Revolutionary Left Movement (Peru)
Encyclopedia
Revolutionary Left Movement (in Spanish
: Movimiento de la Izquierda Revolucionaria), was a Marxist group founded in Peru
in 1962 by Luis de la Puente Uceda and his group APRA Rebelde
, a splinter-group from the APRA which had rallied the government in the 1950s and 1960s. Inspired by the Cuban Revolution
and close to a non-aligned
position which opposed itself both to the Communist Party of Peru, the Soviet Union
and China
, the group initiated guerrilla
actions against the government in 1965. After its leader's death end of 1965, the MIR split into three different factions. One of them, the MIR-EM, would merge with the Revolutionary Socialist Party (Marxist-Leninist)
in 1982 to create the Movimiento Revolucionario Túpac Amaru (MRTA). The two others factions, MIR-VR and MIR-IV, would join the parliamentary left-wing coalition Izquierda Unida
in the early 1980s.
", as was the other group Vanguardia Revolucionaria
, characterized by its critics against both the APRA and the Communist Party, and its independence towards China and the Soviet Union. Instead, it turned itself toward the contemporary Guevarist foco strategy.
Following the 1963 election to the presidency of Fernando Belaunde Terry
, and his failure to implement social reforms, the situation in the very poor countryside became more critical. The first guerrilla movement, the ELN
(National Liberation Army), appeared, to be quickly defeated by the military. 1964 was marked by the continuing failure of governmental reforms and clashes during land occupations by landless peasants, and the MIR launched its armed struggle the following year.
in the North led by Gonzalo Fernández Gasca, Pachacutec in the South headed by Rubén Tupayachi Solórzano, and Túpac Amaru
in the Center directed by Guillermo Lobatón.
However the MIR did not manage to find sufficient popular support, while the divisions between rival revolutionary groups, such as the ELN, the Revolutionary Left Front (Frente de Izquierda Revolucionaria) headed by Hugo Blanco
or the MIR prevented any concerted action. Confined in the jungles, the MIR unsuccessfully battled against the military forces, assisted by the CIA who, according to former CIA official Victor Marchetti
's words, created a "miniature Fort Bragg
" into the jungle. The MIR leader Luis Felipe de la Puente Uceda died on October 23, 1965 in an armed confrontation. A few months later, the movement was all but annihilated.
During the elections for a Constituent Assembly, the MIR-VR and the MIR IV participated to the left-wing Unidad Democrática Popular (UDP) coalition, thus merging with the legalist left, and then to the Izquierda Unida
coalition in the 1980s. On the other hand, the MIR-EM continued armed struggle, merging in 1982 with the Partido Socialista Revolucionario - Marxista Leninista (PSR-ML) to create the Movimiento Revolucionario Túpac Amaru (MRTA).
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Movimiento de la Izquierda Revolucionaria), was a Marxist group founded in Peru
Peru
Peru , officially the Republic of Peru , is a country in western South America. It is bordered on the north by Ecuador and Colombia, on the east by Brazil, on the southeast by Bolivia, on the south by Chile, and on the west by the Pacific Ocean....
in 1962 by Luis de la Puente Uceda and his group APRA Rebelde
APRA Rebelde
APRA Rebelde was a splinter-group of the Peruvian APRA. APRA Rebelde was formed in 1959, by a group that was expelled from APRA at a National Congress on October 12. The leader of the group, APRA Rebelde started orienting itself towards the radical Marxist left. In 1962 the group was refounded as...
, a splinter-group from the APRA which had rallied the government in the 1950s and 1960s. Inspired by the Cuban Revolution
Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution was an armed revolt by Fidel Castro's 26th of July Movement against the regime of Cuban dictator Fulgencio Batista between 1953 and 1959. Batista was finally ousted on 1 January 1959, and was replaced by a revolutionary government led by Castro...
and close to a non-aligned
Non-Aligned Movement
The Non-Aligned Movement is a group of states considering themselves not aligned formally with or against any major power bloc. As of 2011, the movement had 120 members and 17 observer countries...
position which opposed itself both to the Communist Party of Peru, the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
and China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, the group initiated guerrilla
Guerrilla warfare
Guerrilla warfare is a form of irregular warfare and refers to conflicts in which a small group of combatants including, but not limited to, armed civilians use military tactics, such as ambushes, sabotage, raids, the element of surprise, and extraordinary mobility to harass a larger and...
actions against the government in 1965. After its leader's death end of 1965, the MIR split into three different factions. One of them, the MIR-EM, would merge with the Revolutionary Socialist Party (Marxist-Leninist)
Revolutionary Socialist Party (marxist-leninist)
Revolutionary Socialist Party was a political party in Peru founded in 1978 through a split in the Revolutionary Socialist Party. Its leaders included Antonio Aragón, Carlos Urrutia and Andrés Avelino Mar...
in 1982 to create the Movimiento Revolucionario Túpac Amaru (MRTA). The two others factions, MIR-VR and MIR-IV, would join the parliamentary left-wing coalition Izquierda Unida
United Left (Peru)
United Left was an alliance of leftist political parties in Peru founded in 1980 by Popular Democratic Unity , Revolutionary Left Union , Peruvian Communist Party , Revolutionary Socialist Party , Revolutionary Communist Party and FOCEP.In 1984 UDP and a part of PCR converted itself into the...
in the early 1980s.
