Archive for the ‘Political Parties’ Category
An Analysis of Ollanta Humala’s Electoral Platform
The blog Peru Politico has analyzed the the government plan of the Nationalist Party of Peru, the Great Transformation.
Interview with Alan Garcia
Candidatos y CONFIEP critican plan de gobierno de Ollanta Humala
Comenzaron las críticas de los contrincantes electorales de Ollanta Humala. El candidato presidencial de Frente de Centro, Valentín Paniagua, manifestó que es difícil que la población acepte su plan de gobierno por la inclusión de propuestas “del rezago velasquista” que arruinaron al país; mientras que Alan García, candidato del APRA, sostuvo que las ideas de nacionalizar las actividades económicas estratégicas y volver a la figura del Estado como empresario pertenecen al pasado. Por otro lado, el candidato del Movimiento Nueva Izquierda, acusó a Humala de copiar las tesis de la izquierda.
Interviews with Gonzalo García
Two interesting interviews with Ollanta Humala’s First Vicepresident, Gonzalo García, on Unión por el Perú´s electoral platform.
Ollanta Humala presentó Plan de Gobierno 2006-2011: “La Gran Transformación”
En clarísima alusión al libro de Karl Polanyi, el candidato presidencial de Unión por el Perú, Ollanta Humala, presentó su plan de gobierno 2006-2011, bautizado como “La gran transformación”; un documento que propone entre diversos aspectos el convocar a una asamblea constituyente, un cambio radical de las estructuras económicas del país como la suspención la firma del tratado de libre comercio (TLC) con Estados Unidos hasta que lo examine el próximo Congreso, el acentuar la participación estatal en la economía, la eliminación de los “contrato-ley” para cobrar más impuestos y la implantación de la política de “corrupción cero”.
Este documento ha motivado diversas reacciones de las tiendas políticas, como la del líder y candidato al Congreso por el Frente Independiente Moralizador (FIM) Fernando Olivera, quien la calificó como una “amenaza”; el candidato a la primera vicepresidencia por Unión por el Perú (UPP), Gonzalo García Nuñez, afirmó que es un “proyecto ambicioso” para que se aplique en un periodo de 20 años; mientras que Luis Vega, presidente de ADEX, consideró que sería un gran peligro para la economía nacional suspender la firma del TLC.
APRA’s Day of Fraternity
Maxwell A. Cameron
February 23, 2006
Photo: M.A. Cameron
February 22 was the 111th anniversary of the birth of Víctor Raúl Haya de la Torre, the founder of the American Popular Revolutionary Alliance (APRA). Members of the APRA party, or Apristas, refer to this as the Day of Fraternity, and in Lima they typically celebrate with a mass in the San Francisco Church in the historic center of Lima. Following the mass, the faithful gathered in the Óvalo de Breña to reaffirm their commitment to the party and to listen to Alan García Pérez rally support for the election campaign.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
Mercedes Cabanillas was the first speaker to warm up the crowd. She launched an impassioned attack on Lourdes Flores, the leader of National Unity, who she characterized as the candidate of the rich. “We don’t want a Trojan horse with a woman’s skirt hiding entrepreneurs within its womb,” she said. Mauricio Mulder followed with a denunciation of the judiciary for releasing a member of President Alejandro Toledo’s family on a suspended sentence for rape. Such lenient and politically-motivated judges, he warned, “would be called to account before congress.” He emphasized that APRA is an organized party, and its internal order is a guarantee of security.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
Alan García’s vice presidential candidate, Luis Giampietri received a lukewarm reception and his brief statement received sustained applause only when he mentioned Haya de la Torre. It was as if the crowd was pleased to hear the newcomer stress his attachment to the historic leader. Giampietri’s claim that he joined García’s slate because he was concerned about threats to the rights of the military personnel, however, had little resonance. APRA has a long history of persecution by the military and the rights of the military would not seem to be a major concern of the rank and file.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
The warmest reception went to Jorge del Castillo, who joked that a recent poll showing a technical tie between García and Ollanta Humala was old news: “we passed that guy a while ago” he said, “we are in the second round for sure.” He also noted that APRA has beat out Lourdes Flores before.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
Del Castillo said that APRA has parliamentary unity and discipline. The party enters congress on July 28 and leaves on July 28 five year later with the same number of members. This distinguishes APRA from other, more loosely organized parties, most of which tend to disintegrate when they get into congress. By contrast, APRA has no turncoats or traitors.
