/ari-ben-menashe/) to his home, where he explained the [movement's](/organizations/shining-path/) ideas for [Peru](/places/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](/people/abimael-guzman-reynoso/), the movement's founder, was alive, despite rumors of his death.[^1]

[Roberto](/people/roberto/) facilitated [Ben-Menashe's](/people/ari-ben-menashe/) meeting with [Guzmán](/people/abimael-guzman-reynoso/) and acted as a liaison for the purchase of rare minerals for [Israel's](/places/israel/) nuclear program. He also requested hair lotion from [Ben-Menashe](/people/ari-ben-menashe/) as a personal favor. [Roberto](/people/roberto/) was aware of the military's surveillance and the dangers involved in [Ben-Menashe's](/people/ari-ben-menashe/) activities.[^1]

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