On 11-12 July a national agrarian strike took place involving more than five million agricultural workers, small producers and craftsmen throughout Peru, demanding the rejection of a free trade treaty with the US. Whilst the action arose out of protests by teachers against new educational legislation, Peru has been reduced to a standstill by continuous strikes and protests against recently-elected President Garcia’s economic and political programme of handing over water, mining, and forestry resources to multinationals. The activity is without any recent precedent. 70,000 workers and students marched in Lima on 11 July, and opposition leader Ollanta Humala proposed the creation of a popular constituent assembly to agree a programme to displace Garcia. On 16 July, in Andahuaylas, 4,000 protesters clashed with police, who killed one man and injured dozens. This followed a pitched battle in Lima when 1,000 workers captured and then released nine police officers. In Puno workers overran the airport and railway station. Imperialism is facing a renewed challenge.
FRFI 198 August / September 2007
