Peru's genuine Indian challenges USA
07.06.2011
Peru,
that is often called the heiress of the Inca Empire, summed up the
results of the recent presidential election. For the first time in 40
years, the South American country will be headed by a representative of
the Left, the head of the unit "Peru Wins" Ollanta Humala. To some
extent, this is a defeat for the U.S. traditionally disliked by the
Left.
The presidential election in Peru was
particularly intriguing. Until a few months ago, polls showed that
Humala had virtually no chance to not only win, but even reach the
second round. However, in the first round, which took place on April 10,
he managed to confound the skeptics by winning with 29 percent of
votes. The second place was taken by the daughter of the former dictator
Keiko Fujimori, who was trailing six percent. As a result, these two
politicians went into the second round.
Ollanta Humala is one of the few Latin
American leaders representing the indigenous people of the continent -
the Indians. Besides him only the President of neighboring Bolivia, Evo
Morales, belongs to this race. Indian blood is flowing in the veins of
the main fighter against the U.S. in the Western Hemisphere - Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez. However, unlike Humala and Morales, he is not a
full-blooded Indian.
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Humala is known in Peru quite
widely. In the past, like Chavez, he was a military who rose to the rank
of a lieutenant colonel. In 1995, President-elect took part in the
border conflict with Ecuador. Five years later, he raised a revolt
against then head of state Alberto Fujimori - the father of his current
rival in the election. In 2005 his brother rebelled in Andahuaylas.
Five years ago, the Indian colonel
participated in presidential elections. Then Humala went to the people
with the promise to deal with the corruption of the former right
President Alejandro Toledo. He vehemently criticized the United States,
and called for joint action by Latin American countries against the
"Yankees." According to Wikileaks, the supporters of Humala's opponent
(now the President leaving his office) Alan Garcia sought support in
Washington.
Apparently, Americans have provided it,
judging by the fact that Humala was openly supported by Hugo Chavez.
Praising his Peruvian "comrade", the Venezuelan leader did not hesitate
to harshly criticize both the U.S. and Alan Garcia. Chavez called the
latter "the biggest corrupt in the history of Peru." However, Garcia was
elected. Experts believe that the excessive zeal of "violent Hugo"
rendered Humala a bad service.
Five years have passed, and Humala
became more experienced. He is no longer looked at like Chavez's
protégé, and there is not so much radicalism in his speeches. He no
longer curses the United States. He even swore on the Bible that he
would not follow the same path of the loss of democratic freedoms as the
Venezuelan leader. Humala has promised that he would respect democracy
and as the President would act only within the framework of the
Constitution, respecting the rule of law.
Yet, he announced his desire to move
closer to Brazil, whose last two presidents, though not radically
anti-American, are hardly the supporters of the United States. Luiz
Inacio Lula da Silva and Dilma Russeff talked about Brazil as an
alternative to Washington in Latin America. They caused more troubles
for the States than Chavez, so Humala is hardly a pro-American
politician.
Strictly speaking, the program included a
set of slogans that are hardly pro-US. They were slogans of social
justice, strengthening the state regulation of the economy, and more
equitable distribution of the income from mining and mineral exports.
Given that US companies play a prominent role in the economy of the
country, Washington is unlikely to enjoy the redistribution of income.
Who was the rival of Humala? It was the
leader of the right block "Power 2011" Keiko Fujimori, who had much more
right-wing slogans. She promised to introduce tax policy favorable to
big business. However, she also promised to extend pension insurance and
expand free education for less affluent groups of the population.
However, in this she was no different than her opponent.
Maybe the Peruvian of Japanese descent
would have managed to win, if it was not for the shadow of her father,
the former President Alberto Fujimori who was in office in the 1990s.
Today he is serving a 25-year jail term for corruption, abuse of power,
creation of death squads, and engaging in physical elimination of his
opponents. It is believed that on the order of pro-U.S. Fujimori at
least 25 leftist activists have been destroyed. At the same time the
dictator was able to fix the economy.
Was Keiko Fujimori an American protégé?
She may have been, but her candidacy was not directly supported by
Washington. One way or another, nearly all opinion polls gave the
victory to her. However, many in Peru were not happy with their options.
Famous local writer, Nobel laureate Mario Vargas Llosa, has likened the
choice between Humala and Fujimori with a choice between AIDS and
cancer. In the end, he leaned towards Humala.
As a result, the campaign scales tipped
in favor of a "real Indian" Humala. Nearly 51.5 percent of voters gave
him their votes, while his opponent secured 48.5 percent. If everything
goes as planned, this is the politician who will lead the 30
million-strong country that has oil and gold, silver and copper, and
where at least 45 percent of the population lives below the poverty
line. The latter, of course, are eagerly awaiting the redistribution of
wealth.
Time will tell whether Humala will stick
to "radical socialism," following the example of Chavez, or will be in
line with the "moderate left" like Brazil. Given his minimal advantage
in the election, the Brazilian scenario would satisfy the people to a
greater extent. The country where the Right have been in office for 40
years is not accustomed to excessive left radicalism.
One way or another, the victory means a
loss for the U.S. in South America. Whereas previously the United States
could rely on the axis of Colombia - Peru - Chile, now the middle link
may no longer be there. Peru may join if not the radical anti-American
bloc ALBA, where the first violin is played by Chavez and Bolivian
leader Morales, then certainly Brazil and Argentina, which, albeit not
so openly, but still want to reduce the American influence in the region
to a minimum.
Vadim Trukhachev
Pravda.Ru
http://english.pravda.ru/world/americas/07-06-2011/118131-peru-0/#
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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