A-Infos (en) Anarkismo.net, Peru, Conversation with member of Libertarian Socialist Union (USL) on the indigenous revolts and social resistance [machine translation]

1 - What is the cause of indigenous struggles in the present? What forms take? --- On the 
current struggle of Amazonian peoples (Awajún-Wampis, Quechua, Arabela, huaronis, 
pananujuris, Achuar murunahus or Chitonahua, Cacataibo, Matsés, candoshis, Shawis, 
Cocama-Cocamilla, Machiguengas Yines, Ashaninka simplicity; applies that the struggle of 
peoples is much wider than the Amazon, as communities in the Sierra: Quechua and Aymara 
have also been raised in defense of their land and culture) we can say that since last 
year has been the awakening of our jungle and the Andean region (which has been seen, even 
by international standards) against the neoliberal policies (privatization, land sales 
originating from indigenous cultures and violation of human rights) undertaken by the 
Peruvian State, fulfilling the mandates of the great market capitalism and imperialism 
which aims to consolidate their transnational corporations in the territory of the native 
peoples.

But thanks to the organized protest of the same people, organizations or groups popular 
political and labor (including through the International Libertarian Solidarity Campaign 
that promoted, supported by over 50 organizations worldwide libertarian) is persuaded the 
Peruvian government to recede in the implementation of legislative decrees 1090 and 1064 
(DL) already with the sale of land from native communities. But still the fight against 
the privatization of water use, the repeal of the remaining DL which undermine the 
sovereignty and life of indigenous people, the expulsion of the transnational companies in 
these regions that undermine grace under Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed with the U.S., 
and use of land and resources by the communities themselves.

Furthermore, we also note that these struggles have shown that Peruvian society remains 
deeply racist and hypocritical. The press has highlighted the alleged savagery of the 
Amazonian tribes in the fight, also presented as the police victims killed by the natives 
in response to the slaughter of Bagua. The government had no qualms about commercials 
launch by reaffirming that supposed negative image of the original peoples in struggle, in 
order to minimize the crimes being committed against communities. That is, for the public, 
was built the idea that the Amazonian tribes were savage and murderous and repressive 
government forces were the symbol of order and progress that took care of all the land of 
the "Greed and anarchy .

If it were not for the strength of the protest of Amazon natives, not only had there been 
no national debate and had leapt to the public their grievances and oppression which for 
centuries has been suffering, with the violent intrusion of Western society , pretending 
to submit their social organization, which contains many elements that our approach 
libertarian approach, not only their relationship with the land and its resources (flora 
and fauna), which are not claimed "owners" but they themselves feel as children of the 
earth, and the obligation to maintain that balance. Furthermore, the collective 
organization of work in the native and peasant communities are redeemable elements that we 
are very interested and encouraged. The native communities, manage performance levels that 
give greater importance to the decision of the bases, ie a bottom-up organization. The 
representatives are presented as mere mouthpieces of the decisions of communities.

We believe that this type of organization is what they most fear and seek to destroy the 
State, and strip them of their villages to leave the field open, or ground blind for 
imperialist multinationals come to plant their iron claws and tentacles and exploit prey 
resources before they can poison the entire ecosystem.

2nd - What is the social situation in Peru?

In Peru, the layoffs and the precariousness of social rights of workers are still taking 
with impunity. As was the case during the late 90's, during the genocidal regime of 
Alberto Fujimori, in which all the gains back to work, on the right to strike, 
unionization, job stability. Even just a few years ago the government itself, cynically, 
confirmed by a new law the 8-hour day of work when this victory was achieved in 1913 for 
the proletariat of El Callao (the main port town in the country) and in 1919 for the rest 
the proletariat, the anarcho-syndicalist labor movement of the time with leading figures 
such as Manuel C. Levan and his son Dolphin Levano, Carlos Barba, Nicolás Gutarra, 
Adalberto Fonk and many more libertarian peers.

The situation for our pensioners is most deplorable. Particularly the unemployed and 
retired National Pension System, former employees of private companies still face hunger 
and death pensions. Pension frozen for over 8 years, and whose minimum amount in an amount 
that does not even cover even 10% of the basic family basket.

Moreover, the vast majority of social benefits that should be charged (retired) by the 
regulations issued during the last decades, have been scandalously inapplicable. That is, 
the state itself has managed to evade compliance with legal benefits. This has caused an 
avalanche of unprecedented on the part of pensioners. Many cases have come to the 
Interamerican Court of Human Rights, but even to comply with the judgments of 
supranational entity, the government also manages to delay the process. Meanwhile, 
pensioners continue to die without seeing justice.

3rd - We could talk about the union and social movement in Peru and his sensitivities?

As for job prospects and union should be noted that there is now a large contingent of 
workers being made redundant as a result of actions taken by big business in our country 
to "face the current global crisis" that they themselves have provoked. They have been 
mainly affected the textile workers and miners, who despite his fighting spirit, we 
believe, still has neither the strength nor the strength to avoid the blows of the employers.

