Peruvian Soldiers Take Over Mining Town

L I M A, Peru, Oct. 29, 2000 -- 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.

“This isn’t going to be an isolated event ... If this manrepresents the disgust of the armed forces then we are going tofind Peru is on the brink of a serious social conflict ... dueto the lack of democratic political leaders and the autocracyof Fujimori’s regime,” the former minister told CPN radio.

In an official statement, the army condemned the uprisingas “a serious situation of indiscipline” and said it would take“appropriate action to put an end to this activity andsafeguard the social and political stability of the country.”

Possible Hostage?

Flury said the army rebels left the town in vehicles drivenby mine workers and were accompanied by a general, but it wasnot clear whether he was a hostage. Cable television Canal Nsaid three military trucks were pursuing the rebels.

The official who led the uprising, Ollanta Moises HumalaTasso, in an interview with RPP radio, condemned the presidentas “illegitimate” and blasted the fact that Montesinos’influence reached through the armed forces.

Humala Tasso said Fujimori should capture Montesinos and“clean the army of this ruling command,” he said.

Rumors of a military uprising by a middle-ranking officialhave been rife since Fujimori won a controversial third term ina May runoff vote overshadowed by allegations of fraud.

Spy Chief in Hiding

Cornered by a corruption scandal involving Montesinos thatsparked the worst political crisis in his 10-year rule,Fujimori, who is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces,said he would quit in July after elections in April.

Fujimori, embroiled in a power struggle with his formerintelligence chief, launched a massive manhunt on Wednesday tofind Montesinos after he defied him and arrived back in thecountry from a failed bid to secure in Panama.

Fujimori has said he will leave Montesinos’ fate to thecourts. The ex-spy chief’s whereabouts were still unknown.

Fujimori met Defense Minister Carlos Bergamino and the newhead of the armed forces, Gen. Walter Chacon. Witnesses saidelite police officers had been deployed around the presidentialpalace.

Acting out of ‘Duty’

“I will only lay down my arms when the chain of command islegitimate and there is a president who has been truly electedby the people to whom I would swear ‘subordination and valor,“‘the commander, Humala Tasso, said in a fax addressed to thePeruvian nation and received by Reuters.

Humala Tasso, whom media reports said was accompanied byhis older brother, a retired officer, said he was acting out of“duty” amid a moral, political and economic crisis in Peru.

The fax ended with the words “Long live Peru! Long live thenew Peruvian army.”

Flury said there had been no violence when the rebels tookover the town, blocking all access in or out, according tolocal residents. They demanded vehicles, gasoline and food.

The Toquepala mine is owned by Southern Peru Copper Corp.Southern Peru is one of the world’s 10 biggest copper minersand is majority-owned by Grupo Mexico.

Humala Tasso said he had wide support. “I want to exhort mycolleagues to be men and take a decision as soldiers,” he toldRPP radio. “It’s time this crisis situation was resolved forthe good of everyone,” he added.