Antauro Humala
He is a retired army major and leader of the ultra-nationalist Movimiento Etnocacerista (named after Andrés Cáceres, a Peruvian hero who led the guerrilla resistance after Chile won the War of the Pacific (1879-1883).
Why watch him?
Humala led an assault on a police station in the municipality of Andahuaylas in
southern Peru on 1 January demanding the resignation of President Alejandro
Toledo. At least six people, including four police officers, have died since a
combined military and police operation to flush the men out. Humala was arrested
late on 3 January while attending talks with representatives of the military and
the police but his 200 followers still hold some 19 hostages.
Education: Humala was educated in the Colegio Francoperuano in Lima.
Timeline:
October 2000: Antauro and his brother Ollanta lead an abortive
uprising against President Alberto Fujimori. They serve brief spells in prison.
The weekly magazine 'Ollanta' is launched.
November 2003: Ollanta holds a symposium "Agro, Coca y Nacionalismo", advocating the widespread cultivation and consumption of coca leaf and the end to 'arbitrary frontiers', such as those with Chile, Ecuador and Bolivia, which prevent indigenous brethren from coming together as one nation.
2004: Antauro is invited by the president of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez , to attend a meeting of the Movimiento Bolivariano in Caracas.
1 January 2005: Humala and 200 of his supporters seize control of the police station in the municipality of Andahuaylas.
Strengths: Antauro Humala is a powerful demagogue. He appeals to young, unemployed indigenous Peruvians who feel disenfranchised. His followers have played an important role in protest actions and demonstrations in Peru since the coup attempt against Fujimori in 2000. 'The solution to our problems is a bolivianazo', Humala said shortly after the uprising that led to the collapse of the Sánchez de Lozada government in Bolivia in 2003.
Weaknesses: While many Peruvians feel let down by President Toledo and would not be averse to the return of a more authoritarian figure, Humala's racist ideology and ultra-nationalist beliefs will not appeal to the masses. Even if they did, there is simply no powerful indigenous political organisation in Peru as there is in neighbouring Ecuador and Bolivia. Humala favours the establishment of the death penalty for officials found guilty of corruption and for homosexuals.
Prospects: Humala's immediate prospects are uncertain after his arrest. While Humala was well received by residents of Andahuaylas, who cheered him through the streets on 3 January, there was little national support for his cause. Small groups of uniformed Etnocerista 'reservists' marched in three cities - about 30 in Huancayo, 40 in Arequipa and 50 in Puno. Humala's bid to become president in 2006 will not pick up a head of steam if he is released. Although he reached about 6% support in some opinion polls (not insignificant in a country where the leading candidate is the self-exiled Fujimori on about 19%) this soon evaporated.