Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement
Encyclopedia
The Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement (Túpac Katari
Revolutionary Movement) (Spanish
: Movimiento Revolucionario Túpac Katari, MRTK) is a left-wing political party
in Bolivia
.
The Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement was founded in May 1978 and was constituted as a left-wing national democratic organization for all classes, based mainly on the peasantry and other exploited strata, with the object of establishing a just society, majority rule and self-determination of the people.
Led by Juan Condori Uruchi, Clemente Ramos Flores, Daniel Calle M.
The party claims origins in independence movements started under Spanish rule in 1781 (by Túpac Katari in Bolivia
and Túpac Amaru II
in Peru
) and continued as peasant movements in 1946–1952, leading to land reform, universal suffrage and the nationalization of mines between 1952 and 1964, and to the creation of a Tupaj Katari Confederation in 1971.
In 1978 the Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement took part in an electoral coalition Democratic and Popular Union backing Hernán Siles Zuazo
.
After the 1978 elections, the MRTK broke with the Democratic and Popular Union and personal rivalries divided it into three factions.
For the 1979 general elections, the fraction that retained the name MRTK, led by Macabeo Chila Prieto, was the component of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement-Alliance
, with the MNR's Víctor Paz Estenssoro
as the coalition's presidential candidate.
The second fraction was led by Clemente Ramos Flores and joined the Democratic and Popular Union backing Hernán Siles Zuazo
.
The third and largest was led by Jenaro Flores Santos
, who declined to compete and "instructed the party's adherents to vote for the left".
In 1980 the MRTK allied with the Revolutionary Party of the Nationalist Left
and its candidate Juan Lechín Oquendo
.
The Macabeo Chila Prieto's MRTK took part in 1985 elections, running its leader. He polled 1.08 per cent of the vote.
After the 1985 elections, the Macabeo Chila Prieto's MRTK disappeared.
In 1985 Jenaro Flores Santos
registered the Revolutionary Liberation Movement Tupaq Katari
(Movimiento Revolucionario Tupaj Katari de Liberacion, MRTKL).
It took part in 1985 elections, running Jenaro Flores Santos
. He polled 2.11 per cent of the vote.
Within a year of its formation, divisions emerged within the MRTKL between Jenaro Flores Santos
, on the one hand, and Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
and Walter Reynaga Vásquez, the party's two deputies of the National Congress, on the other. In a 1988 party congress, Jenaro Flores Santos
walked out with some of his upporters and formed the Katarist United Liberation Front
(FULKA). Both parties lost support after the internal bickering became public. Jenaro Flores Santos
's exit still did not achieve unity in the MRTKL: neither Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
nor Walter Reynaga Vásquez would accept the second position in the new party hierarchy. Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
eventually edged out his rival.
The MRTKL took part in 1989 elections, running Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
. He polled 1.6 per cent of the vote.
Although the indigenous candidates attracted large crowds, they found that many campesinos already were committed to the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
, the Revolutionary Left Movement
, or other parties that had a better chance of winning.
Tupac Katari
Túpac Katari or Catari , born Julián Apasa Nina, was a leader in the rebellions of indigenous people of Bolivia against the Spanish Empire in the early 1780s....
Revolutionary Movement) (Spanish
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 Revolucionario Túpac Katari, MRTK) is a left-wing political party
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
.
The Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement was founded in May 1978 and was constituted as a left-wing national democratic organization for all classes, based mainly on the peasantry and other exploited strata, with the object of establishing a just society, majority rule and self-determination of the people.
Led by Juan Condori Uruchi, Clemente Ramos Flores, Daniel Calle M.
The party claims origins in independence movements started under Spanish rule in 1781 (by Túpac Katari in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
and Túpac Amaru II
Túpac Amaru II
Túpac Amaru II was a leader of an indigenous uprising in 1780 against the Spanish in Peru...
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....
) and continued as peasant movements in 1946–1952, leading to land reform, universal suffrage and the nationalization of mines between 1952 and 1964, and to the creation of a Tupaj Katari Confederation in 1971.
In 1978 the Tupaj Katari Revolutionary Movement took part in an electoral coalition Democratic and Popular Union backing Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo was a politician from Bolivia. He served as his country's constitutionally elected president twice, from 1956 to 1960 and again from 1982 to 1985....
.
After the 1978 elections, the MRTK broke with the Democratic and Popular Union and personal rivalries divided it into three factions.
For the 1979 general elections, the fraction that retained the name MRTK, led by Macabeo Chila Prieto, was the component of the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement-Alliance
Revolutionary Nationalist Movement-Alliance
The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement-Alliance was a centrist electoral political alliance in Bolivia.The MNRA was formed in 1979 bythe Revolutionary Nationalist Movement, MNR;...
