MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Latinamerica must detach ‘utopia from true history and reality’

Controversial Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa

Renowned Peruvian writer Mario Vargas Llosa during a conference in Israel strongly criticized Latinamerican leaders such as Cuba’s Fidel Castro, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez and Brazil’s Lula da Silva.

Speaking at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem Vargas Llosa described Castro as “prehistoric”, considered Chavez was a “dictator’s apprentice” and although praising Lula da Silva’s domestic policies, he said the Brazilian president involvement in international affairs was “irresponsible”.

“There’s a contradiction between the domestic and international policies of Lula da Silva. At home he is responsible but internationally he’s irresponsible and demagogic, for having opened Brazil, and thus Latinamerica to characters such as Iranian president Mahmud Ahmadineyad”.

Vargas Llosa participated in the university at a conference on the “Multiple Prospects for Latinamerica” which was followed by a debate with students and professors.
The Peruvian author presentation under the heading “Latinamerica’s dreams and reality” was an hour long review of the current political, social and literary situation of the continent.

He said there has been “a historic inclination to idealize Latinamerica, where it seems it is possible what in Europe has been unreal” and this idea underlined “the colonization of the New World which was much of an imaginary enterprise, stoked by literature with stories that really turned on all those thinking of riches”.

On that line of thinking the “discovery of America took place under the influence of myth and fiction” and the New World was a reflection of western fantasies “where utopia legends blended with true history”.

“It is essential nowadays to see the true history because mixing truth with fiction has always had tragic consequences for humanity”, stressed the writer who is not only one of the Spanish language outstanding authors but is also known for his incursions into politics. (In 1990 he lost to Alberto Fujimori the Peruvian presidency)

“We must confine mythology to literature and the arts and not allow it to precipitate into politics, where what is needed a real vision of events to put an end to poverty and social differences” and helping the continent to keep developing and advancing.

During his visit to Israel Vargas Llosa was hosted by President Simon Peres with whom he has a long friendship.