A textile union level, there is a Federation of Textile Workers, which consolidated, are 
taking steps towards the restructuring of this entity, but on the basis of a so-called 
"Coordinadora Textile Association, which brings together youth unions, and is viewed with 
suspicion by the traditional leaders, and to some extent not subject to the dictates of 
bureaucratic biggest trade of our country, General Confederation of Workers of Peru (CGTP).

Note that the CGTP has been since its origin copada in their leadership by members of the 
Peruvian Communist Party-Unity, which has always maintained a Stalinist position. 
Currently its top trade union leaders such as Secretary General of the CGTP Mario Huaman, 
flirt with the Nationalist Party leader Ollanta Humala. Despite both presidential 
ambitions, apparently projections for the 2011 elections are going on a joint presidential 
proposal.

In the case of the miners, they do have a body that should unite: The National Federation 
of Mining Metallurgy and Steel Workers of Peru during the second half of the decade of the 
'80s and particularly during the first government of Alan Garcia starred in militant 
strikes, which resulted in an improvement in their social benefits and in particular, 
succeeded in extracting the state the Pension Act Minera, in conditions quite favorable in 
terms of their pensions and conditions of dismissal. Unfortunately on that occasion the 
vengeance of the state, came right through the Commando Rodrigo Franco (paramilitaries) 
who murdered the secretary general of the Mining Federation, Saúl Cantoral.

Currently, the leadership of the Mining Federation is captured by opportunism. Numerous 
calls to the strike but in the same issue, came after the suspension of the measures as a 
result, promises of both parliament or government, to assess their claims. However, so far 
there is no single point of the statement of claim has been conquered. Incredibly, even 
begged for the law enforcement retirement mining, which took the lives of many workers, as 
this is not yet promulgated by the APRA government. The parliament also wanted to review 
or approve the bill for the payment of utilities for mining workers.

There is also the Confederation of Workers of Peru (CTP) of egg and historical orientation 
APRA, that is akin to the current government, and only fills the role of strikebreakers or 
pro-union employers, unions creating parallel to destabilize otos sectors struggle. The 
CTP and the lines appear CGTP opposition claiming to represent the working class in Peru, 
but no more than two central bureaucracy, which have agreements under the table and to 
demobilize their bases. Ie to remain inert and passive affiliated workers.

Yet we believe that a true union work in our country is possible. We have had approaches 
militancy organic and textile sectors and with other guilds as the ceramic base of the 
plant Celima. We are still betting on building an alternative class association, 
autonomous, federations, horizontal, with direct democracy and fighting capacity.

4th - We could talk about the USL and the libertarian movement in general Peru?

Libertarian Socialist Union is the result of political maturity than they were earlier 
collective experiences as Qhispikay Llaqta and Black Star (2004 and 2007). We consider 
ourselves an anarchist organization that aims to build a true anti-authoritarian proposal 
in our environment and strengthen the freedom struggle as we can

In reality the work of libertarian-leaning organization are doing in the field of popular 
struggle and within mass movements, is just beginning, because this month the first 
birthday of labor struggle and libertarian.

However, since we have been immersed in the struggles of the Amazonian people, we touch 
base with their organizations, like the working classes and even laid off and unemployed 
workers, who have come through our newsletters Fight Libertarian. Sickness and satiety 
with opportunistic and bureaucratic leaderships, is widespread, being a fertile field for 
the seed implant libertarian task that we are addressing.

On the libertarian movement in Peru, then we must say here that anarchism enjoyed good 
health until the late 30s, with strong workers and popular organizations and consolidated 
after the betrayal of the Socialist Party and the APRA party, were all reduced and almost 
eliminated. Currently trying out the popular camp anarchism. In the 80s and 90s had some 
experiences (collective, newspapers, fascinate, etc.). But did not progress. Now in Lima, 
the capital, we are the only organized group, although we should mention that in our city 
following the discussions in some libertarian training workshops, has formed the 
Libertarian Cine-club "Fernando Fernan", which aims spread through the image and art 
anarchist proposals. There are some publications but not libertarian groups. In other 
cities if there are better looking and has consolidated the libertarian proposal in 
universities and neighborhoods.

As activists from the USL (students and workers) generally believe that libertarian ideas 
are taking hold among our country and the potential for larger scale work is possible 
because workers are tired of corrupt rulers and communities struggling to maintain their 
way of organizing that clearly contains a lot of libertarian.

To further make the situation in Peru, the struggles of the social and popular movements, 
and to read more of our documents and texts, we encourage you to read our web address.

RR Commission. II.
LIBERTARIAN SOCIALIST UNION

Monday November 30, 2009
Related Link: http://www.uslperu.blogspot.com
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