Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1963-10-28
PERU

able adjectives which Mr..
Belaunde's critics apply to
him. Others range all the way
down the scale to "demagogue,
"cynic" and even liar"
Critics point to the presi-
dents persistent refusal to use
police power against the Indian
communities which are follow
ing extremist agitators in in
vaSions Of private estates. Each
day the opposition press here
Is full Of disquieting headlines
from the Andean sierra about
new land invasions melted by
government inactivity and the
promise Of land reform now
before Congress.
Businessmen are upset. A
proposed $3.50 million tax stamp
program to cover all CONNER
cial and financial transactions,
and such consumer goods as
imported automobiles. ciga-I
rettes and liquor. has raised q
storm in Lima. Critics say the
tax plan was hastily prepared
to fit q bloated budget and that
it will stifle industry and busi-
ness which are the most pro-
ductive part Of the economy.
These businessmen do not
deny that the Peruvian econ
omy is presently sound. with
a free and stable currency
more than 500 million in re-
serves. But they note both
domestic and foreign investors
are either holding back or
sending their money out of the
country until they can see
which way Peru is headed"
Another issue against the
president is his cratic political
behavior before winning the
presidency. Critics still remem-
Der how Mr.. Belaunde shouted
fraud" when he did not win
the national elections in 1862,
how he made a futile and his
trionic attempt to start a re-
volt in his home city Of Are
quipa. and how he finally SUD-
ported the military coup in
July, 1862.
For these people his subse-
quent victory in June, 1868,
elections after a year Of mill
tary rule is more an object of
scorn than praise.
More conservative circles also
cannot forget the early Be-
launde flirtations with the
Communists, as well as the
radical left which still inhabits
Q small wing Of his Accion
Popular Popular Action
Party. Confident predictions
are being made that he is about
to ally himself informally with
the few strong Communist
trade unions in order to break
the APRA hold on organized
labor.
Popularity Growing
But these doubts and sus-
picions-some Of them lust,
many Of them unjuSt-do not
seem TO dent the soaring popu-
lar image Of the man.
He has quite blatantly ap-
pealed to the ambitions of the
underprivileged, to those mil
lions Of illiterateS and semi
hterates who are not allowed
to vote here but who together
compose a massive force for
change. Indeed, many Of Mr..
Belaunde's more sober admirers
fear that, once on this proven
bal tigers back Of revolt, he
will not be able to get off.
At his side directing the cam
paign stand fervent, young, in
tellectual "Belaundistas." They
are both inside and outside the
Accion Popular Party. Many
are former students Of the
architect -turned-president, and
all come from the same grow
ing middle and professional
classes. Their organization is
still faulty, their ideas hazy.
but they act and talk like mis-
sionaries.
Their goal: To break up the
close-knit oligarchy whose in
terlocking bank directories
and vast landed estates have a
strangle-hold on Peru.
Pick and Shovel Symbols
The pick and shovel are the |
"Belaundista" symbols of re-
volt. "Picos Palas para Revo-
lucion sin Balas" (Picks and
Shovels for Revolution without
Bullets) is their rhythmic slo-
gan. And the mass rally is
their chosen vehicle for prov
ing the power which both SYM
bols and slogan WELD.
President Belaunde's 5lstI
birthday here october 8 pro-
vided an occasion for a rally.
More than 10000 partiSans
filtered through narrow shop
ping streets to stand shouting
and chanting before the high