FORTIFICATION OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS- They put 'em in, they take 'em out. But it's got to be done right, with an official US sponsored election. Get Jimmy ready, so that there's no fraud this time around. It's time to play.... Imperialism with a Happy Face. Funny how the State Department is against a coup. They are Soooo progressive there, with Clinton in office. I'm beginning to see the difference between Bush and Gore. One would be a benevolent God, and the other, a compassionate, conservative God. Will Milosevic respect the will of 'the people' as Fujimori is doing? Fujimori is Washington's model boy for Milosevic to follow. It's time to fortify democracy! Tony _________________________________ Peru's Fujimori Arrives in D.C. by GEORGE GEDDA Associated Press Writer WASHINGTON (AP)-- As Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori arrived for talks on easing his country's political crisis Thursday, the State Department called for a ''peaceful, democratic and constitutional transition of power'' in Peru. With rumors of a military coup rampant back home, Fujimori met Thursday evening with Organization of American States Secretary General Cesar Gaviria. The OAS has assumed a central role in attempting to forge a consensus among Peru's political groups on how to restore political stability in the South American nation. Efforts also were being made for Fujimori to meet with senior State Department officials. Department spokesman Philip Reeker said the administration will emphasize during the discussions ''our support for a peaceful, democratic and constitutional transition of power, and for the continuation of OAS dialogue that has been going on.'' Fujimori was inaugurated for a third term just two months ago, but political developments since then have weakened him to the point where he plans to arrange for new elections next year, four years ahead of schedule. He has said he will not be a candidate. Hours before Fujimori's 2 a.m. departure Thursday from Lima, an opposition congressman who had defected to Fujimori's ranks, charged that the army high command was pressuring lawmakers to provoke a coup within 20 days. The congressman, Miguel Mendoza, warned that the army was plotting to restore power to Fujimori's deposed spy chief, Vladimiro Montesinos. The comment put Peruvians on edge just when it appeared that the OAS-sponsored political dialogue was helping to repair the country's damaged democracy. The purpose, Mendoza said, ''would be to promote disorder within Congress and throughout the country to unleash generalized chaos and carry out a coup d'etat within 20 days, which would allow the return of ... Montesinos.'' The army's information office dismissed the allegations of Mendoza, as ''absolutely false.'' Eduardo LaTorre, the OAS' permanent secretary in Peru, met with Fujimori for nearly two hours in the government palace shortly after the congressman's announcement. LaTorre downplayed the congressman's charge, saying it had been mentioned in passing during the meeting with Fujimori. LaTorre said Fujimori planned to discuss with Gaviria ''the fortification of the democratic process here in Peru.'' A meeting between government and opposition representatives was suspended soon after Mendoza made his allegation. Montesinos, who fled the country for Panama on Sunday amid a corruption scandal, hand-picked the top commanders of the army, who are believed to be loyal to him. Montesinos had been caught on videotape apparently bribing an opposition congressman to defect to Fujimori's ranks. At least 10 lawmakers from Fujimori's Peru 2000 political alliance have abandoned the party since the scandal broke. As of Wednesday, Fujimori's legislative bloc held only 54 seats in the 120-member Congress, eliminating the control he maintained during the last eight years of his 10-year presidency. Congressman Moises Wolfenson, one of the lawmakers who quit Peru 2000 on Monday, said his decision was not influenced by any outside forces. ''There was no type of pressure, as (Mendoza) has alleged,'' he said. _______________________________________________ Crashlist resources: http://website.lineone.net/~resource_base To change your options or unsubscribe go to: http://lists.wwpublish.com/mailman/listinfo/crashlist
