Military

DATE=10/30/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

NUMBER=2-268645

TITLE=PERU / REVOLT (L)

BYLINE=BILL RODGERS

DATELINE=LIMA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

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INTRO: Peruvian troops are searching for a small group of rebel soldiers in southern Peru that rose up in revolt Sunday against the government of President Alberto Fujimori. Meantime,V-O-A's Bill Rodgers in Lima reports the new head of Peru's armed forces has called for discipline within the ranks.

TEXT: An intense search is underway in southern Peru for a military unit that staged a revolt Sunday against President Fujimori's government. Peruvian troops supported by helicopters are searching the barren highlands in the southern departments of Puno and Tacna for the rebel soldiers, and their commander, Lieutenant Colonel Ollanta Humala Tasso.

Colonel Humala and about 50 of his soldiers briefly seized the mining town of Toquepala Sunday in the southern department of Tacna, near the border with Chile. After leaving the town with a few hostages, who were later freed, the rebel unit disappeared into the countryside. It is believed the mutineers might be headed toward a military garrison near the Peruvian border with Bolivia.

In a statement, Colonel Humala called for purging the military high command and described President Fujimori's government as illegitimate. In a telephone interview Sunday with a Peruvian radio station, the rebel commander urged other military units to support his revolt.

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However, his appeal appears to have been ignored and there are reports some rebel soldiers have abandoned the unit.

Sunday's uprising came one day after Mr. Fujimori dismissed the heads of the army, navy, and air force - all believed to be supporters of former spy chief Vladimiro Montesinos. Mr. Montesinos - once a close aide to Mr. Fujimori - returned to Peru one week ago from Panama where he had been seeking political asylum. His return has plunged the country into further political turmoil, raising fears that his supporters in the military might try to stage a coup.

However, in a ceremony Monday, the new chief of the armed forces, Walter Chacon Malaga, expressed support for President Fujimori. While not mentioning Sunday's revolt, General Chacon did call for unity.

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He said, "Our sacred duty is to strengthen discipline, and maintain our loyalty to the constitution which stipulates the president is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces."

Mr. Fujimori, who has been in office since 1990, has been under pressure to step down since last month, when a leaked videotape showed Mr. Montesinos apparently bribing an opposition politician. The public outcry over the activities of his feared security chief forced the Peruvian leader to dismiss Mr. Montesinos, and to call new elections in which he would not run.

Since his return last week, Mr. Montesinos has been in hiding and Mr. Fujimori has failed to find him despite personally leading a manhunt against his former spy chief. Peru's political opposition has criticized this effort as a show and has called on Mr. Fujimori to step down.

But the Peruvian leader has vowed to stay in office until next July when he will hand over power to his elected successor. Last week, his government and the opposition agreed to hold elections on April Eighth. (Signed)

NEB/WFR/TVM/JWH