Editorial Talk #6: Parliamentary Coup in Peru with Clau O’Brien
Channel: Orinoco Tribune
Date: 14/02/2023

Coup d’Etat in Peru — Editorial Room Talk #6
February 7, 1pm (EST)
Guide for the debate (draft):

Clau is an organizer with the Black Alliance for Peace in the Haiti/ Americas team. Originally from Barrios Altos, Lima, she grew up in New Jersey and now lives between NY and Lima.

Since December 7th of last year, when Peruvian far-right forces finally managed to oust democratically-elected President Pedro Castillo after 16 months of ongoing harassment and destabilization attempts, the Peruvian people have been taking to the streets to express their collective outrage against the coup. Like in any US-endorsed “democracy,” they have been met with repressive violence by the de facto government of Dina Boluarte, amassing 48 deaths during the 17 days of protests so far.

Meanwhile, the current silence of organizations such as UNASUR and CELAC does not go unnoticed by those of us who saw these international bodies toil to address regional crises during times when Chavez, Fidel, Lula, and the Kirchners were in power.

Against the backdrop of a clear parliamentary coup d’etat, Castillo made the decision to dissolve Congress following Article 134 of Peru's constitution. However, the fact that this outcome was facilitated by a series of mistakes that Castillo committed is undeniable. Everyone on the left must now address those mistakes in order to avoid a repeat of this crisis.

This situation in Peru emphatically underscores the importance of having a clear path toward advanced constituent processes in Latin America and other parts of the global south. All progressive forces need to evaluate their goals and priorities while taking into consideration socialist revolutions that have been successful and have maintained power, such as in Venezuela. It is important to conceptualize the process for bulletproofing constitutional changes aimed at building a socialist and anti-imperialist project, thus strengthening the new multipolar order.


Timestamps: 
0:00-4:28 Intro 
4:28-11:21 What is Really Happening 
11:21-16:31 Who's Capitalizing on the Uprisings 
16:31-19:39 Risk of the Movement Being Co-opted 
19:39-21:24 Number of Deceased or Missing 
21:24-28:05 What Should Regional Bodies Do
28:05-31:08 The Peoples’ Views of Regional Bodies 
31:08-35:39 How to Help People on the Ground 
35:39-37:36 Response of the EU and Spanish 'Left' 
37:36-38:44 Fujimori’s Role 
38:44-39:36 #SOSPeru 
39:36-40:52 Documentation of Human Rights Abuses 
40:52-42:38 Solidarity from LatAm Leaders & Do Peruvians Want to See Them Do More 
42:38-51:16 What Should Castillo Have Done 
51:16-54:20 Mobilization is Key & Concessions to the Right 
54:20-57:20 Racism of Peru’s Ruling Class 
57:39-59:55 'Long Live the OAS,' Castillo’s Inability to Govern 
59:55-1:03:12 Peruvian Constituent Assembly 
1:03:12-1:06:21 Communes & Their Obstacles 
1:06:21-1:10:43 Risk of Constituent Assembly Being Co-opted 
1:10:43-1:15:40 Coverage by Bourgeois/Gusano Press & the Response of Latinos in the US 
1:15:40-1:16:51 Do People in Peru Recognize this as a US Coup 
1:16:51-1:19:50 Updates on Pedro Castillo & His Wellbeing 
1:19:50-1:22:12 Has the Uprising Reached Lima 
1:22:12-1:31:19 Conclusion