, with the MNR's Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Víctor Paz Estenssoro
Ángel Víctor Paz Estenssoro was a politician and president of Bolivia. He ran for president 8 times , winning in 1951, 1960, 1964, and 1985....
as the coalition's presidential candidate.
The second fraction was led by Clemente Ramos Flores and joined the Democratic and Popular Union backing Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo
Hernán Siles Zuazo was a politician from Bolivia. He served as his country's constitutionally elected president twice, from 1956 to 1960 and again from 1982 to 1985....
.
The third and largest was led by Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos is a Bolivian trade union leader and politician.Flores Santos was the founder of the Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia, or CSUTCB...
, who declined to compete and "instructed the party's adherents to vote for the left".
In 1980 the MRTK allied with the Revolutionary Party of the Nationalist Left
Revolutionary Party of the Nationalist Left
The Revolutionary Party of the Nationalist Left was a left-wing political party in Bolivia. It was founded in 1963 by the labor leader Juan Lechín Oquendo and by Mario Torres Calleja and Edwin Moller in lesser roles...
and its candidate Juan Lechín Oquendo
Juan Lechín Oquendo
Juan Lechín Oquendo was a labor-union leader and head of the Federation of Bolivian Mine Workers from 1944 to 1987 and the Bolivian Workers' Union from 1952 to 1987...
.
The Macabeo Chila Prieto's MRTK took part in 1985 elections, running its leader. He polled 1.08 per cent of the vote.
After the 1985 elections, the Macabeo Chila Prieto's MRTK disappeared.
In 1985 Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos is a Bolivian trade union leader and politician.Flores Santos was the founder of the Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia, or CSUTCB...
registered the Revolutionary Liberation Movement Tupaq Katari
Revolutionary Liberation Movement Tupaq Katari
The Revolutionary Liberation Movement Tupaq Katari is a left-wing political party in Bolivia....
(Movimiento Revolucionario Tupaj Katari de Liberacion, MRTKL).
It took part in 1985 elections, running Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos is a Bolivian trade union leader and politician.Flores Santos was the founder of the Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia, or CSUTCB...
. He polled 2.11 per cent of the vote.
Within a year of its formation, divisions emerged within the MRTKL between Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos is a Bolivian trade union leader and politician.Flores Santos was the founder of the Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia, or CSUTCB...
, on the one hand, and Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
Víctor Hugo Cárdenas Conde is a Bolivian indigenous Aymara activist and politician. He is the leader of the MRTKL party...
and Walter Reynaga Vásquez, the party's two deputies of the National Congress, on the other. In a 1988 party congress, Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos is a Bolivian trade union leader and politician.Flores Santos was the founder of the Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia, or CSUTCB...
walked out with some of his upporters and formed the Katarist United Liberation Front
Katarist United Liberation Front
The Katarist United Liberation Front was a Katarist political party in Bolivia. The party was launched by Jenaro Flores Santos ahead of the 1989 elections. FULKA was formed after a split in the Tupaq Katari Revolutionary Movement at the 1988 congress of MRTK...
(FULKA). Both parties lost support after the internal bickering became public. Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos
Jenaro Flores Santos is a Bolivian trade union leader and politician.Flores Santos was the founder of the Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia, or CSUTCB...
's exit still did not achieve unity in the MRTKL: neither Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
Víctor Hugo Cárdenas Conde is a Bolivian indigenous Aymara activist and politician. He is the leader of the MRTKL party...
nor Walter Reynaga Vásquez would accept the second position in the new party hierarchy. Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
Víctor Hugo Cárdenas Conde is a Bolivian indigenous Aymara activist and politician. He is the leader of the MRTKL party...
eventually edged out his rival.
The MRTKL took part in 1989 elections, running Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
Víctor Hugo Cárdenas
Víctor Hugo Cárdenas Conde is a Bolivian indigenous Aymara activist and politician. He is the leader of the MRTKL party...
. He polled 1.6 per cent of the vote.
Although the indigenous candidates attracted large crowds, they found that many campesinos already were committed to the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
Revolutionary Nationalist Movement
The Revolutionary Nationalist Movement is a Bolivian political party, perhaps the most important in the country during the 20th century. At the legislative elections in 2002, the party won, in an alliance with the Free Bolivia Movement, 26.9% of the popular vote and 36 out of 130 seats in the...
, the Revolutionary Left Movement
Revolutionary Left Movement (Bolivia)
The Revolutionary Left Movement - New Majority is a social democratic political party in Bolivia...
, or other parties that had a better chance of winning.