Peru: Another President on the way out?

After coming to power in 2001 with 59 percent of the vote, 
Peruvian President Llejandro Toledo's popular support has fallen 
to just 7.7 percent. Despite its unpopularity, the Government is 
aligning itself more closely with the US and the "free market" 
policies that have caused so much suffering already.

Almost 60 percent of people believe he should step down and call 
a general election — the next one is not due until 2006

Toledo demonstrated his total subservience to the US in Geneva 
recently when it voted with the US against Cuba at the UN Human 
Rights Commission. This resulted in friction with Havana and the 
withdrawal of Peru's ambassador, despite political and 
parliamentary criticism.

And now is about to enter into negotiations with the United 
States, for a free trade agreement (FTA) that will only leave the 
country more indebted and impoverished than ever and create 
enormous distortions to its economy.

The lack of support for the government has been evident in the 
large demonstrations that have taken place, particularly in the 
health and coca cultivation sectors.

A huge protest of coca growers came together in the centre of 
Lima, from where they were dislodged by police equipped with tear 
gas, loaded into buses and removed from the capital.

Elsa Malpartida, one of the growers' leaders, charged the 
Government with being "a dictatorship violating human rights".

The farmers are demanding the approval of a law on coca leaves, 
their industrialisation and the eradication of crops that could 
be sold to the drug traffickers. Growers' representatives were 
able to meet with some deputies who committed themselves to 
promoting a legislative motion to respond to their concerns.

The health sector likewise shook Lima with its demands. 
Administrative workers, nurses, technical staff and auxiliaries 
in the Social Health Insurance (EsSalud) have been on strike for 
more than one week calling for wage rises and other demands.

Shortly before, state doctors suspended a 20-day stoppage after 
signing a package with the Minister of Public Health. Certain 
medical associations, like that in Arequipa department and other 
localities in the south are maintaining their strike after 
describing the government measures as inadequate.

The Peruvian government's current political crisis began last 
year. In December, in the midst of a political crisis, the 
President appointed a new cabinet after the resignation of four 
leaders. But barely five months later, nothing has changed in 
that country of 27 million inhabitants, more than 14 million of 
them living in poverty.

Despite national economic growth of four percent last year and a 
similar figure anticipated for this year, the Peruvian population 
is extremely poor. The growth has been in the sectors of oil and 
mining, which are not generating work.

The President's electoral promise to change the unemployment 
situation has come to nothing, given that only 25 percent of the 
economically active population has a full-time job.

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Acknowledgements to Lidice Valenzuela for material used 
in this article.