MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Humala to ?free Peru'

Nationalist presidential candidate Ollanta Humala promised yesterday to free Peru from centuries of racial discrimination but vowed not to risk economic policies that have made the country one of the world's top mineral exporters.

Comparing Peru to a restaurant where foreigners run the kitchen and cash register, the former army commander said it was time to end the "kidnapping of my nation by multinational companies," and help the half of Peruvians who are poor.

"We want to raise the flag on a free Peru, free from oppression and from the powerful who don't solve this country's problems," Humala said.

Preaching economic revolution and nationalism, Humala came first among 20 candidates in the first round of presidential voting on April 9, but polls put him far behind left-of-centre former president Alan Garcia before the June 4 runoff.

Humala dismissed fears that he is too extreme, possibly anti-democratic and too close to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. "I want to unite our society, I want to end racial discrimination and end the favouritism that your surname or your money can buy," he said.

Garcia leads Humala by 59.9 percent to 40.1 percent, according to a recent poll. Garcia is seen as a pro-business moderate despite his 1985-90 government that caused hyperinflation and food shortages.

Humala said his plans to give the government greater control of mining and energy would not endanger the economic model that helped Peru's gross domestic product to increase by seven percent in 2005.

"I want to strengthen the middle class; I want to help small businesses. It is Alan Garcia who destroyed the middle class during his government," Humala said. "We're going to work on economic stability, a careful fiscal policy and low inflation."

Peruvians who have no access to schools and hospitals say Humala is what the country needs after 15 years of pro-business policies whose benefits have not trickled down to the needy. (Agencies)