Author: Michael Ha

Maxwell A. Cameron
March 25, 2006
Last night Ollanta Humala attended an event organized by Edmundo Murrugarra, the coordinator of the Education Commission of the Government Plan of the Unión Por el Perú. The event was held under a big “Convention Tent” behind the Hotel Crillón in downtown Lima. Later, Humala led a rally in Comas, on Kilometer 12 of the Tupac Amaru highway that cuts through the northern cone of Lima.

Photo: M.A. Cameron
The evening began with over one thousand people under the tent behind the Crillón listening to campaign music and chanting slogans. One of the songs written for Humala’s campaign talked of the “sad history of Peru,” and “how our riches will be ours” when Humala is elected president. The crowd was primed to respond to the words “In education?” with “Ollanta Revolution!” Humala was late arriving, and the event which was supposed to begin at 6 started after 7 pm.
During the wait someone at the microphone mentioned the presence of the international press, which received a polite applause, something the local press might not have received, as there is great animosity toward the local media in the Humala camp. The editor of “Ollanta Perú” complained bitterly about the local media, saying there would have to be a Venezuela-type crackdown if Humala is elected. The local press was also difficult to manage. They mobbed the podium, delaying the event because they refused for some time to step down so the assembled crowd could also see the speakers.
When Humala finally arrived he was swarmed by enthusiastic supporters and carried forward to the podium where he sat flanked by his team, including VP candidate Gonzalo García. García was the first to speak, and he said that a victory for Humala would initiate a “great transformation” with a “rigorous and concrete” platform for change. “Se siente, se siente, Ollanta Presidente” cheered the crowd (“you can feel it, you can feel it, Ollanta is president”). He then introduced Edmundo Murrugarra, as someone who is honest and combative, as a teacher from Cajamarca, and the person who helped develop the educational program.

Photo: M.A. Cameron
Murrugarra gave a florid speech, very combative and dramatic, with language laced with utopian idealism and calls for sacrifice. Formerly a Senator for the United Left in the 1980s, Murrugarra remains a firebrand. He referred to the dreams of Símon Rodríguez, who accompanied Símon Bolívar, “the Liberator,” in his travels, and said these dreams were being realized by the call for change of the teachers in the movement behind Humala. His discourse was not about the 19th century, however, for he argued that investing in education was necessary to compete in the world today. He ended with a rhetorical flourish, saying to Humala “you have commanded troops, now you must command teachers.”
With that, Humala took the microphone. Appealing to the teachers in the crowd, he said his mother was a teacher and his early memory of her going to work pregnant with him, sitting in the classroom doing his own homework while his mother was teaching in the early evening, is the epitome of dignity in that profession. Referring to himself in the third person, he called for “applause for all of you, not comandante Humala.” He said that as a father he is concerned for the education of his children, and so should the state. Quality education should not be only for the elite. As a soldier he has traveled to the border zones and has seen Peruvian kids who sing the hymn of Colombia or Brazil rather than Peru. 3 million people are illiterate, in the 21st century.

Photo: F. Bazo
Humala argued that voters are getting more sophisticated and cannot be tricked by handing out t-shirts at election time. He told a joke about a politician who goes to a remote area and promises a hospital, and school and a bridge. When told there is no need for a bridge because there is no river in the area, the politician promises to build a river. Rejecting such cynicism, and saying he would not offer “populistoid measures” (medidas populacheras) Humala said people want work with dignity, and dignity means making others respect you. This is the essence of the “great transformation” he proposes. How can you explain to the child of a heroic rondero in Cajamarca that he will not get a good education when the Yanacocha mine is one of the wealthiest gold mines in the world?
It is worth noting that this highly charged image helps explain Humala’s success. The rondero is a symbol of the rural patriot, or “hero,” who has fought for his country. The gold mine symbolizes prosperity and the global economy, and the child the hope for Peru’s future. Some observers have been puzzled by why Peruvians would “jump into the void” given how well the economy is doing. Humala is acknowledging that there is prosperity, and using it to proclaim the need for redistribution.

Photo: M.A. Cameron
The objective of his government would be democratization of education, so that quality education reaches all. He showed the most emotion during his speech when he spoke of children forced to find a living on the streets and asked how the government can be insensitive to this. He then turned on “aged politicians, who have maserated over time,” and lobbies in congress and inside the palace of government who demand “laws with proper names” for the benefit of a few firms or individuals.
Humala said he and his team are challenging powerful interests not out of a suicidal mission, but because it is necessary for the rich to pay their taxes so the state can assume its responsibility, and he called for those who earn more to pay more. He also called for a campaign against corruption and attacked the high incomes of members of congress. He asked the crowd “how much do you teachers earn?” “800 Soles” came back the reply (about $240 US). “800 dollars?” said Humala. “No, Soles!” came back the reply. “How can we accept and trust elites who earn 10,000 dollars?” He then complained that members of congress get 100,000 soles (almost $30,000 US) to move out of their offices at the end of their terms. How much does a teacher get when they move between jobs? Nothing.
Saying that many people have offered him campaign support in return for agreement to favor them with laws once in power, Humala claimed to reject all such deals. “I want to arrive in power without owing anything to anyone.” He then railed against the dog piling on his candidacy that is occurring, saying that there is a “TCO” (a “todos contra Ollanta,” or “all against Ollanta”) movement being born and that there is “political terrorism” being waged against him.
Said Humala: “They say I am anti-system. Yes, I am against the current system of corruption, unemployment, hopelessness. If that is the system, not only am I anti-system, I am a rebel.” “The minority wants to defend their jewelry, their estates. Fear is the last barrier that the elite erect to protect themselves.” These people, he said, want to make this election about democracy or dictatorship. “We have the dictatorship of a minority. In Peru, democracy is poverty.” In contradistinction to this, Humala called for “a democracy of the people.” “We will overcome fear to arrive at the palace…Peru is above these traditional politicians.”

Photo: M.A. Cameron
Later, in Comas, Humala largely repeated the speech, though his delivery was adapted to a crowd of thousands who had, on average, attained a lower level of education. There were a couple of lines in his speech in Comas that stood out, at least to my ears. One was a very direct appeal for voters to cast their ballots for congressional candidates of the UPP. This appeal was made while holding aloft the communal “pot” (or olla) that symbolizes UPP. Clearly, Humala is concerned about the prospect that his presidential ticket does not have congressional coattails. “I want an army of nationalists inside the congress” he said. In similarly militaristic terminology, Humala closed the rally. “I have commanded soldiers” he said. “Now I want to command the people.”

Photo: M.A. Cameron