Peruvian Soldiers Take Over Mining Town

L I M A, Peru, Oct. 29 -- More than 50 rebel army soldierstook over a strategic mining town demanding the resignation ofPresident Alberto Fujimori then headed for an Andes militarybase today with a helicopter squad in hot pursuit.

It was the latest twist in a six-week drama that has seenFujimori announce he would quit, call early elections, and thenpersonally lead crack commandos in a hunt for the former spychief who threatened his grip on power.

“We have the order to find them,” said a senior armyofficial as a 30-strong force took off in a helicopter from thesouthern city of Arequipa.

The middle-ranking officer who led the uprising said heconsidered Fujimori’s crisis-torn government illegitimate anddemanded the jailing of his fugitive ex-spy master, VladimiroMontesinos. He also called for a purge of the army’sleadership.

Rebels Head Into Mountains

The army rebels earlier took over the strategic mining townof Toquepala, near the Chilean border and more than 690 milesfrom Lima. After a peaceful occupation of the3,000-inhabitant town, they drove off, heading northeast to amilitary garrison near Puno, a wind-swept and cold town high inthe Andes near Lake Titicaca and the border with Bolivia.

“They left in a bus and a truck by road to Puno,” said HansFlury, vice president of the mine.

The uprising came one day after Fujimori fired his armedforces chief and three other top generals in a bid tostrengthen his grip on power, which Montesinos, who had handpicked the previous military top brass, has repeatedly challenged.

The uprising appeared to be an isolated event and there wereno reports of other rebellions elsewhere.

There was no immediate response from Fujimori, who hasruled with an iron fist and military support for 10 years. Butofficers who felt betrayed by his decision to quit reportedlyplotted to assassinate him last month. (see related story)

True Motives

Former Prime Minister Javier Valle Riestra said theuprising was a “Hugo Chavez-style” stunt, referring to theVenezuelan leader who led a failed revolt before being electedpresident — and was either a move by pro-Montesinos loyaliststo provoke a coup or a push to topple Fujimori and forcegreater democracy.