Though the MRTA was not officially founded until 1984, the group has a history dating back to 1980. Many scholars believe the group was originally a front organization for the Sendero Luminoso (SL). Nestor Cerpa and Victor Polay founded the MRTA in 1984. These two university student radicals believed in a diverse, Castroite Marxists-Leninist ideology (Terrorist research Center). The group leaders decided in 1986 to join forces with the Movement of Revolutionary Left (MIR). Shortly after the merger, the MRTA headed a widespread bombing campaign throughout Lima. This first ca

The MRTA, like any terrorist group, has relied heavily on its leaders. A group without an effective leader is not an effective group. The history, ideology, and the terrorist attacks of the MRTA clearly state the views and interests of the MRTA. It will be interesting to watch for the movement of the MRTA as elections take place in the United States.

The goal of the revolutionary strategy of the MRTA is the seizure of power and building of socialism. The ideology and strategy of the MRTA includes their mission to replace the representative democracy with the "power of the people." According to Victor Polay, Peru is no longer semi-feudal, but rather is a dependant capitalist country. There is a bourgeoisie, which represents the interests of imperialism. Since the working class has grown enormously in Peru, Polay believes the MRTA needs an anti-capitalist element in its political theory. Other group members have agreed and MRTA theory now states that in every factory and in every school there must be mechanisms of direct control of the people. The MRTA wants all monopolies transformed into property of the people. They do not want them state controlled because public corporations are too dependent on the government, therefore subjecting them to bureaucratization and corruption.

There are two main leaders of the Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement, Victor Polay Campos and Nestor Cerpa Cartolini. Polay is now a member of the Central Committee of the MRTA. Victor Polay is fluent in both French and Basque, having studied in France and Spain with Alan Garcia (who later became President of Peru). In 1987, Victor Polay became Comandante Rolando. He carried out a series of guerilla attacks in San Martin and eventually was arrested at a tourist hotel in Huancayo. After escaping prison, authorities re-arrested him and detained him in total isolation at the Callao where he still resides today.

Presently, the MRTA work force is estimated at between 100-150 combatants Terrorism Research Center). The group suffered a blow when Peruvian Counter-terrorist group raided their underground headquarters. Since 1990, the MRTA have only had three terrorist attacks. On January 15, they tried to bomb the U.S. embassy in Peru. Three people were injured. Six months later, the MRTA exploded a dynamite bomb at the U.S. B

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