MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Embattled Peruvian president opens new front

Given the growing political tension with Peru, because of the alleged weapons sales to Ecuador during the “Condor war” in the nineties, the Chilean government decided Wednesday to temporarily freeze military contacts between both countries.

In a joint release Chile's Foreign Affairs and Defence ministries announced that the country's naval school tall mast vessel, "Esmeralda" will not be calling in El Callao and the visit next Sunday to Peru of Army Commander in Chief General Juan Emilio Cheyre had been cancelled. Earlier in the day an influential Lima newspaper had anticipated the news. The release also calls on Peruvian authorities to resume dialogue in the framework of the 2 plus 2 mechanism (both countries ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defence).

"The government of Chile, given the trust and friendship links existent between both nations invited the government of Peru to establish a dialogue, in the framework of the existent mechanism for that purpose of 2 plus 2".

Relations between the South American Pacific neighbours have strained following the revelation by a former Ecuadorian military officer that Chile had sold weapons to Ecuador during the so called "Condor War" between January and February 1995.

Ecuador and Peru battled for two months over a long disputed border in the jungle area which has seen several armed confrontations in the two countries history.

Chilean Defence minister Jaime Ravinet after ordering an internal investigation categorically denied Chile had sold Ecuador weapons during the armed conflict period and pointed out that the only recorded transaction refers to sales of 9 mm ammunition which was delivered before hostilities actually began.

However, Mr. Ravinet's explanation apparently did not satisfy Peruvian authorities who demanded an in depth investigation into the dates of weapons transactions involving Chile and Ecuador.

Cabinet president Carlos Ferrero was the spokesperson for the Peruvian government stance and vice president David Waissman even went further suggesting that Chile should pay a monetary compensation to Peru if evidence of such a sale to Ecuador is confirmed, particularly since at the time there was an international arms embargo.

But even when the situation seems extremely serious, political analysts in Lima also point out to the fact the Peruvian president Alejandro Toledo is proving to be one of the most unpopular presidents of the country's recent history, (8 to11% public opinion support), and on several occasions has been on the verge of being removed from his post by Congress.

Precisely this week a Congressional committee, after several weeks of mediation, was expecting President Toledo to talk about the so called "signatures factory", which allegedly he set up in the late nineties, with the support of his family and wife, to be able to register his political party which had him elected president in July 2001.

The hearing was to be at closed doors with no tape recording just shorthand minutes to be corrected by Mr. Toledo and Committee members.

Congressional members want to know about Mr. Toledo's alleged involvement which began with the registration of his party, "Peru Posible" in 1998 which opened the way for his presidential candidacy and ultimately victory.