The MRTA was originally allied with the Revolutionary Left Movement (Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria - MIR), MIR being formed by a group of Marxists who dissented in the 1960s from the now-ruling Alianza Popular Revolucionaria Americana (APRA) party. [Revolutionary and Dissident Movements: Peru, (London: Longman Publishing Group, 1988).]

The MIR-MRTA alliance reportedly ended in late 1987. [Keesing's Record of World Events, (London: Longman, 1988), Vol. XXXIV, No. 32, pp. 35704-5.] Some analysts suspect that internal conflicts in the organization were the cause of the arrest of Victor Polay Campos (aka) "Rolando" in February 1989, in a hotel in Huancayo (a city in the central mountains of Peru) where the Defense Minister was staying. He was there with a female companion, both in possession of firearms and grenades. ["Ampay Polay" and "El Principio del Fin?", in Caretas, N. 1043, pp. 20-21, 90; and Latin American daily report, 23 February 1989, p. 11.]

Polay Campos has denied being the head of the MRTA, but admitted being the leader of its Northeastern guerrilla group and so far has been the only member to speak publicly on behalf of the MRTA. ["Polay Confiesa", in Caretas, N. 1044, Feb. 13, 1989, pp. 78-81.]
Rosa Luz Padilla Baca, Victor Polay's female companion, was arrested as she returned to their hotel, which was heavily guarded because of the Defense Minister's presence and an upcoming Joint Chiefs of Staff meeting. She was questioned and searched by guarding soldiers. ["Ampay Polay", pp. 20-21.] A gun was reportedly found in her purse, and after a few questions in the hotel lobby, she revealed in what room her partner was staying. [ Ibid, p. 21.] Although different reports indicate the possibility that they were given away by rivaling factions, ["Ampay Polay" and "El Principio del Fin?", in Caretas, N. 1043, pp. 20-21, 90; and Latin American daily report, Feb. 23, p. 11.] Polay denied this in an interview, claiming he was found by chance. ["Polay Confiesa", p. 78.]
Polay Campos was a member of the now-ruling APRA party and a friend of the Peruvian president, Alan Garcia, until he co-founded and became a leading figure of the MRTA. [ "Polay Confiesa", pp. 80-81.] As soon as Polay was transferred to Lima, the Peruvian Prime Minister sparked great controversy by visiting him, claiming he did so because Polay Campos is the son of an old member of the ruling party. [ "Ampay Polay", p. 90; and "La visita del Premier", in Caretas, 13 February 1989, p. 81.]
For more information on the individuals and their arrest, please find attached the copies of:

- "Ampay Polay" and "El Principio del Fin?", in Caretas, N. 1043, 6 February 1989, pp. 20-21, 90;

-"Polay Confiesa", in Caretas, N. 1044, 13 February 1989, pp. 78- 81;

-Latin American Daily Report: 16 February 1989, backcover; 23 February 1989, p. 11.
Regarding the protection of ordinary citizens, a report indicates a sharp increase in both politically and common criminal violence, with most victims being innocent civilians. [Tolerating Abuses: Violations of Human Rights in Peru, (Washington: Americas Watch, October 1988), p. 12.] The frequent killings of mayors and other authorities, [ Ibid, pp. 12, 15-21; Latin America Daily Report, (Washington, Foreign Broadcast Information Service), various issues of late 1988 and 1989.] as well as the recent murder in broad daylight in populated centres of two parliamentarians in which the killers escaped without injury or capture, [ "Provocación", in Caretas, 2 May 1989, pp. 10-13;] indicates that Peruvian authorities are not always able to provide even prominent figures adequate protection. Reports indicate that some important figures of the security services do have a personal escort with them at their homes, [Latin America Daily Report, (Washington, Foreign Broadcast Information Service), 3 October 1988, p. 41; Caretas, 9 January 1989, p. 18.] although no details on the subject are available to the IRBDC at present. However, various available publications report the murder of unescorted security-forces' officers.

Regarding attacks on Republican Guards: under a new government policy, the three branches of the Peruvian police forces have now been integrated into a single National Police force. Recent reports indicate only if the attacked individuals are policemen, and do not specify if they belong to the Republican Guard or the other two branches. For recent examples of Police or Republican Guard officers' assassinations, the following are some of the cases reported among available sources:

-12 January 1989: since January 1, 38 members of the police forces are killed in group and individual attacks.("Violence accelerates and extends", in Andean Newsletter, (Lima, Andean Commission of Jurists), 16 january 1989, p. 5).

-30 January: a police commander, studying literature at a university in Cerro de Pasco, is killed as he leaves his classes. (Caretas, 6 February 1989, p. 37).

-17 February: police officer Rufino Licarnaque is killed while waiting for a bus in the city of Piura. (Latin American Daily Report, (Washington, Foreign Broadcast Information Service), 21 February 1989, p. 53).

-28 March: a police lieutenant is killed in a market in the jungle city of Pucallpa. (Latin American Daily Report, 29 March 1989, p. 38).