Protesters Jar OAS Meeting; Peru Election Tops Agenda

As hundreds of anti-free trade protesters chanted outside, foreign ministers from the Organization of American States launched their annual assembly Sunday, expecting to focus on Peru’s presidential election.

OAS delegates were scheduled to consider last month’s presidential runoff election in Peru, after a human rights report accused the South American country of failing to meet democratic election standards.

Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori was the only candidate on the ballot, after challenger Alejandro Toledo boycotted what he said was an unfair election process.

Several former world leaders, including former President Carter, sharply criticized Peru in an open letter to the OAS.

Meanwhile, police arrested 41 protesters--35 of whom were among 200 who mobbed a bus containing three OAS delegates and a driver, Staff Sgt. Dave Rossell of the Windsor Police Service said.

Protesters chanted “Shame! Shame! Shame!” and wagged their fingers at police, who in turn rapped nightsticks on riot shields to move the crowd back. Some demonstrators tried to force their way into the area before police shut the gate, inciting the demonstrators to throw bottles and debris.

Some OAS delegates complained that the organization was being wrongly targeted, noting that there were no clear trade issues on the assembly’s agenda.