Del Castillo belittled efforts at renovation in other parties, saying inexperienced newcomers are no guarantee of quality. Who wants a “brand new rapist” or “brand new ‘for God and money’”? The latter is an allusion to a member of congress who, in a memorable Freudian slip, accidentally swore to “God and money” rather than “God and the homeland” when he took the oath of office. His subsequent parliamentary career has been marked by scandal and allegations of nepotism. Del Castillo then led the audience in a collective renewal of their vows as members of APRA.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
Following Del Castillo, García took the podium and gave one of the impassioned and dramatic speeches for which he is justly famous. He summarized highlights of the life of Haya de la Torre, emphasizing that APRA is not just an electoral machine. It is an organization that looks to the distant future (the next 40 years, not the next 40 days). The APRA is part of the history of the Peruvian people, he said, so that where the Peruvian people exist, there is the APRA. There was an almost spiritual quality to his invocation of the name of Haya de la Torre, who he said would descend to the people who live APRA’s doctrine with true conviction.
A central theme of García’s speech was that you cannot destroy APRA. It would be fair to say that APRA is the only party running in this election as a party. García said that APRA has existed for 75 years in spite of persecution by Manuel Odría in the 1950s, the military government in the 1970s, and Alberto Fujimori in the 1990s. “APRA never dies,” chanted the crowd. Moreover, García suggested that APRA is the most organized party in Peru, and thus the party best able to carry out radical change. In an allusion to the candidacy of Ollanta Humala, García said that the Peruvian people like to flirt with other candidates but in the end alway return to their true love, the APRA.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
Another theme was experience. García confessed to mistakes, but “always in favor of the people.” Moreover, he stressed, “from errors one learns how to better serve.” Errors, in short, are part of experience, and APRA has the experience to “fulfill its commitment to serve 100 percent.” “Alan Sí Puede” chanted the crowd in response.
García’s speech operated at a number of levels, and synthesized diverse themes. At one point he referred to APRA as a “movimiento cobrizo popular” (“popular, copper-tone movement.” The term “cobriza” is an ethnic reference used by Humala). At another point he said “vamos a trabajar y ayudar a trabajar” (“we will work and help others to work.” The phrase “work and let work” comes from Fernando Belaúnde Terry’s Popular Action party).
Part of García’s strategy is to highlight his difference with Lourdes Flores Nano, whose campaign has emphasized character and building trust, but has not involved making specific commitments. García has made many small, unspectacular, but very concrete commitments. On this occasion, for example, he offered to promote internal tourism by allowing firms to write off expenses for travel by their employees within Peru. Currently, such expenses can be written off only if the travel is abroad. He also promised to establish the dates for long weekends in advance so that people have the chance to make travel plans around long weekends. Currently, long weekends are often announced just days in advance.
Photo: M.A. Cameron
García made it clear that there is a lot at stake in this election for his generation of leaders. This is almost certainly his last chance. The election will also be a test of the strength of the only well-organized, well-financed, and disciplined political party in Peru.
El “reggaetón” del APRA
Source: La República, 23 de febrero del 2006
Con la presentación de su nuevo y original spot a ritmo del género musical más popular entre los jóvenes en la actualidad, el llamado “reggaetón” (una mezcla de reggae y Hip-Hop en versión latina), el Partido Aprista Peruano inició una agresiva campaña para conquistarlos. La campaña electoral no tiene límites.
Musica: Download file
Video de la estrella
Denounciations against Ollanta Humala could Backfire against his Opponents
Santiago Pedraglio in Peru.21 argues the allegations regarding supposed efforts by the Chavez government to encourage Peruvians in Venezuela to vote for Humala could backfire those making the allegations.
Victor Andres Garcia Belaunde: Frente de Centro Could Appoint a Gay Minister
During an interview with Jaime Bayly (El Francotirador) on Sunday night, Lourdes Flores stated that she was not aware of a gay person who might be appointed to a cabinet post in a government she might form. In the interview, Flores went out of her way to express tolerance with respect to sexual orientation, but she also made it clear she does not regard homosexuality as natural. Victor Andres Garcia Belaunde, seeking to distinguish his party (Accion Popular/Frente de Centro) from Flores’ social conservatism, characterized her attitude as “homophobic.” He suggested Oscar Ugarteche could well be appointed to a cabinet position in a government of the Frente de Centro, perhaps as Finance Minister.
Lourdes Flores Puts Order among Congressional Candidates
Lourdes Flores is asking the members of her congressional list not to accompany her in large numbers on the campaign trail since some of them are getting in the way of establishing contact with the voters in this “hyper-personal” campaign, as she has called it.
El Nuevo “Look” de Alan García
Alan García, candidato a la presidencia por el APRA, ha realizado un radical giro de 360 grados en su imagen: de ser un candidato “estirado” al ritmo de vals ha pasado a ser una jovial persona que emite sus discursos al ritmo del reggaeton, todo esto porque los jóvenes están en la mira de su campaña electoral.
