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La Resistencia (Peru)

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La Resistencia Dios, Patria y Familia
FounderJuan José Muñico
Dates of operation2018 (2018)
CountryPeru
MotivesOpposition to left-wing and progressive groups
Ideology
Political positionRight-wing[1][2] to far-right[3]
SloganGod, Homeland and Family
StatusActive
Allies

La Resistencia Dios, Patria y Familia (English: The Resistance God, Homeland and Family), commonly known as La Resistencia, is a far-right militant organization that promotes Fujimorism in Peru.

History

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Founding

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Ultraconservative groups began to emerge in Peru around 2017 when proposals to introduce gender studies to education curricula occurred.[4] La Resistencia was founded in 2018 by Juan José Muñico, a politician of Popular Renewal who had reportedly been involved in the murder of a veteran of the Cenepa War in 1998.[5][6] The organization began as a platform to support Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of Alberto Fujimori and leader of Popular Force.[7] Fujimori at the time served as the head of the Congress of Peru during the administration of Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, attracting La Resistencia since she held much of the political power in Peru.[5] Members of the group were seen associating themselves with Popular Force politician Rosa Bartra.[7]

2019 Peruvian constitutional crisis

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Following the dissolution of the Congress of Peru by President Martín Vizcarra during the 2019 Peruvian constitutional crisis, La Resistencia's support would decline slightly towards Keiko Fujimori, with the group instead beginning to support far-right politician Rafael López Aliaga and the National Solidarity party, which would later be restructured as Popular Renewal.[7] During the 2020 Peruvian parliamentary election, Muñico and Rosa Batra would both run unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress on the National Solidarity ticket.[7]

2020 Peruvian protests

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During the 2020 Peruvian protests, La Resistencia acted against protesters, destroying a makeshift memorial dedicated to two demonstrators killed.[3]

2021 Peruvian general election

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During the 2021 Peruvian general election, Muñico threatened multiple groups that he alleged supported presidential candidate Pedro Castillo according to La República, stating "We are already pointing towards all those politicians, vacant presidents, opinionologists, NGOs, influencers, etc. who, knowing the danger of the country and our children are supporting the communist candidate. When the danger passes, we will remember it in their own homes..."[8] After Castillo was elected, La Resistencia said that the voting was fraudulent and supported Keiko Fujimori's claims.[9] On 2 July 2021, Sagasti would refuse to audit the second round of elections; Fujimori would accuse Sagasti of abandoning his "great responsibility to ensure fair elections."[10] Days later on 14 July 2021, hundreds of members of La Resistencia members attempted to storm the Government Palace in a similar manner to the January 6 United States Capitol attack, surrounding the vehicles of ministers of Óscar Ugarte and Solangel Fernández and attacking journalists, though La Resistencia was successfully repelled by authorities.[4][7][9][11] Fujimori would admit her defeat on 19 July 2021, though she would continue saying that "votes were stolen" from her.[12] By October 2021, Fujimori began to distance herself from the group.[13]

Presidency of Pedro Castillo

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During the presidency of Pedro Castillo, the group called for his ousting, with La Resistencia leader Juan José Muñico stating:[9]

"What Peru needs is an extreme right-wing government. In the Government we live in now, ... have taken over the Judiciary, the Prosecutor's Office, the Constitutional Court, the National Elections Jury. What we need is a strong government, which is not willing to give in anywhere. ... If our destiny is prison, then we will continue to do our activities in the streets"

After Castillo called for the Organization of American States to intervene in November 2022 following numerous attempts to remove him from office, members of La Resistencia protested against the delegation of the OAS High Level Group in San Isidro and were dispersed by police following attacks.[14]

Protests against Dina Boluarte

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While widespread protests against President Dina Boluarte occurred, La Resistencia members gathered outside of the headquarters of IDL-Reporteros, the home of its chief journalist Gustavo Gorriti and the home of journalist Rosa María Palacios of La República.[15] Nearby members of the Peruvian National Police watched on as members of La Resistencia attacked the IDL headquarters by throwing objects and explosives at the building while also issuing antisemitic statements and death threats towards Gorriti.[16][17] The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the actions of La Resistencia for its actions of intimidating journalists.[15]

Organization and doctrine

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La Resistencia is Fujimorist organization that identifies with anti-communism and far-right politics.[9] The organization has been described independently as "fascist" or "neofascist[5][3][18][19] with sociologist Carmen Rosa Balbi describing that such radicalization had not been observed in Peru since the 1930s.[4] This designation has been officially rejected by La Resistencia.[9] Some journalists have also questioned said characterization, such as Aldo Mariátegui, who stated that "accusing the so lost and fragile Dina Boluarte or the horde of 'La Resistencia' of being 'fascists' is either ignorant or demagogic".[20] Perú 21 has also criticized said label, regarding that certain elements on the Left have "sought to portray a handful of unruly individuals as a fascist cell".[21]

The Times of Israel accused said group as antisemitic after attacks towards Peruvian-Jewish journalist Gustavo Gorriti outside of his home.[22]

