The Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (Movimiento Revolucionario Tupac Amaru - MRTA) is a guerrilla organization formed in 1984 under the leadership of Marco Turkowski,1 starting its public activities through a series of bomb attacks in Lima, in September 19842 and seeking popular support through the "expropriation"3 of food and its distribution in poor neighbourhoods.4 In 1985, Lima suffered a wave of abductions; some of the unsolved cases were later found to be performed by the MRTA, after initial training and participation by Colombian M-19 members; co-operation between the groups is reported to have included participation of Peruvian individuals in the "America Batallion" and abductions in Colombia.5 In November 1987 the MRTA initiated rural actions by violently seizing a Northeastern jungle town with a column of uniformed guerrillas and facilitating wide coverage by the media, through on-site interviews.6 The army later took control of the area and apparently succeded in disrupting the MRTA forces in the jungle of the Northeastern department of San Martin,7 although the organization continued its urban abductions and attacks.8,9 Apparently avoiding further confrontations with the army, MRTA guerrillas moved to coca-plant growing areas, having violent confrontations with Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path), the main guerrilla organization of Peru, and apparently retreating towards the Central mountains (see map).10

At present, the MRTA is active in the Central region of the country and some urban centres, particularly Lima, where it has recently claimed responsibility for the assault and bombing of restaurants,11 abductions and extortion of businessmen, which the group calls "war taxes".12 It is also reported to be active in some state universities, where confrontations with Sendero Luminoso occasionally take place,13 and has marked its presence in the January 1989 United Left party congress through anonymously distributed manifestos.14 A weekly magazine, "Cambio", is reported to have links with the MRTA.15 The group allied with the Revolutionary Left Movement (Movimiento de Izquierda Revolucionaria - MIR), but the alliance ended in late 1987.16 Some analysts suspect that internal conflicts in the organization were the cause of the arrest of Victor Polay Campos in February 1989, in a hotel in Huancayo (a city in Central Peru) where the Defense Minister was staying; he was found with a female companion, both in possession of firearms and grenades.17,18 Polay Campos has denied being the head of the MRTA, but he was the leader of the Northeastern guerrilla group and so far was the only member to speak publicly on behalf of the MRTA.19

Other heads of the organization were captured early last year,19 and some observers consider the group to be losing ground, possibly to other rival groups.20
The attached documents may give a background on the nature of the group and its actions.

1. Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, (London: Keesing's Reference Publications, 1988), p. 292.

2. Ibid.

3. A Certain Passivity: Failing to Curb Human Rights Abuses in Peru, (Washington: Americas Watch, Dec. 1987), p. 25.

4. Ibid.

5. "Secuestro Equivocado", in Caretas (Lima weekly newsmagazine), N. 1044, Feb. 13, 1989, p. 84-85.

6. A Certain Passivity, p. 25.

7. Tolerating Abuses: Violations of Human Rights in Peru, (Washington: Americas Watch, Oct. 1988), p. 15.

8. Ibid, p. 21.

9. "Secuestro Equivocado", pp. 84-85.

10. "Financistas del Terror", in Caretas, N. 1043, Feb. 6, 1989, pp. 38-41.

11. "El Asalto al Fraile", in Caretas, N. 1042, Jan. 30, p.35.

12. "Secuestro Equivocado", pp. 84-85.

13. "Punto Estratégico", in Caretas, N. 1042, Jan. 30, 1989, pp. 30-34.

14. "Bajo la Carpa", in Caretas, N. 1041, p. 18.

15. "Aprovechando el P nico", in Caretas, N. 1041, Jan. 23, p. 39.

16. Keesing's Record of World Events, (London: Longman, 1988), Vol. XXXIV, No. 32, pp. 35704-5.

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

18. Latin American daily report, Feb. 16, 1989, backcover

19. "Polay Confiesa", in Caretas, N. 1044, Feb. 13, 1989, pp. 78-81.

20. "Ampay Polay" and "El Principio del Fin?", p. 90.
Attached are the following documents:

-Revolutionary and Dissident Movements, (London: Keesing's Reference Publications, 1988), p. 292.

-Andean Newsletter, (Lima, Andean Commission of Jurists): No.17, March 1, 1988, p. 4; No. 20, June 13, 1988, p. 7.

A Certain Passivity: Failing to Curb Human Rights Abuses in Peru, (Washington: Americas Watch, Dec. 1987), pp. 24-25.

-Tolerating Abuses: Violations of Human Rights in Peru, (Washington: Americas Watch, Oct. 1988), pp. 15, 21.