- (April 2000)
Fujimori's empire: Peru is not a democracy.
Fujimori won a crucial election, then seized quasi-dictatorial powers
with a strategic coup against his own parliament, then rescued Peru from
financial collapse through a series of impressive policies, then defeated
the Shining Path terrorist organization and jailed its leader, then cast a
long shadow on this country's young democracy. Fujimori was re-elected,
although with a smaller margin of votes, and is now running again, after
changing the constitution to allow a president to run three times.
Over the years, Fujimori has been accused of creating a subtle dictatorship
with the facade of a modern democracy.
Vladimiro Montesinos, the head of SIN (Peru's intelligence service), is widely
considered a sort of Richelieu who exerts a strong influence on Fujimori.
SIN is credited with maintaining an "order" that resembles Orwell's Big Brother
more than a democracy's legitimate control. Montesinos has employed financial
and legal means (and sometimes bribery and blackmail) to control politicians
and journalists.
The two strongest contenders,
Alejandro Toledo, A US-educated economist, and Alberto Andrade, Lima's mayor,
have complained about all sorts of intimidation, espionage and unfair
practices.
Peru's judges have de facto cleared television stations of Fujimori's critics.
Parliamant, in turn, has cleared the judicial system of judges who were
opposed to Fujimori's third term. Countless personalities have had their
career mutilated because of their anti-Fujimori's stance.
Peruvians are acutely aware of Fujimori's and Montesinos' authoritarian regime.
Nonetheless Fujimori has delivered on several fronts: he has all but wiped
off terrorism, he has curtailed drug trafficking in a way that no other country
ever has, he has cleaned a political system that was famous for widespread
corruption, he has become a bulwark of stability in a region known mainly for
instability.
Peruvians will have to weigh his achievements against his excesses and decide
whether he is worth the risk.
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