[Marxism] Granma interview with Humala gives summary of his campaign platform

["Fred Feldman" <ffeldman@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Whatever questions may exist -- legitimately or otherwise -- about
Humala and his background, I cannot see how an election campaign around
these themes can be anything but positive for Peruvian politics today.
We are about to see a gangup on Humala around former President Alan
Garcia, who has the advantage of presenting himself as a "middle of the
roader" on neoliberalism since he once violated the directions of the
IMF, now greatly weakened by the Latin American economic upturn.  It
will be a measure of how irresistible the pressures for change in Latin
America are becoming.  Will Peruvian voters cast their ballots for the
promise of real changer, or be pulled into line by the hysterical
campaign against Humala that has developed in Peru's aged and worn
mainstream and tradictional left politics.

I note again that Hugo Blanco, who is now back among the indigenous
peasants of Convencion and workers of Convencion and Cuzco, advocated
the masses taking advantage of the opening offered by Humala's campaign
to organize to build the strength needed to fight for some of the
changes he is talking about.
Fred Feldman



Granma International On line - Apr 8, 2006
http://www.granma.cu/ingles/2006/abril/sab8/16ollanta.html

"I am one of those from below and my idea is to govern with them and
with everyone"

>From Lima, presidential candidate Ollanta Humala talks to Granma
International

"We shall respect foreign investment although it must meet certain
requisites: the generation of employment - direct or indirect - the
transfer of technology for the country, respect its fiscal obligations
and protect the environment"

BY ALONSO DEL PRADO

MEDIUM height, an athletic constitution, close-cut black hair and a
measured way of speaking characterize this man of 44, who spent 23 of
those years in the Peruvian Army. When he was discharged, after an
argument with his superiors for exposing shady dealings and fraud within
the force, he was a commander and had been the chief of a military unit,
in which he won the respect of officers, NCO's and soldiers.

Now he is aspiring to the Peruvian presidency and his government program
has provoked panic in the ranks of those who openly or from the wings
control this immensely rich country but in which the majority of its 27
million inhabitants live in poverty or bordering on it.

Ollanta rejects labels: "I am a nationalist because I support my nation
and my people. I am not a leftist or a rightist: I am one of those from
below and I propose to govern with them - and with everyone."

Granma International approached Ollante in a Lima hotel where he had met
with the foreign press, eager to meet one of the most vilified men in
Peruvian national history, but who is leading the opinion polls for the
elections this April 9.

"I come from a family of bankrupted farmers who had to leave the country
for the city in a desperate search for survival," he affirms.
"Agriculture, Peru's principal economic and social base, has been
remorselessly attacked. In many cases the huge latifundia conceded on
false premises include entire villages of native peoples who have been
inhumanly enslaved."

A nationalist government will reactivate agriculture, will give value to
the land, protect its cultivators, offer them financial credits, promote
their cultural, scientific and technical development, create a sound
agrarian sector, care for and develop sources of water and conditions so
that rural people do not have to emigrate and live in slum conditions in
the cities or cross the border in search of sustenance in other lands.
Agriculture is the pillar of the country's development," he affirms,
adding: "We shall begin by respecting the rights of the poorest."

The nationalist candidate emphasizes the protection of the environment
and adds: "We support the Kyoto Protocol and will give special attention
to the precarious situation of the environment in line with the
agreements and efforts of the United Nations.

"Education is another sector that demands particular attention from a
nationalist government. The situation of 20,000 schools in the Altiplano
region is tragic. We shall make an effort to give education to everyone,
to eliminate illiteracy and guarantee the country's present and future.

"I am going to construct the dignity of the people and their pride at
being the owners of their country. The Peruvian people are the owners of
their homeland: workers have the right to receive a decent wage that
will allow them to maintain their families and with respect for the
8-hour working day, which has been criminally abolished," he states.

Ollanta Humala advises that, through the country's legal mechanisms, a
nationalist government will carefully review all the concessions granted
to national and foreign investors, will take action against corruption
and oblige those who have been evading the payment of taxes to cover
them.

"We will respect foreign investment although it must meet certain
requisites: the generation of employment - direct or indirect - the
transfer of technology to the country, respect for its fiscal
obligations and protection of the environment.

"Those that meet these requisites are not going to have any problems,"
stated the Peruvian nationalist candidate, adding: "We are going to
consolidate democracy, affirm the institutions and reaffirm the concept
of citizenship.

"I am against the neoliberal economic model. We want an economy at the
service of the people and have a sense of solidarity with other Latin
American countries that are trying to build a regional economic, social,
energetic agenda and one that protects the environment, all in function
of the well being of our peoples, without exception."

In this context, Ollanta Humala notes: "I am not going to accept
pressure from any country to discriminate against another country. We
are not anti: we are pro, and we want good relations with all nations,
including Chile and Ecuador, our neighbors, based on respect for our
rights and theirs. We will have a politics of agreement and dialogue.

"The Peruvian people are sick of corruption, of seeing how the law is
selectively applied, in favor of those who already have everything.
Moreover," he emphasizes, "there is currently a discrimination based on
language. Many indigenous people do not speak Spanish and can see how
their rights are being violated without even having the possibility of
defending themselves, because their culture belongs to another of the
seven languages spoken in the country."

And, in conclusion, Ollanta Humala leafs through a copy of Granma
International. "Sometimes," he confides with a smile, "I like to savor a
Havana cigar. Via this publication, I would like to send a very
fraternal greeting to the Cuban people."

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