Carmen Rosa Balbi Evaluates the Electoral Process
Augusto Alvarez Rodrich: Ollanta Humala’s Decline, No more than Wishful Thinking
Humala acusado formalmente de desaparición forzada y torturas
El pasado miércoles los familiares de cinco las presuntas víctimas del “Capitán Carlos” presentaron 3 denuncias por desaparición forzada y torturas ante la Fiscalía de Tocache, demanda que también comprendió al alto mando del Frente Huallaga durante el año 1992. Nadine Herrera, esposa de Humala, aseguró que su cónyuge acudirá a dar su manifestación cuando sea citado. El líder del Partido Nacionalista declaro a los medios la semana pasada que iria a Madre Mía la segunda quincena de marzo. Su partido no ha ultimado detalles de este viaje como parte de la campaña electoral.
Martin Tanaka: The Great Challenge is to Make it to the Second Round
Iglesia Católica vs Ollanta Humala
Tras conocerse el pronunciamiento del Compromiso ético por el Perú, las reflexiones de los obispos sobre la coyuntura electoral, el presidente de la Conferencia Episcopal Peruana (CEP), monseñor Miguel Cabrejos, manifestó al diario Perú 21 que la Iglesia Católica no es la que debe decir si Ollanta Humala violó o no los derechos humanos, pero éticamente debe realizarse una investigación para definir sus responsabilidades.
Ollanta Humala presentó su plan de gobierno a los industriales
Ollanta Humala, junto con su equipo económico encabezado por Gonzalo García Núñez, expuso por primera vez el día de ayer, su plan de gobierno ante los miembros de la Sociedad Nacional de Industrias (SNI), en el que pudieron apreciar contradicciones y descordinaciones en algunos puntos, como la disminución del IGV (propuesto por Carlos Torres Caro, candidato a la segunda vicepresidencia), o en las aplicaciones de impuestos a las sobreganancias en el sector minero.
Santiago Pedraglio on Lourdes Flores & Ollanta Humala: Two Opposite Views of the Establishment
Mirko Lauer on the Undecided Vote
According to Mirko Lauer, the most important news in the recent APOYO poll is the 10 percent increase in the number of undecided voters over the past month.
Ollanta Humala will Visit Madre Mía (Huanuco) in March
Tras anunciar nuevamente que está dispuesto a someterse a la justicia, el candidato presidencial de Unión por el Perú (UPP) visitaría Madre Mía (Huánuco) para afrontar las acusaciones de quienes lo sindican de ser el “Capitán Carlos”, violador de los DDHH, hecho que ha comprometido su carrera electoral.
34 congresistas buscan reelección
Source: La República, 14 de febrero del 2006
34 congresistas de 6 agrupaciones políticas buscarán la reelección en el próximo proceso electoral del 9 de abril. Significan la cuarta parte del Congreso.
Alan Garcia’s Harsh Criticisms of APOYO Poll
Alan García, candidato por el APRA, acusó a la empresa Apoyo de manipular sus sondeos, considerando solo los votos válidos, para favorecer a Lourdes Flores.
APOYO National Poll: Candidates Views
Candidatos de las principales agrupaciones políticas opinaron al diario Perú 21 sobre los resultados de la última encuesta de Apoyo Opinión y Mercado realizada entre el 8 y 10 de febrero pasado a nivel nacional.
Interviews with Ollanta Humala
Los periodistas Emilio Camacho del diario La República y Adán Ríos de Perú 21, conversaron en Piura con Ollanta Humala, quien se encuentra de gira por distintas ciudades del norte del país, tocando temas como los de las acusaciones en su contra por abusos a los DDHH en el Alto Huallaga, su principal rival, Lourdes Flores Nano, denominada por él como la “candidata de los ricos” y los resultados de la última encuesta realizada por la empresa Apoyo Opinión y Mercado. Tambien reproducimos una entrevista con el diario español ABC
Alan García on Lourdes Flores & Ollanta Humala
Para Alan García Pérez, candidato a la presidencia de la República por el APRA, Lourdes Flores no representa un cambio y Ollanta Humala es la improvisación en política.
Ollanta Humala in Callao
Maxwell A. Cameron
February 11, 2006
In a meeting in Callao, Ollanta Humala attacked adversaries Alan Garcia and Lourdes Flores. He suggested that Garcia should “take a step aside” and not run for election since has has already had his chance to serve as president. Lourdes Flores was criticized for supporting the outcome of the war with Ecuador. According to Humala, the area of Tiwinza was given away by the politicians after the soldiers had fought the war.
We also reprint a story in La Republica from February 7th that we initially overlooked. A colleague of mine called this to our attention. Humala is quoted by La Republica saying “I am a soldier…I served my country in a time of war. I have been in Huancayo, Ayacucho and in the Cordillera del Cóndor.” He then said that those who criticize his conduct as a soldier “have never even done military service.” As my colleague reminded me, middle class youth commonly bribed their way out of doing military service at the time of the conflict with the Shining Path. As a result, almost all the conscripts were poor kids. Humala may touch a nerve with that sector of the population.
