The World Closes In on Fujimori

The U.S. ambassador to Peru, John Hamilton, let loose some fireworks July 4 in Lima, delivering a speech about independence and democratic values aimed squarely at Peru’s increasingly autocratic President Alberto Fujimori. Hamilton reminded his guests at the embassy, including Fujimori’s daughter, Keiko, and Peru’s foreign affairs secretary, that as Peru prepares to celebrate its own independence later this month the country is in deep political crisis. “Peru’s recent elections,” the ambassador said, “have been questioned, and everyone knows and accepts that the country needs to strengthen its democratic institutions.”

Hamilton’s tough speech followed earlier unsuccessful efforts by the Organization of American States to budge Fujimori, who changed the constitution so he could run for a third term in May, rigged the election and has increasingly suppressed human rights and freedom of expression.

After the election, a mission headed by OAS Secretary-General Cesar Gaviria and Canadian Foreign Minister Lloyd Axworthy went to Peru with proposals to restore democracy to the Andean nation. The proposals had been approved, despite Peru’s efforts to derail them, by foreign ministers at the OAS General Assembly in Canada June 5.

The OAS reasonably asked Fujimori to strengthen Peru’s justice system and ensure separation of powers. It called for balancing human rights and freedom of speech with Peru’s legitimate security needs. Finally, the OAS asked for serious electoral reform, including creation of an independent electoral institute to organize fair and transparent elections.

Fujimori has ignored both the recommendations of the OAS and the stern words of the U.S. ambassador. A next step against the Peruvian leader is in order. The OAS, whose members span North, Central and South America, should impose sanctions against the government, perhaps by asking OAS members to vote against any new loans to Peru by the International Monetary Fund, the Inter-American Development Bank and the World Bank.

July 28 marks the 179th anniversary of Peru’s independence from Spain. A nation so mature deserves better than Fujimori’s anti-democratic backsliding, and his hemispheric counterparts should keep the pressure on.