Fear of communism brings together thousands of Fujimori’s voters in Lima, Peru

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Thousands of voters of Peruvian presidential candidate Keiko Fujimori gathered this Saturday, May 29, in Lima to rally for peace and democracy, fearing the communism and terrorism that they say the leftist Pedro Castillo will bring if he wins the elections.

The mobilization began in the iconic Plaza San Martin, the same scenario that only a week ago agglomerated thousands of Peruvians in a march against Fujimori, who vindicates the legacy of her father, Alberto Fujimori (1990-2000), sentenced to 25 years in prison for crimes against humanity and corruption.

Peruvian flags and the jerseys of the national soccer team prevailed among the participants, following the example of the candidate of the pro-Fujimori party Fuerza Popular, who has been campaigning wearing the national team’s jersey to symbolize that voting for her is voting for the country.

The chants and banners with messages of “no to communism” and “no to terrorism” proliferated, similar to the large billboards that have been displayed for weeks in the big cities of Peru as part of a million-dollar campaign against Castillo, which exacerbates the polarized positions of these elections.

“We Peruvians cannot allow communism to rule over us. It is necessary to defend Peru from it,” said the young Diego Vargas, one of those who wore the white and red jersey of the national team.

“I consider it a duty, something necessary for every Peruvian, to defend the homeland from a great threat for which (the party) Peru Libre postulates, which is to offer Peru communism,” Vargas added.

“ON THE VERGE OF COLLAPSE”

Among the various participants in the mobilization who came in small groups of friends or families was Milagros Sayán, who assured that they were all there “for the struggle for democracy.”

“My country is on the verge of collapse. We see our brother countries as they are suffering at this moment. And now we want Peru to be like that?” asked Sayán, whose answer was on his face: “no to communism”.

Along with the fear of communism, Fujimori’s voters also fear a hypothetical resurgence of terrorism in the form it took place during the internal armed conflict (1980-2000), caused by the Maoist group Shining Path and the Marxist Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement (MRTA).

That was the special reason Julio had come, terrified by the massacre of 16 people this week in the Apurimac, Ene, and Mantaro River Valley (VRAEM), the largest coca-growing area in Peru, where there is still a small remnant of the Shining Path that survives financed by drug trafficking, to which it acts as a bodyguard.

“I have my (Mario) Vargas Llosa polo shirt, and if I go out on the street with him, I’m not afraid, but if I go out with a polo shirt that says Abimael Guzman (founder of the Shining Path) murderer, I would be afraid,” Julio told Efe while showing his T-shirt with the photo of the Peruvian winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature.

VARGAS LLOSA T-SHIRTS

The writer, a staunch enemy of Fujimorism since he lost the presidential elections 30 years ago to Alberto Fujimori, has become in these elections the biggest media supporter of Keiko Fujimori, as he has asked to vote against Castillo’s candidacy.

“I think Peru owes a lot to Vargas Llosa. In his time, the ideas he proposed for Peru were very novel, such as the economic “shock” or stable prices, because they were very distorted. It was a very painful measure, but it gave results. Now he is scorned. Ingratitude is always like that,” Julio added.

The march, which then headed to the nearby Campo de Marte park where there were several speeches, had several tense moments when different people who were not Fujimoristas reminded those present of the charges of more than 30 years in prison for corruption that Keiko Fujimori faces.

Then, the march “for peace and democracy” turned hostile with shouts of “terruco” (terrorist) and “communist” towards those who thought differently until they were expelled from the square.

Also, later in the night, some supporters of Peru Libre, Castillo’s party, arrived, which also caused moments of tension in a square where there was hardly any police protection.

Everything is happening a week before the second round of the presidential elections. More than 25 million Peruvians are summoned to vote next Sunday, June 6, to elect the person who will govern Peru for the next five years.