Fujimori a threat: U.S.

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

WASHINGTON, MAY 30. The Clinton administration has moved swiftly to denounce the political developments in Peru even as the strongman there, Mr. Alberto Fujimori, went on national television defending the Sunday election and saying there has been a campaign to ``satanise'' the electoral process and to ``misinform and disorient'' the people.

The United States has maintained that the election was not ``valid'' and that Mr. Fujimori is a ``threat'' to the inter- American system and democracy.

``No President emerging from such a flawed process can claim legitimacy. The manner in which the Fujimori regime handled this problem is a serious threat to the inter-American system and its commitment to democracy'', the State Department said.

The tough statement from Washington is intended to send a clear signal to Mr. Fujimori that despite the high profile cooperation between the U.S. and Peru on the narcotics and the drugs front, there could be no trade-offs when coming to an issue like democracy.

The Clinton administration has not detailed the irregularities it has seen in Sunday's run-off election, but the general impression has been that the entire event was a sham with Mr. Fujimori using every available resource including the military intelligence to muzzle the Opposition.

The main Opposition candidate, Mr. Alejandro Toledo, pulled out of the race two weeks ago, citing widespread irregularities in the process. But at the time of balloting, Mr. Toledo's name was still listed and he received some 17 per cent of the vote.

About 30 per cent of the vote was declared invalid and Mr. Fujimori was declared ``elected'' having secured 51.1 per cent of the total votes cast. Seeing a farcical and a rigged process, Mr. Toledo urged his followers to write ``no to fraud'' in the ballot paper.

Mr. Fujimori is undoubtedly under pressure, not just from the Western world led by the U.S. but from his own neighbourhood which is worried about learning all the wrong lessons from the Peruvian experience.

With his back to the wall, Mr. Fujimori is arguing that the election was fair and that he would not disappoint the people ``in initiating a more authentic democracy'' in the next five years at the helm of affairs.

``This is the result of an election which is just, fair and transparent, and unfortunately, we couldn't have international observers as we wanted. We invited them. But this is not a dictatorship'', Mr. Fujimori told CNN. The international monitors had called for a postponement of the final vote. The Organisation of American States, which is holding a special meeting in Canada this week, is expected to have something substantive against Lima.

Analysts say that at least two things are critical for Mr. Fujimori to feel the pressure. First, the extent to which the U.S. is willing to go to tighten the screws. Cutting off some $ 130 millions for narcotics cooperation may not be the answer as Washington too would be paying the price. Where the U.S. will come to matter is in the international financial institutions. Blocking loans to Peru will have a damaging effect on the economy.

Second, much depended on how the Opposition in Peru rallied and sustained their pressure against Mr. Fujimori.

After a day of massive protests in and around Lima, the country is said to be relatively calm. Crucial at this stage is the military which seems to be solidly behind Mr. Fujimori.

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Section  : International
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