Congressional Lists Contain Poison Pills
Maxwell A. Cameron and Fabiola Bazo
February 10, 2006
The registration of candidates to the congress has generated polemics in a number of electoral parties and alliances, most significantly in Unidad Nacional and Unión Por el Perú.
Kurt Woll, José Luna and Raúl Castro are among the candidates for Lima and Callao in Unidad Nacional that have received the most flak.
There are problems in Ollanta Humala’s congressional list. UPP recently went through what many regard as a somewhat tepid purge as a result of which Gerardo Sulca from Apurímac was withdrawn. In response, grassroots supporters from Apurímac have withdrawn their support for Humala. Candidates for Cuzco and Arequipa face serious allegations and charges against them.
Problems have also beset the Fujimoristas, where Diego Uceda has resigned because the list includes individuals of dubious reputation. One of the most dubious candidates for the Alianza para el Futuro is José Dellepiane, the naval officer close to Vladimiro Montesinos who was responsible for judicial reforms under Fujimori. Martha Chavez claims that the Fujimori government (1990-2000) was a victim Vladimiro Montesinos. Yet there is a candidate on the congressional list of her alliance who was a key collaborator with Montesinos in the encroachment by the executive on the independence of the judiciary under Fujimori.
An excellent editorial on the topic of congressional lists by Augusto Alvarez Rodrich is reproduced below, as well as a report by La Republica. There is also a good report by Peru.21 on Luna Galvez. Flores would like to close the case, but Luna Galvez was a “topo” (mole–that is, someone who was elected as a member of the opposition cut a secret deal to support the Fujimori government in 2000). There are a number of witnesses who claim he took money from Montesinos.
7 candidatos de Alianza para el Futuro tienen procesos abiertos por el sistema anticorrupción
El ex congresista Luis Delgado Aparicio y Diego Uceda, dirigente de Sí Cumple, renunciaron a esta agrupación porque se incluyeron en la lista parlamentaria de Alianza para el Futuro a ex funcionarios cuestionados, incluidos algunos ministros del régimen fujimorista, solo para evadir la justicia:
1. La ex primera dama de la Nación, Keiko Fujimori es procesada por la supuesta apropiación ilícita de un container de ropa donada por la ONG World Wide Vision (USA) para las víctimas del Fenómeno del Niño en 1998.
2. El candidato a la primera vicepresidencia, Santiago Fujimori, tiene un juicio pendiente por la compra irregular del avión presidencial Boeing 737-528 por US$ 25 millones, en 1995.
3. El ex secretario ejecutivo de la Comisión Ejecutiva del Poder Judicial y ex jefe de la Corporación de Desarrollo de Lima y Callao (Cordelica) José Dellepiane Mazza es procesado por el uso de fondos públicos para la campaña de reelección de Fujimori.
4. Los publicistas de Fujimori, Carlos Orellana Quintanilla y Carlos Raffo Arce son procesados en el sistema anticorrupción por recibir importantes sumas de dinero de Vladimiro Montesinos para la reelección de Fujimori.
5. El ex ministro de Agricultura, Jaime Sobero es procesado por su participación en el golpe de 1992.
6. El ex ministro Manuel Vara Ochoa está incluido en los procesos por la compra de congresistas tránsfugas y topos y por los vladipolos.
3,000 por 120 curules al Congreso
Source: La República, 9 de febrero del 2006.
Jorge Bazo Escudero
9 de febrero del 2006
Fue un cierre al que la palabra “De Fiesta” le cayó como anillo al dedo, porque muchos de los partidos que se acercaron al Jurado Electoral Especial Lima Centro a inscribir sus candidatos al Congreso lo hicieron de las maneras más singulares y pintorescas, algunas bordando el ridículo con shows y personajes infantiles como Winnie The Pooh que fueron victimas del intenso calor, hubo conatos de pelea entre los militantes de grupos, mientras que otros inscribieron a polémicos personajes del folklore político como Ricardo Belmont o Celso Pastrana.
La cosa era llamar la atención a como de lugar, como fue el caso de Luis Guerrero, de Perú Ahora, quien llegó a bordo de su “bus Guerrero” a ritmo de carnaval cajamarquino y del FREPAP, partido del desaparecido Ezequiel Ataucusi, quienes prácticamente coparon las calles con una masiva asistencia de sus miembros en un corso con muchos peces y trajes típicos. Estas elecciones del 2006 pasarán a la historia por sus excentricidades, 25 agrupaciones con 120 candidatos cada una, 3,000 personas buscando una curul.
