It has become commonplace to describe Peru as 'on the brink'; will the state's recent capture of Sendero Luminoso guerrilla chief Abimael Guzman push it over the edge?
ine worcanina aronomic nice bollahi ar by President Alberto Fujimori's austerity programme has been accompanied by increasing militarisation, which began under former President Alan Garcia.
Despite Latin America's so-called 'democratic opening' in the early eighties, in Peru as elsewhere the military retained influence in the state apparatus.
The culmination was this year's coup, necessary so Fujimori could assure the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank that neo-liberal dictats would be continue to be applied.
Fujimori has formally announced elections to a new 'democratic constitutional congress, with a mandate to draw up a new constitution, for November 22. Many opposition parties may not take part, arguing the congress will be a mere veneer for continued dictatorship.
Yet the arrest of Guzman - and eight other members of the Sendero central committee on September 12 - may yet save the Fujimori Fourth sword in the slammer - Abimael Guzman government. Stamping out Sendero was the prime justification for the coup; this is the first tangible result. It is far too early to say whether the guerrillas will be paralysed or galvanised.
In the post-coup tension and violence Sendero