Origins
The MIR is born out of a split with the APRA, a former leftist group which increasingly began to collaborate with the government in the 1950s-60s. Luis de la Puente Uceda's faction created the APRA Rebelde in the end of the 1950s, which became the MIR in 1962. The MIR was part of the "New LeftNew Left
The New Left was a term used mainly in the United Kingdom and United States in reference to activists, educators, agitators and others in the 1960s and 1970s who sought to implement a broad range of reforms, in contrast to earlier leftist or Marxist movements that had taken a more vanguardist...
", as was the other group Vanguardia Revolucionaria
Revolutionary Vanguard
Revolutionary Vanguard was a political party in Peru founded in 1965 by various Marxist groups. Leaders included Ricardo Napurí , César Benavides, Ricardo Letts and Edmundo Murrugarra.In 1977 VR took part in the foundation of the UDP...
, characterized by its critics against both the APRA and the Communist Party, and its independence towards China and the Soviet Union. Instead, it turned itself toward the contemporary Guevarist foco strategy.
Following the 1963 election to the presidency of Fernando Belaunde Terry
Fernando Belaúnde Terry
Fernando Belaúnde Terry was President of Peru for two non-consecutive terms . Deposed by a military coup in 1968, he was re-elected in 1980 after eleven years of military rule...
, and his failure to implement social reforms, the situation in the very poor countryside became more critical. The first guerrilla movement, the ELN
National Liberation Army (Peru)
The National Liberation Army was a Peruvian guerrilla band that sprang from the Movimiento de la Izquierda Revolucionaria. It sought to gather militants regardless of their political affiliation...
(National Liberation Army), appeared, to be quickly defeated by the military. 1964 was marked by the continuing failure of governmental reforms and clashes during land occupations by landless peasants, and the MIR launched its armed struggle the following year.
Creation
With the intent of creating various focos, Luis Felipe de La Puente Uceda divided the country into three zones of influence, Manco CápacManco Capac
Manco Cápac was the legendary first Sapa Inca of the Kingdom of Cusco and a figure of Inca mythology. There are several versions of his origin story, which connect him to the foundation of Cusco.- Inti legend :In one myth, Manco Cápac was a son of the sun god Inti and Mama Quilla, and brother of...
in the North led by Gonzalo Fernández Gasca, Pachacutec in the South headed by Rubén Tupayachi Solórzano, and Túpac Amaru
Túpac Amaru
Túpac Amaru, also called Thupa Amaro , was the last indigenous leader of the Inca state in Peru.-Accession:...
in the Center directed by Guillermo Lobatón.
However the MIR did not manage to find sufficient popular support, while the divisions between rival revolutionary groups, such as the ELN, the Revolutionary Left Front (Frente de Izquierda Revolucionaria) headed by Hugo Blanco
Hugo Blanco
Hugo Blanco is a popular Venezuelan musician. He is best known as the author of "Moliendo Café" and other songs like "El Burrito de Belén" , "Leche Condensada", "Luces de Caracas", "Sierra Nevada", "Mañanita Zuliana", and others...
or the MIR prevented any concerted action. Confined in the jungles, the MIR unsuccessfully battled against the military forces, assisted by the CIA who, according to former CIA official Victor Marchetti
Victor Marchetti
Victor Marchetti is a former special assistant to the Deputy Director of the Central Intelligence Agency and a prominent paleoconservative critic of the United States Intelligence Community and the Israel lobby in the United States....
's words, created a "miniature Fort Bragg
Fort Bragg (North Carolina)
Fort Bragg is a major United States Army installation, in Cumberland and Hoke counties, North Carolina, U.S., mostly in Fayetteville but also partly in the town of Spring Lake. It was also a census-designated place in the 2010 census and had a population of 39,457. The fort is named for Confederate...
" into the jungle. The MIR leader Luis Felipe de la Puente Uceda died on October 23, 1965 in an armed confrontation. A few months later, the movement was all but annihilated.
Splits
Two years after Luis Felipe de la Puente Uceda's death in 1965, the MIR split into rival factions, including MIR El Militante (MIR-EM), MIR Voz Rebelde (MIR-VR) and MIR IV Etapa (MIR-IV), all claiming political orthodoxy.During the elections for a Constituent Assembly, the MIR-VR and the MIR IV participated to the left-wing Unidad Democrática Popular (UDP) coalition, thus merging with the legalist left, and then to the Izquierda Unida
United Left (Peru)
United Left was an alliance of leftist political parties in Peru founded in 1980 by Popular Democratic Unity , Revolutionary Left Union , Peruvian Communist Party , Revolutionary Socialist Party , Revolutionary Communist Party and FOCEP.In 1984 UDP and a part of PCR converted itself into the...
coalition in the 1980s. On the other hand, the MIR-EM continued armed struggle, merging in 1982 with the Partido Socialista Revolucionario - Marxista Leninista (PSR-ML) to create the Movimiento Revolucionario Túpac Amaru (MRTA).
External links
- RÉNIQUE, José Luis. De la traición aprista al gesto heroico - Luis de la Puente y la guerrilla del MIR en Estudios Interdisciplinarios de América Latina y el Caribe. Vol. 5, Nº 1. Universidad de Tel Aviv. ene-jun 2004
- Instituto de Estudios Luis Felipe de la Puente Uceda
- Luis de la Puente on Marxist Archives