Al revisar las listas tenemos candidatos para todos los gustos, representando a las minorías sexuales tenemos a Manuel Alexander Andía Pérez “Belissa” (MNI) quien podría ser el primer transexual en llegar al Congreso, así como Susel Paredes (PS), representante de un movimiento que integra lesbianas, gays, bisexuales y transgéneros. Otro nombre sorpresa es el de Liliana Humala, expectorada del movimiento de su primo Ollanta Humala, quien encabeza la nómina de Reconstrucción Democrática por Lima. Por el grupo de los sindicalistas tenemos a Vicente Aponte, secretario general de Construcción Civil (Frente de Centro), Julio Herrera Pumayauli, del Sindicato de Trabajadores de Sedapal y Carlos Aguilar, presidente de la Federación de Canillitas (APRA). Representando all gremio militar-policial tenemos a Benedicto Jiménez (APRA), Oscar Pedraza (PS), Roberto Chiabra (PP), Daniel Mora (PP) y Celso Pastrana (Perú Ahora).
Entre los comunicadores sociales tenemos al resistido Ricardo Belmont (Frente de Centro), a los periodistas Guido Lombardi (UN), Gonzalo Iwasaki (FD) y el ex jefe de prensa de Palacio de Gobierno, Luis Alberto Chávez, (PP). No podían faltar los deportistas, esta vez no son ex-futbolistas, sino ex-matadoras como Cenaida Uribe y al basquetbolista y dirigente deportivo Alfredo Deza Fuller, ambos por el PNP; otras glorias del deporte de la net son Rosa García (AF), Gaby Pérez del Solar (UN) y Ana Cecilia Carrillo (APRA).
Las mayores sorpresas las tuvimos en cuanto a los artistas, tenemos a los actores Gustavo Bueno (Partido Socialista), Ricardo Fernández (APRA) y el director de teatro Federico García (MNI); en el área vernacular tenemos a la cantante Martina Portocarrero (RA), el cómico Edwin Sierra (Progresemos Perú) y el danzante de tijeras Rómulo Huamaní, “Qori Sicchilla” (PS), pero los nombres que a muchos causó extrañeza y provocaron más de una sonrisa fueron los de Abelardo Gutiérrez Alanya “Tongo”, cantante de música Chicha por (RA), el del cómico Pablo Villanueva “Melcochita” y el del cocinero “Don Pedrito”, Pedro Enrique Villalba García, quien va por Perú Ahora.
Para no perder la mala costumbre de “la hora peruana”, con la excepción de Unidad Nacional y el Frente de Centro, los partidos esperaron hasta el último día para inscribir sus nóminas. Esperemos que muchas de estas candidaturas queden en el plano de la anécdota y los ciudadanos apuesten por programas de gobierno y no por la simpatía de algún candidato en particular, que el “Síndrome Susy Díaz” sea sólo un mal recuerdo. El pueblo tiene la palabra.
Las Listas Parlamentarias
25 Partidos presentaron ayer sus listas parlamentarias:
1. Alianza para el Progreso
2. Unidad Nacional
3. Unión por el Perú
4. Frente de Centro
5. Perú Ahora
6. Renacimiento Andino
7. Partido Socialista
8. Resurgimiento Peruano
9. Concertación Descentralista
10. Fuerza Democrática
11. Frente Independiente Moralizador
12. Perú Posible
13. Partido Aprista Peruano
14. Frepap
15. Avanza País
16. Proyecto País
17. Justicia Nacional
18. Movimiento Nueva Izquierda
19. Progresemos Perú
20. Restauración Nacional
21. Alianza por el Futuro
22. Con Fuerza Perú
23. Y se llama Perú
24. Partido Nacionalista Peruano
25. Reconstrucción Democrática
Fernando Olivera declinó candidatura a la presidencia
Una nueva deserción en las candidaturas presidenciales. Tras dimitir el pasado 31 de enero Fernando Belaunde Aubry a la candidatura de Perú Posible, Fernando Olivera, líder del Frente Independiente Moralizador (FIM), es el segundo en declinar, conformándose a ser el número 1 de la lista de candidatos al Congreso. Bajo índice de intención de voto en las encuestas sería el causal de esta decisión. El Plan de Gobierno del FIM será la base de su acción parlamentaria.
A pesar de los cuestionamientos Lourdes Flores respalda a sus candidatos al Congreso
Source: La República, 9 de febrero del 2006
Lourdes Flores Nano interrumpió su campaña proselitista en Tacna para enfrentar y dejar en claro todo lo referente a las inumerables críticas y cuestionamientos sobre José Luna Gálvez, Horacio Cánepa, Raúl Castro y Kurt Woll, candidatos al congreso por Unidad Nacional a quienes considera gente honesta y de mucha capacidad. En conferencia realizada el día de ayer, les reiteró su apoyo y manifestó que ella misma se ha encargado de revisar y evaluar cada una de las hojas de vida de cada uno de los miembros de su lista, que con ellos se cometían injusticias comprometiéndolos con hechos relacionados al narcotráfico, transfuguismo o fraude electoral.
