From: World Perspectives <worldpnews@igc.apc.org>
Subject: South America news
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: daemon@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: ?
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1992 00:13:11 GMT

/* Written  4:13 pm  Nov 10, 1992 by worldpnews@igc.apc.org in igc:worldp.samples */
/* ---------- "South America news" ---------- */
From WORLD PERSPECTIVES. Box 3074, Madison, WI 53704


COLOMBIA
 Colombian President, Cesar Gaviria, declared a state of emergency
late Nov 8, following a weekend of attacks be guerrillas that left
at least 40 people dead. Gaviria said the state of emergency allows
a series of legal measures aimed at what he called "raving
fanatics."

His announcement came on the heels of a sharp escalation of the
offensive by the Colombian Revolutionary Armed Forces. It included
the killing of 16 police officers guarding oil wells and a series
of bomb blasts in the capital, Bogota. There were also 25 bomb
attacks in only one day in Medellin.

Gaviria, whose popularity rating has plunged to only 15%, cancelled
peace talks with the guerrillas scheduled for last month because of
the renewed violence.

Gaviria announced ways to undermine guerrilla financing, such as
denying government contracts to Colombian and foreign companies
which funnel money to the rebels. He said politicians who have
contact with the guerrillas will also be suspended and the radio
and television stations will be prevented from broadcasting reports
on military operations being carried out. The media are also
prohibited from printing guerrilla statements. (R. France 11/9)


PERU
 The Peruvian President, Alberto Fujimori, has again said he thinks
that Abimael Guzman, the captured leader of the Sendero Luminoso -
Shining Path - should be executed for the crime of genocide.
Fujimori pointed out that the UN has categorized the SP as a
movement with genocidal characteristics, and that therefore the
Peruvian government was looking for a formula which would allow it
to execute Guzman.

The issue of the death penalty is one that is expected to play a
large part in the election for a Constituent Assembly to reform
Peru's constitution. This election is scheduled for the 22nd of
this month.

Meanwhile, Fujimori, who assumed near-dictatorial powers in April,
has called for a national referendum that could lift Peru's
constitutional ban on presidential re-elections. Contradicting
earlier statements that he is planning to leave office when his
term ends in 1995, Fujimori said in a television interview that
"the Peruvian people and not a small group of congressmen, should
decide the re-election issue in a referendum." (Spanish Radio 11/9)


ARGENTINA
 A general strike, the first against the government of the current
Argentinean President, Carlos Menem, organized by the General Work
Confederation, the country's trade union umbrella organization, has
received less workers support than was expected by the organizers.

The strike, which aims at protesting against the government's
drastic austerity program which is currently in effect, has had an
impact on Argentina's main industrial centers, as well as on the
rail transportation system. However, it had not much effect on
business in general, education or private banking.

Meanwhile, Menem on Nov 9 defended his government's economic
adjustment plans, which have included the privatization of many
state enterprises such as the national telephone company and
Argentina's airlines. (Spanish radio 11/9)
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   OTHER NEWS TODAY ON THE SUBSCRIBERS-ONLY WORLDP.NEWS:

Threats in Liberia; Deaths in custody in Australia; Civil war may
resume in Cambodia; Search and destroy offensive in Sri Lanka; On
Thailand's amnesty to massacre perpetrators.

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