CAPSULE COMMENTARY: “Peru Can Take Care of Itself”

“Today, the United States government declared Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori’s re-election invalid and a threat to democracy across the Americas. Fujimori defeated his opponent, Alejandro Toledo (who had withdrawn in protest), by a considerable margin, and did not postpone the election to allow international monitors to inspect and confirm the election results. The US is threatening to impose sanctions on the Fujimori government, and Toledo plans on forming a resistance movement. Whether or not Fujimori rigged the election is indeed important. To Peru. Not to the United States. Will Clinton invite international monitors to approve the results of the Bush-Gore contest? Also, how many times must the US punish poor people overseas with embargoes that deprive foreigners of our nation’s products and capital? Should we punish Peruvians with restrictions and intervention, like we have the Cubans, Iraqis, and Vietnamese? Peru should clean up Peru — the American people do not need another enemy.”