Ollanta Humala afirmó a Univisión haber usado el seudónimo de “Capitán Carlos”
Source: Perú 21, 8 de febrero del 2006
En una entrevista concedida el dia de ayer a la cadena de televisión norteamericana Univisión, el candidato presidencial por Unión por el Perú (UPP), Ollanta Humala, afirmó ayer haber usado en 1992 el seudónimo de “Capitán Carlos” cuando estuvo a cargo de la base militar Madre Mía en Huánuco, aunque negó ser el “Capitán Carlos Gonzales”, acusado de ser el responsable de delitos contra los DDHH.
Ollanta Humala Faces Human Rights Accusations
Ollanta Humala faces at least three serious allegations of human rights abuse from the period in which he was commander in a military base in Madre Mia in 1992. Humala was under the command of the now fugitive Eduardo Bellido Mora, former military chief of the Political Front of the Alto Huallaga. Bellido, a close ally of Vladimiro Montesinos, faces charges of drug-trafficking. Montesinos received drug money from a trafficker known as El Vaticano who operated in the Alto Huallaga area. A new report in La Primera suggests Humala may also have taken protection money from drug traffickers.
Ollanta Humala: Beginning of the End?
Jorge Bazo E.
Translated and edited by Maxwell A. Cameron
6 February 2006
Versión en Español abajo
Ollanta Humala Tasso has had a tough weekend. The candidate for the presidency of the Unión por el Perú has suffered a series of accusations, threats of impending criminal investigations, problems within his political group, and allegations that one of his vice presidential candidates has a history of sexual harassment. Most damaging, however, are allegations of human rights abuses dating to Humala’s service in the counter-insurgency war in 1992. Humala denounces these allegations as part of a smear campaign by parties and the media, but they are beginning to look credible.
For the past two weeks, people in the area of Madre Mía in Alto Huallaga have denounced one “Captain Carlos” who they say committed violations of human rights in 1992. Humala has been identified as the captain in question, but this has not yet been confirmed by the Ministry of Defense.
There were at least three military commanders known by the nom de guerre “Capitán Carlos” in Alto Huallaga. The newspaper La República cites a confidential document that shows that Ollanta Humala was ‘Capitán Carlos Gonzales’, chief of the counter-insurgency base in Madre Mía en 1992. This was a time of intense fighting between the armed forces and the Shining Path, when many human rights violations occurred. It was also a time of well-documented links between the military intelligence and drug trafficking groups.
The denunciations against Humala were reinforced with new accusations this weekend. In one case a merchant, Zonia Luis Cristóbal, accused Humala of humiliating mistreatment of her family, the looting of her shop by troops at his command. Another accusation came from Teresa Ávila, sister-in-law of Benigno Sullca Castro and sister of Natividad Ávila Rivera, who were detained, tortured, and killed by soldiers in the Madre Mía base in June 1992.
In making sense of these grave allegations, it will be vitally important to distinguish legitimate accusations from media manipulation. A program on Channel 13 called “La Hora de Tingo” aired testimony by the local population from Madre Mía who were interviewed by ‘Panorama’, and they said that they had denounced various crimes and abuses but at no point did they indicate Humala as the author of these crimes, and that their words had been manipulated with the intention of damaging the candidate.
Respected human rights advocates are taking the allegations against Humala very seriously. Sofia Macher, from the Instituto de Defensa Legal (IDL), and a secretary of the Coordinadora Nacional de Derechos Humanos, Alejandro Silva, announced yesterday night on the television program “La Ventana Indiscreta” that this week they would be bringing before a judge evidence that Ollanta Humala was involved in 5 separate cases of disappearances and three more of torture.
In Trujillo, Ollanta Humala refused to respond directly to these accusations. He has neither confirmed nor defnied that he was captain Carlos, saying this is information for the Ministry of Defense to divulge. As Macher points out, it is odd to see a so-called “outsider” candidate hiding behind a powerful government ministry.
Humala has demanded proof be presented against him, and alleges that all the accusations are part of a dirty electoral campaign. He has committed himself to collaborating with any investigation that might be undertaken by the Public Ministry.
Humala has other problem. His cousin Liliana Humala has turned against him, as have other rank-and-file groups. In an attempt to restore order in his group, Humala asked all candidates to place themselves at the disposition of the leadership. Last night, Jorge Doménech, president of the electoral committee of the party, announced that the national leadership had decided to ratify Carlos Torres Caro as vice presidential candidate.
