Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LIMA2075
2006-05-25 20:28:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lima
Cable title:
ANTI-FTA MARCH HAS LITTLE TURN-OUT, LOW IMPACT
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UNCLAS LIMA 002075
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD PE
SUBJECT: ANTI-FTA MARCH HAS LITTLE TURN-OUT, LOW IMPACT
Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Handle Accordingly
UNCLAS LIMA 002075
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD PE
SUBJECT: ANTI-FTA MARCH HAS LITTLE TURN-OUT, LOW IMPACT
Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Handle Accordingly
1. (U) Labor union leaders, farmers, students, and members of
left-wing political groups participated in a march in Lima
against the Peru-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the
afternoon of 5/24. Organizers had talked about bringing
masses of cocaleros and other malcontents into town, and
wanted this event to be the spearhead of a national protest
against the FTA. Frustrating these expectations, there was a
sparse turn-out in Lima (police estimated around 4,000
marchers),and only the most limited of protests in regional
capitals. The march in Lima terminated in front of the
Congress building, where anti-FTA leaders made speeches
denouncing an alleged political deal within the legislature
to approve the pact once the second round of presidential
voting is over on June 4.
2. (U) The demonstration turned into a sidelight of the
election campaign when ultra-nationalist candidate Ollanta
Humala's wife Nadine attempted to insert herself (uninvited)
at the head of the column of marchers, along with a phalanx
of supporters bearing signs denouncing Humala's opponent Alan
Garcia. A group of peasant leaders confronted Nadine,
telling her that the march was not intended to be a partisan
political event. She and her supporters found themselves
obliged to withdraw.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Timing this protest for ten days before
the election was a poor strategic choice by the organizers.
The focus of the public and the media has been on the
candidates' varied accusations against each other, in which
the FTA has played only a minor role. Attempts to try to
hobble FTA approval are no doubt still in the works, but FTA
supporters here have to be encouraged that this latest effort
fell flat on its face.
STRUBLE
SIPDIS
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PREL ETRD PE
SUBJECT: ANTI-FTA MARCH HAS LITTLE TURN-OUT, LOW IMPACT
Sensitive But Unclassified, Please Handle Accordingly
1. (U) Labor union leaders, farmers, students, and members of
left-wing political groups participated in a march in Lima
against the Peru-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA) on the
afternoon of 5/24. Organizers had talked about bringing
masses of cocaleros and other malcontents into town, and
wanted this event to be the spearhead of a national protest
against the FTA. Frustrating these expectations, there was a
sparse turn-out in Lima (police estimated around 4,000
marchers),and only the most limited of protests in regional
capitals. The march in Lima terminated in front of the
Congress building, where anti-FTA leaders made speeches
denouncing an alleged political deal within the legislature
to approve the pact once the second round of presidential
voting is over on June 4.
2. (U) The demonstration turned into a sidelight of the
election campaign when ultra-nationalist candidate Ollanta
Humala's wife Nadine attempted to insert herself (uninvited)
at the head of the column of marchers, along with a phalanx
of supporters bearing signs denouncing Humala's opponent Alan
Garcia. A group of peasant leaders confronted Nadine,
telling her that the march was not intended to be a partisan
political event. She and her supporters found themselves
obliged to withdraw.
3. (SBU) COMMENT: Timing this protest for ten days before
the election was a poor strategic choice by the organizers.
The focus of the public and the media has been on the
candidates' varied accusations against each other, in which
the FTA has played only a minor role. Attempts to try to
hobble FTA approval are no doubt still in the works, but FTA
supporters here have to be encouraged that this latest effort
fell flat on its face.
STRUBLE