Its members include current and retired military officers of the Peruvian Armed Forces who have been described as violent shock troops of the far-right in Peru.[7][3][15][18] The group spread anti-lockdown and anti-vaccine sentiments during the COVID-19 pandemic in Peru while also promoting anti-LGBT violence and violence against women.[4][7][3] Members have been seen using fascist symbolism, wearing black uniforms, using the swastika, waving the Cross of Burgundy and gesturing the fascist salute at events, which was described as being similar to the Nazi salute.[4][5][3][9][18][23] The organization also has two sub-groups; Los Combatientes (The Combatants) and Los Insurgentes (The Insurgents).[4][9] These two branches have been observed on social media disseminating disinformation, fake news and fascist imagery, according to Público.[4][7] The leader of Los Combatientes, Roger Ayachi, has been observed making violent speeches according to La Tercera.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "Políticos y periodistas cuestionan reunión de 'La Resistencia' en Ministerio de Cultura". Expreso (in Spanish). 11 July 2023. Retrieved 30 May 2024. La Resistencia es un grupo derecha, fue registrado como asociación civil.
  2. ^ "Jorge Muñoz pide que los organismos electorales sean "transparentes" y que "abran la información" - Exitosa Noticias". Exitosa (in Spanish). 25 June 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2024. ...entre simpatizantes de Perú Libre y miembros del grupo derechista denominado "La Resistencia".
  3. ^ a b c d e f Mitrovic, Mijail (2021). "At the fabric of history: Peru's political struggle under (and against) the pandemic". Dialectical Anthropology. 45 (4): 431–446. The deaths of the two young men led to a dispute over public space that prefigured the following months: the memorials erected spontaneously by citizens were repeatedly razed to the ground by the pro-Fujimori group La Resistencia, a far-right shock troop that months later would boast of shouting "no to communism" with the fascist gesture of the raised right arm during the second round between Keiko Fujimori (Fuerza Popular) and Pedro Castillo (Perú Libre).
  4. ^ a b c d e f g "La extrema derecha emerge en la crispada coyuntura política de Perú". Público. 2021-08-25. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  5. ^ a b c d "'La Pestilencia' por dentro". IDL-Reporteros (in Spanish). 20 May 2023. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  6. ^ ""Alias Maelo", el crimen impune". IDL-Reporteros (in Spanish). 22 January 2020. Retrieved 21 May 2023.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h PERU21, NOTICIAS (2021-07-18). "La Resistencia: la radiografía de un grupo violento | POLITICA". Peru21 (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  8. ^ "Elecciones 2021: Líder del grupo La Resistencia amenazó a votantes de Pedro Castillo | Elecciones | La República". La República (in Spanish). 2021-06-07. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g "Perú: ultraderechismo y pedidos de "vacancia" a poco de iniciar el Gobierno de Pedro Castillo". France 24. 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  10. ^ "Keiko Fujimori: 'Sagasti abdicó de su gran responsabilidad de garantizar elecciones limpias'" (in Spanish). Canal N. 2 July 2021. Archived from the original on 3 July 2021. Retrieved 4 July 2021.
  11. ^ "Seguidores de Keiko Fujimori marchan a Palacio y atacan el coche de dos ministros con ellos dentro". El Mundo (in Spanish). 2021-07-15. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  12. ^ "Peru Socialist Castillo Confirmed President After Lengthy Battle Over Results". U.S. News & World Report. Reuters. 19 July 2021. Archived from the original on 20 July 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
  13. ^ PERÚ, Empresa Peruana de Servicios Editoriales S. A. EDITORA. "Keiko Fujimori deslinda con acciones del grupo La Resistencia". Andina (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  14. ^ "OEA en el Perú | Miembros de La Resistencia atacan con protestas a delegación de cancilleres y vicecancilleres de la OEA | Actualidad | La República". La República (in Spanish). 2022-11-20. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  15. ^ a b c Spicer, Sarah (2023-02-22). "Protesters surround homes of Peruvian journalists Gustavo Gorriti and Rosa María Palacios". Committee to Protect Journalists. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  16. ^ "CPJ exige actuar a las autoridades peruanas ante ataques contra IDL-R". IDL-Reporteros (in Spanish). 2023-05-12. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  17. ^ Kessler, Jacob. "Leading Peruvian-Jewish reporter hit with antisemitic protests after probing police". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  18. ^ a b c d Rojas, Fernanda (2021-12-19). "La Resistencia: El grupo extremista que amenaza con desestabilizar Perú". La Tercera. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  19. ^ Drinot, Paulo (17 March 2022). "Peruvian Stasis". New Left Review. Retrieved 21 May 2023. neofascist groups like La Resistencia, with close ties to the fujimorista movement, have sought to intimidate government ministers, independent journalists and feminist activists.
  20. ^ Mariátegui, Aldo [in Spanish] (13 July 2023). "[OPINIÓN] Aldo Mariátegui: "Mohme, los ignorantes y lo que es el facismo"". Perú 21. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  21. ^ Cabanillas, Carlos (16 July 2023). "Resistencia e inconsistencia: cuando activismo es cultura o basura". Perú 21. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  22. ^ Kessler, Jacob. "Leading Peruvian-Jewish reporter hit with antisemitic protests after probing police". Times of Israel. Retrieved 2023-05-21.
  23. ^ "La extrema derecha en el Perú hoy". LATINDADD (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-05-21.
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