Meanwhile, strange events are occurring within the television station Frecuencia Latina. Last week Cesar Hildebrandt resigned his popular show “Hoy con Hildebrandt”, which has been replaced with (get this) the X Files. It is not known why Hildebrandt resigned, but he was vocal about refusing to engage in a dog-pile on Humala or to allow his program to be part of Lourdes Flores Nano election campaign (an accusation made against some of his competitors). Daniel Abugattas, leader of the Nationalist Party claims leaders of Unidad Nacional bought witnesses to accuse Humala of human rights abuses. He further accused majority shareholder Baruch Ivcher and producer Gilberto Hume of retaining video evidence to support this. Ivcher denies the allegation and has threatened Abugattas with a law suit. The journalistic director of Panamericana Televisión, Alejandro Guerrero, also called the allegation unfounded.
National Unity Congressional List Includes People Linked to Vladimiro Montesinos
Source: La República, 3 de febrero del 2006.
In addition to the questioned ex-deputy Horacio Cánepa Torres, linked to electoral fraud in 1995 in the city of Huánuco, in the list of candidates to Congress for National Unity in Lima there appear two other candidates linked to or under investigation for alleged involvement in the network of corruption of Vladimiro Montesinos. One is the suspended member of congress José Luna Gálvez, who has charges pending for taking money to be a “turncoat,” and the other is lawyer Raúl Castro Stagnaro, accused of buying real estate in the Jockey Club by questionable means from the Jockey Club when the Jockey Plaza was built.
Además del cuestionado ex diputado Horacio Cánepa Torres, vinculado con el fraude electoral de 1995 en la ciudad de Huánuco, en la lista de candidatos al Congreso por Unidad Nacional para Lima aparecen otros dos personajes vinculados e investigados con relación a la red de corrupción de Vladimiro Montesinos: El suspendido congresista José Luna Gálvez, con un juicio pendiente por “tránsfuga” y el abogado Raúl Castro Stagnaro, acusado de comprar de una cuestionada manera los terrenos al Jockey Club donde se construyó el Jockey Plaza.
Disarray in Nationalist Party
A group of leaders of the Nationalist Party of Peru have demanded the removal of Carlos Torres Caro from the presidential slate led by Ollanta Humala following the publication of allegations that he was accused of sexual harassment while holding a teaching position. Liliana Humala, the cousin of Ollanta Humala, was among the leaders asking for Torres Caro’s resignation. Humala has instead sided with Torres Caro and has bluntly rebuffed his cousin and other “supposed leaders” who he says are not members of the Nationalist Party.
Rafael Belaunde renuncia a candidatura presidencial de Perú Posible
Las amenazas se cumplieron. Cansado de que el gobierno de la chakana se negara a sacar a los personajes cuestionados de la lista parlamentaria, Rafael Belaunde Aubry anunció anoche su renuncia a la candidatura presidencial de Perú Posible (PP). Con este hecho, el partido de gobierno no puede hacer un cambio de su plancha presidencial porque la fecha de inscripción de candidaturas presidenciales venció el 9 de enero, por lo que sólo seguiría en carrera su lista parlamentaria, puesto que el plazo para inscribir estas candidaturas aún no vence.
Un “Canillita” postula al Congreso por el APRA
Source: La República, 1 de febrero del 2006
De un quiosco de periódicos al Congreso. Respaldado por Alan García Pérez, Carlos Aguilar Susaya, secretario general de la Federación de Vendedores de Diarios y Revistas, conformada por casi 30,000 agremiados, aseguró que esta organización apoyará al APRA en las elecciones del 9 de abril.
El Chisme es más importante que el Plan de Gobierno
Dejando de lado sus planes de gobierno, algunos partidos están apostando por los ataques personales y denuncias sin fundamento. El “chisme” es asunto de todos los días y, Jorge Del Castillo del Apra, es uno de los abanderados. La guerra sucia está desfigurando esta campaña electoral y parece ser que el Pacto Ético Electoral que suscribieron los partidos a iniciativa del Jurado Nacional de Elecciones (JNE), será letra muerta. Los diarios Peru 21 y El Comercio se centraron en este importante tema.
Alan García: Apra está segundo en las encuestas
El candidato a la presidencia por el Apra dice tener 11 puntos más de lo que le dan encuestas, que corresponderían a un voto escondido, con lo que se colocaría en el segundo lugar de la intención del electorado.
Lourdes Flores: Horacio Cánepa fue declarado inocente
Horacio Cánepa Torre fue uno de los que organizó el fraude electoral del denominado “Huanucazo” de 1995 que favoreció a Alberto Fujimori, y hoy es candidato al Congreso por Unidad Nacional en Huánuco.
Arturo Woodman sería denunciado por presunta colusión
Source: Arturo Pérez. La República, 30 de enero del 2006.
Arturo Woodman, empresario y actual candidato a la primera vicepresidencia de la plancha de Lourdes Flores Nano, es investigado por la fiscal Juana Meza Peña bajo la sospecha de ser cómplice del delito de colusión en el caso de la concesión del puerto Matarani al Grupo Romero, organización para la que trabajaba mientras al mismo tiempo actuaba como funcionario público del gobierno de Alberto Fujimori.
