Vol.64/No.9             March 6, 2000 
 
 
Peruvian workers clash with police  
 
 
 
Construction workers in Lima, Peru, demonstrated January 31 in front of the Social Security building demanding improvement of their benefits. The country is also going through a tense presidential election campaign scheduled for April, with President Alberto Fujimori running for a third term. Under new electoral laws, his opponents have limited access to the media to answer what they say are slanderous and abusive statements. Meanwhile, hundreds of landless families have stepped up land occupations south of Lima and in the north of Peru at an industrial park, encouraged by government promises they will receive land if they vote for Fujimori's third term. Police and soldiers--using tear gas and aided by helicopters--attacked the peasants, who responded with rocks and sticks. The confrontation left four dead and dozens wounded.  
 
 
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