Peru
People's War Perseveres, Regime in Crisis

There are two facts which no-one, friend or foe of the revolution in Peru, can deny: the Fujimori government is in unprecedented trouble, and the People̓s War, now in its eighteenth year, is continuing to demonstrate its endurance.

       A few years ago, after the capture of Communist Party of Peru (PCP) Chairman Gonzalo and especially after the call for peace accords that Fujimori attributed to him, the government and all the reactionary press jubilantly proclaimed the imminent demise of the People̓s War. Peru̓s ruling classes seemed to be enjoying stability and unity. Now, to the extent that any of the press is jubilant about anything, it is opposition media that is crowing about the crisis in the Fujimori regime. In contrast, the more serious reactionary organs have adopted a sober tone in describing the People̓s War.

         For instance, two days before the 17 May anniversary of the launching of the People̓s War, guerrillas attacked the police station in the Lima slum of Ate-Vitarte. After a firefight, they exploded a 40-kilo car-bomb in front of the entrance and left behind leaflets headlined “Long Live the 17th Anniversary of the People̓s War!” and “Long Live the Street-Vendors̓ Struggle!” The reactionary Lima news weekly Caretas warned that even though this action had taken place after a long period without major attacks in Lima — and even though the number of large-scale actions in general has declined considerably — it would be a fatal error to be blind to the PCP̓s advances which are less visible. It particularly cited the country̓s south-east, central and Huallaga regions, and the neighbourhoods and factories along the Carretera Central, the main road leading east of the capital into the mountains, including the shantytowns of Huaycan and Raucana, known as PCP strongholds at the beginning of the decade.

                 Accompanying this was a reporter̓s dispatch from Chuschi, the Ayacucho town where the People̓s War began. Chuschi̓s symbolic value is so great that Fujimori made a hugely publicized visit there – dropping in by helicopter — to declare the People̓s War all but over. Since then foreign journalists seeking to spread that idea have made a pilgrimage to “peaceful, happy” Chuschi the centre of their reportage. Caretas took a totally different view this time. After implicitly recalling that the authorities had underestimated the PCP at the beginning as well, the reporters quoted interviews with people who cursed continuing oppression and government abuse. The magazine advised the police to look deeper into reports that as villagers driven out by the military return to their homes from the slums of Huamanga and Lima, PCP organization is returning with them.

                 The Right Opportunist Line that arose within the PCP with the call for peace accords claimed that the People̓s War could not continue, first because of Chairman Gonzalo̓s capture, and second because Fujimori had succeeded in obtaining political and economic stability. As it turns out, much of the reactionary press itself does not share that opinion.

Battle Reports

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