Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit PERU'S PRESIDENT LAUNCHES GAY-BAITING PURGE By Greg Butterfield Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori purged his government's diplomatic corps in January. He axed 117 people, including ambassadors. The reason? Fujimori claimed all 117 are lesbians and gay men. The International Lesbian and Gay Association released a statement by 15 gay diplomats condemning Fujimori's purge. "Most of the 117 who were relieved were neither gay nor lesbian, but held positions of power in Peru's government prior to Fujimori's presidency, and were seen as potential threats to his reorganization campaign," according to ILGA. Gay baiting has long been a favorite tactic of right-wing reaction. In April 1992, Fujimori fronted a military coup that suspended Peru's elected Congress and the Constitution. The government has since grown more despotic as it seeks to please its masters in Washington and crush the workers' and peasants' revolutionary movement. The ILGA statement concluded: Fujimori "should respect and defend the rights of all Peruvian citizens, including gays and lesbians. This political act in which gays and lesbians have been obliged to be the figureheads is proof that what has really been purged from Peru is democracy itself." Meanwhile, since the capture of Abimael Guzman, Peruvian rebels led by the Communist Party of Peru ("Shining Path") have taken a new offensive they call the Sixth Military Plan. On Jan. 22, during a build-up for municipal elections, guerrillas attacked U.S. transnational corporations, including an American Airlines office and a Coca-Cola bottling plant in the capital city, Lima. One- and two-day armed strikes were called in Lima, Ayacucho and other cities in the days leading up to the Jan. 29 elections. Fujimori had announced the elections would include a referendum on the death penalty for rebel prisoners. But the government dropped the referendum at the last minute without comment. On Feb. 4 and 5, rebels attacked police and military positions across Peru, including Lima, Piura and Yanaorcco Chico. Guerilla squads also hit Banco de Credito and Banco Continental in Lima. The Tupac Amaru Revolutionary Movement is also said to have launched anti-police attacks in early February. -30- Copyright Workers World Service: Permission to reprint granted if source is cited. For more info contact Workers World, 46 West 21st Street, New York, NY 10010; e-mail: ww%nyxfer@igc.apc.org or workers@mcimail.com. + Join Us! Support The NY Transfer News Collective + + We deliver uncensored information to your mailbox! + + Modem: 718-448-2358 FAX: 718-448-3423 e-mail: nyxfer@panix.com +