The Militant(logo) 
    Vol.63/No.19           May 17, 1999 
 
 
Strikers In Peru Denounce Fujimori Gov't  

BY HILDA CUZCO
Workers across Peru took part in a general strike April 28, the first since President Alberto Fujimori took office nine years ago. They were protesting the government's economic policies, attacks on democratic rights, unemployment, and Fujimori's aspirations for a third presidential term.

The Peruvian General Workers' Federation (CGTP) called the labor action. Community organizations, women's groups, and student unions also participated. Four of the main opposition parties supported the action, and Alberto Andrade, the mayor of Lima and a presidential candidate for the year 2000, took part in the march and rally there.

In Lima, the capital city, around 2,000 demonstrators rallied in the main square Plaza de Armas. Juan José Gorriti, secretary-general of the CGTP, stated that "the majority of Peruvians" were participating in the strike, with the strongest support in other provinces. Mobilizations in the cities of Cuzco, Iquitos, and Huánuco shut down virtually all offices, stores, and schools.

A couple dozen Lima demonstrators were arrested in the early morning, accused of painting graffiti on the walls in support of the strike. Other reports indicated that some roads were blocked with burning tires in the capital city. Protesters were attacked by police in riot gear.

Fujimori's Bonapartist regime
Fujimori won the presidential elections in 1990 under the banner of "honest government" and promises to save "the people" from hyperinflation of up to 7,650 percent, "terrorism," and drug trafficking. Soon after taking office, he decreed brutal austerity measures to satisfy capitalist investors, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) demands to repay $22 billion in back debt. His government's subsidy cuts and lifting of price controls skyrocketed prices of fuel and staples, and hundreds of thousands government employees and workers in state- owned companies were laid off.

The peasants, almost half of the population, have also borne the brunt of the "Fuji-shock" economy, as these policies are known. Exploited by the rich landlords, many peasants rely mainly on the coca leaf crop, material for cocaine production, as they cannot live on the prices they get for beans, corn, rice, and other crops. Sixty percent of the world coca production comes from Peru.

With austerity measures that lowered the living standards of working people in Peru, the Fujimori government paid $1.7 billion of the outstanding loans to the IMF and the World Bank in 1993. This made his government eligible for new IMF loan- sharking funds.

At the same time Fujimori gave full powers to his military brass to try to crush the Stalinist Shining Path guerrilla organization beginning in 1991. Alleging that Congress failed to deal with "terrorism" and drug trafficking, he closed Congress and suspended the Constitution, staging a "self-coup" in April 1992. Fujimori replaced Congress and the Supreme Court with key military figures.

Despite his anti-working-class policies, however, Fujimori has been a highly popular president through most of his presidency.

Playing on widespread insecurity over social turmoil and the economic crisis, Fujimori was elected by presenting himself as a savior, standing above classes, who would bring stability, peace, and "clean government" by using decisive executive power to "cut through red tape." He portrayed himself as an outsider untarnished by the corruption of the discredited traditional capitalist parties.

This kind of political regime, which historically has often arisen in times of social crisis, is known as Bonapartist.

Fujimori initially won support by reducing inflation, dealing blows to the Shining Path, and attacking Congress and the courts as corrupt. Over the years, however, the demagogy has worn thin, with the continuing capitalist economic crisis and the gradual process of working people regaining their confidence to fight for their interests.

In April of this year students and workers marched in Lima carrying signs that read, "Down with the dictatorship!" and "Fujimori, it's time to go!" marking the seventh anniversary of this Bonapartist takeover.

A country of 22 million, Peru's economy has been devastated by the world economic crisis. The combined rate of unemployment and underemployment runs at 50 percent. The economic crisis in Asia affected prices of important minerals such as copper and tin. The fishing industry has also suffered a blow with the damaging effects of El Niño, which moved vital varieties of fish away from the shorelines, hurting the substantial fish- meal production industry. The country has been in an economic recession, with an economic growth of zero at the end of last year.

Fujimori has been working to increase his chances for a third-term reelection, despite his drop in popularity polls to a low of 29 percent in last December. He won the presidency for the second time in 1995 playing up the arrest and show trial of Shining Path leaders.

President campaigns for third term
In 1996 Fujimori's government majority in Congress approved a law that allows him to run for a third term, despite the two- term limit in the new constitution, on grounds that his first term fell under the old constitution and did not count. The opposition appealed to the Constitutional Tribunal, which ruled against this exemption. Fujimori responded by dismissing the tribunal for exceeding its authority. A campaign that took two years to collect 1.5 million signatures calling for a referendum to bar a third term was also thrown out by the Fujimori majority in Congress, who argued that a two-thirds majority vote in that body was needed to hold a referendum.

Fujimori recently tried to refurbish his government by appointing eight new cabinet ministers, the largest change in his nine years of rule, after dismissing five in mid-April. The new faces in the cabinet include three women. Last year he also dismissed Gen. Nicolás Hermoza Ríos, the army commander once considered his closest ally and very close to his secret police strongman Vladimiro Montesinos. Defense Minister Julio Salazar Monroe, who was also close to Montesinos, was dismissed in mid- April, a surprise move in government circles.

Seeking to burnish his demagogic appeal as a "man of the people" in face of growing working-class resistance, Fujimori has been traveling to the provinces to inaugurate structural projects. He has put unpopular plans to sell state enterprises, namely two oil refineries, three electricity distribution companies, and the remaining hydro-electric generators, on the back burner for now.

Two new funds have been established, despite the recession. More than half a million retired state employees will receive two bonuses this year through Fonahpu, a government agency. A similar body, Mivivienda, will finance long-term mortgages for lower-middle-class families. Another plan will provide some workers and peasants with property titles by year's end. Meanwhile, Fujimori's government is seeking from the IMF a third three-year loan agreement.

 
 
 
Front page (for this issue) | Home | Text-version home