La Resistencia (Peru)
Anti-communist group founded in 2018 in Lima, Peru
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
La Resistencia Dios, Patria y Familia (English: The Resistance God, Homeland and Family), commonly known as La Resistencia, is a far-right collective that promotes Fujimorism in Peru.
| La Resistencia Dios, Patria y Familia | |
|---|---|
| |
| Founder | Juan José Muñico |
| Foundation | December 2018[1] |
| Country | Peru |
| Groups |
|
| Motives |
|
| Headquarters | Lima |
| Ideology | Fujimorism Conservatism (Peruvian) Anti-communism Right-wing populism Factions: Neo-fascism (disputed) |
| Political position | Right-wing[2] to far-right[3] |
| Slogan | God, Homeland and Family |
| Major actions | Direct action Community organizing Harassment Digital activism Picketing Political violence Protest marching Counter-protest |
| Status | Active |
| Part of | Frente Popular Democrático[4] |
| Allies |  CMHNTM Popular Force Popular Renewal |
| Website | laresistenciaperu |
History
Founding
Ultraconservative groups began to emerge in Peru around 2017 when proposals to introduce gender studies to education curricula occurred.[5] 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.[6][7] The organization began as a platform to support Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of Alberto Fujimori and leader of Popular Force.[8] 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.[6] Members of the group were seen associating themselves with Popular Force politician Rosa Bartra.[8]
2019 Peruvian constitutional crisis
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.[8] During the 2020 Peruvian parliamentary election, Muñico and Rosa Batra would both run unsuccessfully for a seat in Congress on the National Solidarity ticket.[8]
2020 Peruvian protests
During the 2020 Peruvian protests, La Resistencia acted against protesters, destroying a makeshift memorial dedicated to two demonstrators killed.[3]
2021 Peruvian general election
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..."[9] After Castillo was elected, La Resistencia said that the voting was fraudulent and supported Keiko Fujimori's claims.[10] 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."[11] 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.[5][8][10][12] Fujimori would admit her defeat on 19 July 2021, though she would continue saying that "votes were stolen" from her.[13] By October 2021, Fujimori began to distance herself from the group.[14]
Presidency of Pedro Castillo
During the presidency of Pedro Castillo, the group called for his ousting, with La Resistencia leader Juan José Muñico stating:[10]
"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.[15]
Protests against Dina Boluarte
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.[16] 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.[17][18] The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the actions of La Resistencia for its actions of intimidating journalists.[16]
Organization and doctrine
La Resistencia is a Fujimorist organization that identifies itself with anti-communism and far-right politics.[10] The Times of Israel accused said group as antisemitic after attacks towards Peruvian-Jewish journalist Gustavo Gorriti outside of his home.[18]
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.[8][3][16][4] 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.[5][8][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.[4][19] The organization also has two sub-groups; Los Combatientes (The Combatants) and Los Insurgentes (The Insurgents).[5][10] These two branches have been observed on social media disseminating disinformation, fake news and fascist imagery, according to Público.[5][8] The leader of Los Combatientes, Roger Ayachi, has been observed making violent speeches according to La Tercera.[4]
Anti-communism
The ideology and rhetoric of La Resistencia' are fundamentally characterized by an strong opposition to communism,[20] ideology which the organization views as "anti-patriotic" and an "anti-constitutional" threat that seeks to dismantle Peruvian democratic institutions and hand the country over the São Paulo Forum, which the organization describes as “communist”. According to journalist Joseph Zarate, La Resistencia is the most organized and violent anti-communist group in Lima, which manifests its posture through marches and protests.[21] Juan José Múñico, founder of La Resistencia and a self-described ‘far-right anti-communist’ activist, has called for the 'extermination of communists' and to rise up in rebellion against the government of Pedro Castillo, in October 2021.[10]
The anti-communist posture of La Resistencia was reinforced during the presidency of Castillo in 2021, when the organization coordinated protests in order to depose him from office, alleging fraud during the presidential elections in June and accusing his administration as ‘usurper’ and ‘terrorist’.[21] According to sociologist Carmen Rosa Balbi,[5] the triumph of Castillo in the 2021 elections is seen by members of La Resistencia as a revival of Marxism-Leninism and Mariateguismo in the Peruvian political scene.
Fascism
The organization has been described independently as neofascist by some observers, including IDL-Reporteros[6] and the New Left Review,[22] with sociologist Carmen Rosa Balbi describing that such radicalization had not been observed in Peru since the 1930s.[5] Historian Tirso Molinari said that the group holds anti-immigration, anti-leftist, McCarthyist, net-fascist and right-wing populist traits.[1]
Juan José Muñico, leader of the organization, asserts that the organization's doctrinal framework is not inspired on fascism.[10]