( CNN ) -- The Shining Path , the Maoist terrorist group that wreaked havoc in Peru in the 1980s , has admitted defeat and seeks to negotiate an end to its war with the government , one of the group 's top leaders told a nongovernmental organization . Reporters working for Legal Defense Institute on Wednesday published a far-ranging interview with `` Comrade Artemio , '' who said his real name is Jose Flores , though the government has disputed that . At its peak , the Shining Path spread terror in the country through a bombing campaign that targeted buildings and infrastructure such as electricity towers . Throughout the 1980s and 1990s , the government fought a campaign that greatly reduced the capacity of the terrorist group , but it made a resurgence in recent years . But the government has responded forcefully to the resurgent Shining Path , and the leader said that the time for armed conflict is over . The Shining Path has been defeated , Artemio said . `` Yes , that 's a fact . We are not going to deny it , '' he said . The insurgents have not given up their ideology , he said , but in practice , a war with the government is no longer an option . What the group wants is to negotiate with the government a deal that would result in members ' laying down their arms in exchange for the release of prisoners . `` We do n't have the smallest intention to brandish the weapons of war , of armed conflict . Sincerely ... we want a political solution ; we want this to end , but through the methods of a negotiation , '' he told the reporters for the Legal Defense Institute , known as the IDL , the initials for its name in Spanish.. Artemio suggested a truce as a first step toward demobilization , and suggested a group like the Red Cross or the church to act as a mediator with the government . Since as early as 2003 , the Shining Path has sent feelers out to several Peruvian administrations in an effort to begin negotiations , he said . In recent months , the group has invited the government of President Ollanta Humala to enter into talks . But the answer the terrorists have been met with -- unconditional surrender , laying down of arms , and coordinates for stockpiles -- is untenable , Artemio said . The government even offered him reward money for turning himself in , so that he could leave the country after he disbands the group , he said . `` By principle , I can not accept that , '' he said . For the Shining Path , its leader remains Abimael Guzman , who has been imprisoned since 1992 and is serving a life sentence . Any truce that does not include his freedom would be a `` betrayal , '' Artemio said . No concrete steps have materialized with Humala 's government , but the terrorist leader has not given up hope , he said . The group 's intentions are for a lasting peace , Artemio told the IDL interviewers , but it was n't clear that meant forever . `` By principle we are Marxist . We believe that the only way to change a capitalist system is with a socialist system . But that is not possible at the moment . And if it 's not possible , what corresponds in this moment is to end '' the armed conflict , he said . The `` moment , '' one presumes , could change . Indeed , Artemio said he believes that class struggle will continue , though the war will not . For now , the group 's ideological fight will be political , he said , noting that it meant accepting , to a degree , participation within the confines of a democratic system that Shining Path opposes . `` That is the political trend we have as a nation , ( and ) as Peruvians , we have to accept it , '' he told the IDL . Do n't expect the Shining Path to field candidates for Congress , Artemio said , but there exists the possibility that other political organizations , representing its views , could participate in the system . According to him , the one thing that 's definite for now is that `` there will not be any type of attacks . This I can guarantee. `` Peruvians with memories of the turbulent '80s will no doubt take that guarantee with skepticism .
` ` Artemio , '' a member of the Peruvian communist group , says it 's lost long war . The Maoist group wants to negotiate with the government , he says . The government has rejected anything short of complete independence . He meets with reporters from a nongovernmental organization .