Humala: They want to destroy my candidacy
Speaking in Puno, Ollanta Humala reiterated his proposal for the industrialization of coca production and lashed out against his aversaries who, he said, want to destroy his candidacy.
Un Lobo en Peru provides an English summary of the content of the article. Thanks!
Jorge Del Castillo denuncia ventas de candidatura a favor de Lourdes Flores Nano
El secretario general del Apra, Jorge del Castillo, denunció a través de RPP, que medios financieros cercanos a Lourdes Flores Nano habrían ofrecido dinero a Jaime Salinas, líder de Justicia Nacional, a cambio de que retire su candidatura. No es la primera vez que lanza este tipo de acusaciones. En enero del 2001aseguró que Fernando Olivera, candidato por el Frente Independiente Moralizador (FIM), renunciaría a su postulación presidencial para favorecer a Lourdes Flores apostando “una caja de cerveza”, pero Olivera lo desmintió manteniendo su candidatura.
The Peruvian Central Bank in the Eye of a Storm
Fabiola Bazo
January 26, 2006
The Peruvian Central Bank (Banco Central de Reserva, BCR) and members of its board have been in the eye of a storm this last week. The BCR has intervened aggressively in the currency exchange market to reduce volatility. The BCR sold dollar reserves in what some analysts have called a preventive measure to stop “a sudden attack to the nuevo sol.” On January 12, Kurt Burneo, President of the National Bank and member of the Board of the BCR, argued that banks and Pension funds (AFPs) were speculating to generate fear among the general public. As a response, the BCR bought nuevos soles to avoid a currency collapse. The scale of the intervention was unprecedented.
On January 17, critics of the BCR –including the Instituto Peruano de Economía (IPE), business groups, pension funds, and banks– answered back stating that the central bank was using volatility as an excuse to intervene, generating an artificially peaceful environment for investors, when the nominal policy of the central bank is to let the currency float. Aggressive intervention by the BCR, acording to critics, indirectly benefits presidential hopeful Ollanta Humala. In this view, the BCR should have let the Peruvian currency fall, thereby demonstrating the potentially negative impact on the economy if Ollanta Humala is elected. Burneo has stated the BCR will take legal action against those who have criticized the measures taken by the central bank to maintain economic stability and reduce the electoral noise.
What is striking about this episode is the lobbying by a range of economic agents seeking to influence monetary policy and politicize the decisions of the central bank.
Augusto Álvarez Rodrich on Humala’ Stagnation in Lima
Rafael Belaunde Stays as Peru Posible’s Presidential Candidate
Source: El Comercio, 26 de enero del 2006.
El Comité Ejecutivo Nacional de Perú Posible retiró de su lista para el Parlamento Andino a Gerardo Saavedra. Rafael Belaúnde aceptó la inclusión de José León y Doris Sánchez por Lima y anunció que seguirá en la campaña electoral como candidato presidencial.
Arturo Woodman Disagrees with Lourdes Flores Nano over Chilean Participation in Peruvian Ports
Maxwell A. Cameron
January 25, 2006
Arturo Woodman, vice presidential candidate for Unidad Nacional (UN), has openly disagreed with UN presidential candidate Lourdes Flores Nano concerning Chilean investments in Peruvian ports. While Flores has opposed Chilean involvement, Woodman says he is open to capital from any source. Woodman’s remarks not only undercut Flores Nano, they also reopen questions about Woodman’s own involvement in the ports.
Jorge Paredes Romero provides superb background information on Arturo Woodman and his role in the privatization of the Matarani port in his commentary “Nuestra Sociedad Convulsionada.”
Among other things, Paredes Romero alludes to the Final Report of the Investigative Commission on Economic and Financial Crimes Committed between 1990-2001, released in June 2002, which found indications of influence trafficking in the privatization of the port of Matarani:
“These indications are based on meetings held between Mr. Dionisio Romero and Vladimiro Montesinos, which occurred on as many as five occasions according to his own statement, although there are only two videos of them. At least three of these meetings in 1998 and 1999 coincided temporally with the granting of Matarani. Moreover, according to Romero’s own statement, it is known that the meetings were propitiated by Engineer Arturo Woodman, member of the Board of Maritime Transports (S.A.), a firm of the Romero Group, who was involved in numerous offices in the previous government, especially CEPRI Tierras and CEPRI Azucareras. The privatization was conducted by Commander José Dellepiani Maza, who was placed in the presidency of ENAPU after Vladimiro Montesinos decided to replace him in the Audit Commission of the Judiciary.”
As we have reported before, insiders in Unidad Nacional now recognize that it was an error to appoint Woodman. The latest dispute only deepens this impression.