Widespread Discontent in Peru
February 7, 2000 (From Peru Action and News, March 2000)As Peru approaches the Presidential elections of April 2000, there is widespread popular discontent with the current situation. The conditions of the vast majority of people continue to be intolerable—which is evident by the Maoist People’s War ability to persevere despite the imprisonment of Chairman Gonzalo and other PCP leaders.
Meanwhile, on the side of the ruling classes there continue to be divisions and rifts with regard to Fujimori’s plan to run for a third term despite a constitutional prohibition on Presidents remaining more than two terms. In a move that clearly stepped all over their own Constitution, the Fujimori controlled Congress ruled that Fujimori is exempt from that constitutional rule. The reasoning? That his first term as President was interrupted by his own 1992 military “self-coup”—so it shouldn’t be counted.
Current polls are predicting that there is no way that Fujimori could win a first round of voting in the April elections and they are predicting a run off against Alberto Andrade who is currently Mayor of Lima. But these polls have been wrong in the past and corruption in vote counting is high. In the last Presidential elections in 1995, the majority of eligible voters abstained from voting or cast spoiled ballots. Fujimori was re-elected amidst accusations that thousands of military (who are not supposed to vote according to Peruvian law) had ballots cast for Fujimori in their names.
Demonstrations and strikes all over the country have been protesting the economic hardships being suffered by the people and their condemnation of the Fujimori regime and his insistence on staying in power for another five years.
On December 7 there was a strike of 70,000 transportation workers in Lima and a 24 hour general strike in the province of Talara.
On January 16 on the first day of a farmers’ strike in Cajamarca, 18 farmers and 3 police were injured in clashes.
On January 19 there was a demonstration in Lima of workers, retired people and students, and there have been demonstrations and strikes of construction workers, doctors, teachers and many more mass mobilizations and strikes have been announced as the elections approach.
There is no question that there is massive discontent with the regime. However, there is also no question that any other candidate replacing Fujimori would continue to serve US imperialist interests—and continue suppressing the struggle of the people.
As the PCP says: “Without political power, the people have nothing.”
Fujimori Pelted with Eggs at University
February 7, 2000 (From Peru Action and News, March 2000)
In a surprise visit to Lima’s San Marcos University to inaugurate a new library on December 3, 1999, President Fujimori was instead splattered with raw eggs. That day happens to be the birthday of Comrade Gonzalo, imprisoned Chairman of the PCP—a day usually commemorated by PCP supporters with revolutionary actions. Fujimori may have picked this day for a visit to try and show that students in Peru support him and not the People’s War. But things didn’t go as planned.
Large numbers of students, even those who were supposed to be part of an official welcoming committee, taunted him with chants of “Dictator! Dictator!” and “It will fall, it will fall, the dictatorship will fall!” Some throw raw eggs. Fujimori’s security blocked the eggs from hitting him directly but got lots of egg themselves. Police tried to detain four students but the large crowd was able to force their release.
Fujimori later returned to give his speech and was again surprised by jeers and insults. He reminded the students of his 1992 Army occupation of the University, vowing never to return to “the days of chaos and violence when the PCP and MRTA controlled the university” saying he would “never again let terrorism raise its head.”
Once safely back at the Presidential Palace, Fujimori falsely claimed that there had only been 28 students protesting against him (far from the truth). In the 60’s San Marcos was considered a recruiting center for the PCP and throughout the 80’s and early 90’s support remained strong for the Maoist People’s War. In 1989, the government assaulted the university, killing one student and arresting hundreds. In 1992 Fujimori’s military coup occupied the university. Today, the University clearly continues as a hotbed of resistance to government tyranny.
Police later detained a student “for questioning” but demonstrations obtained his release. A news report the day following the egg incident stated that the selling or eating of any and all eggs is now banned at San Marcos University, “regardless of whether they are raw, fried, or poached.”
