From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: PERU: CRISIS UNDERSCORES FRAGILITY OF REGIONAL DEMOCRACIES
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Thu, 16 Apr 1992 09:23:41 GMT

/** reg.samerica: 204.0 **/
** Topic: PERU: CRISIS UNDERSCORES FRAGILITY **
** Written 10:46 am  Apr 10, 1992 by hrcoord in cdp:reg.samerica **
From: Human Rights Coordinator <hrcoord>
Subject: PERU: CRISIS UNDERSCORES FRAGILITY 

/* Written  7:03 pm  Apr  9, 1992 by newsdesk in
cdp:ips.englibrary */ Copyright Inter Press Service 1992, all
rights reserved.  Permission to re- print within 7 days of
original date only with permission from 'newsdesk'.

Title: PERU: CRISIS UNDERSCORES FRAGILITY OF REGIONAL DEMOCRACIES

san jose, apr 6 (ips) -- the dramatic news of sunday night's
so-called ''auto coup'' by the peruvian president, alberto
fujimori, has sent shock waves around the region and underscored
the fragility of the democratic reform process in latin america.

on sunday night, fujimori, with the backing of the armed forces,
suspended the constitution, dissolved parliament, called for a
reorganisation of the judicial system and established an
''emergency government of national reconstruction.''

after the recent military actions in haiti and venezuela, the
peruvian crisis is widely seen as the latest setback to a
decade-long effort to build democracy in latin america, and as
such has drawn swift condemnation from other nations in the region
as well as from the international community.

the united states, which has spearheaded moves to put an end to
the latin american military dictatorships it once promoted, now
faces a renewed threat to democracy in which the armed forces are
once again the key players.

however, unlike the military actions in haiti or venezuela, in
peru it is the president himself who has led the military in
overthrowing the established order and dissolving congress.

latin america's third unconstitutional action in six months
appears to be a drastic bid by the executive to give itself ample
room for manoeuvre in a bitter civil struggle against rebel forces
who show no sign of weakening after more than a decade of war
against the government.

in the case of venezuela, the failed coup on feb 4 was an attempt
to oust president carlos andres perez and negotiate alternative
economic policies with the international monetary fund, while in
haiti the armed forces reacted against the country's first
democratic government, led by jean bertrand aristide.

peru's 12-year civil war between the armed forces and two leftist
insurgent groups--the shining path and the tupac amaru
revolutionary movement--has left 23,000 dead and economic losses
in excess of 20,000 million dollars.

with important strategic interests in peru--not least because of
the drug-trafficking problem--the u.s. faces a delicate situation
with the peruvian army determined to escalate its
counterinsurgency efforts, but with heavy risks to democracy.

most armed attacks are attributed to the maoist shining path
organisation, which declared war on the government in 1980 and now
controls about one-third of the country's territory.

a statement issued by peru's joint military command said it was
''absolutely convinced'' that ''immediate emergency measures''
were needed to ''correct'' the legislative and judicial
institutional crisis ''in order to rebuild the country.''
(more/ips)
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peru: crisis (2)

the military chiefs stressed that measures to ''establish a new
basic structure for peruvian society and adapt leading
institutions to the country's real interests'' were essential and
could not be postponed.

the measures were justified as a means to achieve economic
recovery, erradicate government corruption, pacify the country and
fight terrorism and drug-trafficking more effectively.

according to fujimori, the newly-installed ''emergency government
of national reconstruction'' seeks to reform the political
constitution and reorganise congress and the judiciary.

the measure, said fujimori, seeks to pacify peru by ''drastically
sanctioning the activities of terrorists and drug-traffickers,
thereby guaranteeing a climate of peace and tranquility which will
attract national and foreign investment.''

the ''emergency'' government's stated objectives also include
promoting a free market economy, reorganising the education
system, decentralising government departments and improving living
standards in the medium term.

latin american countries and the united states have been swift in
their condemnation of events in peru.

while most latin american governements--including venezuela,
chile, uruguay, brazil, bolivia, ecuador, costa rica and
nicaragua-- have strongly rejected the ''autocoup'', u.s.
president george bush was said to be ''very disappointed'' at
fujimori's actions, according to a white house statement.

the u.s. state department also denounced the move in unusually
strong terms, describing it as ''an unjustified action against
democracy.''

the state department also called for the ''full and immediate
restoration of constitutional democracy, which must include the
immediate release of those detained,'' a reference to sunday's
detention of several peruvian oppostion leaders and the house
arrest of others, including the presidents of the house of
representatives and the senate.

on monday afternoon, the united states announced that all aid to
peru, except for humanitarian assistance, would be suspended.

last year, washington approved 237 million dollars in economic and
military aid to peru, of which about 40 million have yet to be
disbursed. another 300 million in aid was likely to have been
approved for this year. (ends/ips/trd/mso/cg/92)
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** End of text from cdp:reg.samerica **

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