In the last couple of weeks, Peru has been hit by a near general strike across the country against the policies of the ruling government of centre-left President Alan Garcia. In the southern region of Puno, thousands strong demonstrations stormed the airport and train station. In Arequipa, nine police officers were taken hostage by protesters who demanded an exchange for the arrested. John Bowden reports. Read more...

The 24-hour general strike against the government of Alejandro Toledo on 14 July was described as a "complete success" by the Peru trade union federation CGTP. Read more...

On Monday 26 April, news arrived in Lima of a popular uprising in the Peruvian town of Ilave, in the province of Collao as a result of the refusal of the electoral authorities to sack the local mayor for corruption, as demanded by the local population. Read more...

THE CREAM of Lima’s political elite were present to celebrate the birthday of Japan’s emperor when several of the waiters – instead of serving the caviar – reached for their AK47s, revealing themselves as members of the guerrilla group. Read more...

At the end of October there will be a referendum on a new constitution in Peru. Fujimori, the presidential dictator in Peru, got his misnamed “Democratic Constituent Congress” to adopt a new “Magna Carta” to place before the people. Read more...

Introduction

We print here a translation of an article from Poder Obrero, the Peruvian section of the LRCI. The article was written in November 1990, when the new Peruvian President, Fujimori, had been in office for six months. The shock winner of the June 1990 election, Fujimori rapidly implemented an IMF-imposed austerity plan which led to huge reductions in public spending, a massive fall in real wages and an unprecedented slump. Read more...

In June 1990, Alberto Fujimori won the presidential election and began to rapidly impose an IMF austerity programme that saw huge reductions in public spending, a massive fall in real wages and an unprecedented slump. Read more...