07/05/2005
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Peru blocked by the cocaleros. The coca leaf farmers have started an indefinite general strike, once again
in an attempt to save the cultivation of what they call “our sacred ancient plant”.
The pesticides sprayed by government planes, with the intention of eradicating
the root of the drug market, is ruining them. The attempts by these campesinos
of the high plains in the Andes to explain that their cultivation of hoja de coca
doesn’t mean that they are drug traffickers haven’t, unfortunately, worked. The
Toledo government, strengthened by the support of the USA, has decided that the
eradication programme will continue everywhere, with the exception of La Convencion
area in the Cuzco region.
Ad libitum. Whatever was behind the move, the example of Cuzco provoked joy in a few people
and demands from many more. The hoja de coca farmers scattered throughout the
various regions of the country proclaimed an ad libitum strike to demand a national law guaranteeing the traditional consumption of
the product (for chewing) and its use by the pharmaceutical industry.
A thousand times no. “We won’t stop the eradication programme. We mustn’t give in to the pressure
of the cocaleros”, replied the Prime Minister, Cartos Ferrero, although he then went on to state
that the government was drawing up the law about coca leaves requested by the
strikers. “It will be ready before the end of the month”, he concluded, “ and
then it will be presented for discussion to Congress”.
printsend
The general strike called by the Cocaleros has blocked the country
Peru blocked by the cocaleros. The coca leaf farmers have started an indefinite general strike, once again
in an attempt to save the cultivation of what they call “our sacred ancient plant”.
The pesticides sprayed by government planes, with the intention of eradicating
the root of the drug market, is ruining them. The attempts by these campesinos
of the high plains in the Andes to explain that their cultivation of hoja de coca
doesn’t mean that they are drug traffickers haven’t, unfortunately, worked. The
Toledo government, strengthened by the support of the USA, has decided that the
eradication programme will continue everywhere, with the exception of La Convencion
area in the Cuzco region.
The Cuzco example. The reason for this is because Carlos Cuaresma, the president of the region,
decided to legalise cultivation of the leaf, appealing to traditions and to the
importance the legal use of the leaf has for the local economy. From the practical
point of view this is a very positive law that creates an important precedent,
and it was passed just six days before the general strike that started on June
27 was called. In fact the practical effects of the law were so positive that
they were able to obscure the heated debate that surrounds the figure of president
Cuaresma, who certainly doesn’t have the reputation of someone who in the past
was a defender of poor people’s rights, let alone the rights of the cocaleros,
and is not known for his attention to social issues. What he is is a member of
the Fronte Indipendente Moralizzatore, which supports the government, and with
this new law he has been accused of launching his campaign for the elections due
in 2006. “ “Todo vale por un segundo de celebridad”, his detractors shouted, referring
to the rather blatant timing of the introduction of the law. Dressed in traditional
costume and leaning out from a stage, he waved the documents of the newly approved
law to never-ending applause.
Ad libitum. Whatever was behind the move, the example of Cuzco provoked joy in a few people
and demands from many more. The hoja de coca farmers scattered throughout the
various regions of the country proclaimed an ad libitum strike to demand a national law guaranteeing the traditional consumption of
the product (for chewing) and its use by the pharmaceutical industry. They began by blocking the main roads in the seven regions of the country with
tree trunks and stones, and organised protest marches everywhere, and naturally
nobody worked. The result of all this was that the entire country’s commercial
traffic ground to a halt.
In addition to this is the unanimous no to the Free Trade Agreement that Peru
is about to sign with the USA, since the agreement certainly doesn’t envisage
any benefits for the campesinos of hoja de coca. During the international forum “Violence, Urban Security and Drugs”, which
took place yesterday during the international day against drugs, the American
ambassador to Lima, James Curtis Struble, warned that the increase in the cultivation
of coca leaves destined for the production of drugs has produced the only possible
result: an increase in violence and corruption. Struble followed up by saying
that “Peru must impose a strong, reliable policy to eradicate coca”, leaving no
margin of doubt as to the American government’s position and their interest in
the war against drugs.
A thousand times no. “We won’t stop the eradication programme. We mustn’t give in to the pressure
of the cocaleros”, replied the Prime Minister, Cartos Ferrero, although he then went on to state
that the government was drawing up the law about coca leaves requested by the
strikers. “It will be ready before the end of the month”, he concluded, “ and
then it will be presented for discussion to Congress”. Promises or empty words? It remains to be seen, but in the meantime the strike continues and the protests of workers indirectly
hit is beginning to be heard. The transport company León di Huánuco has suspended
ticket sales throughout the Huallaga valley, and its managing director, Jorge
Trujillo López, estimated that his company is losing 60,000 soles every day, while
another seven companies offering similar services have also suspended their activities.
Stella Spinelli
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