Posted on 04/28/2007 8:01:56 AM PDT by nypokerface
Peru's parliament has granted emergency powers to President Alan Garcia in order to deal with drug trafficking and organised crime.
Congress overwhelmingly approved the move but around 20 Congressmen walked out of the session before the vote.
President Garcia has promised not to abuse the powers, which are valid for the next 60 days.
He will only have the power to rule by decree on nine specific types of crime, most of which relate to trafficking.
Drug violence rise
A prolonged strike in the centre of the country by coca farmers demanding the government cease its eradication of their crop may have prompted this vote.
Peru is the world's second biggest producer of cocaine and recent years have seen an increase in production and drug-related violence.
Peruvian congressmen strongly approved the measure which will allow President Garcia to rule on offences related to cocaine production, smuggling and organised crime without seeking their approval.
Twenty-two opposition politicians walked out of the session in protest at the vote.
Mr Garcia vowed to take a heavy hand against drug trafficking cartels, which have increased their presence in Peru in recent years.
Peruvians are becoming more concerned about violent crime and many are likely to welcome the move.
Analysts say Mr Garcia will use the 60-day period to toughen jail sentences for cocaine production and trafficking and close up what many in the government see as loopholes in the current legislation against the illegal drug trade.
Critics say this move is an attempt to boost Mr Garcia's powers in the face of flagging public approval.
Polls indicate his popularity has dropped below half - his worst approval rating since taking office last year.
And if you believe that,....... (insert the usual unlikely things for sale here)......
I predict that one of his decrees will be to expand and extend the "emergency" powers.
You were faster.....
Anyway, here's another picture:
Appreciated (saw who it was addressed to after posted the previous post).
Garcia is a good man. If he needs this power to crush dopers, then give it to him, it shows he is serious about crushing drug traffic. He should not be abused for this. He is one of the foremost opponents of Hugo Chavez on the continent. I talked to a Peruvian diplomat last week and he had nothing but curdling contempt for Hugo and made no bones about it. That’s the tone being set in the Peruvian government right now. They don’t want dopers and they don’t want Hugo Chavez. Let them finish mopping up on their doper war so they can go after Hugo next. It would be so nice to see Chavez done in by the Peruvian army and the Mexican navy. Would work for me.
Peruvian President Garcia a good man? He is an unrepentant Socialist who absolutely wrecked Peru once before, and I am amazed that he was ever re-elected!
He may not like Chavez, but that's only because he would see in Hugo a rival, and one that his countrymen couldn't stand in the least. Perhaps it *might* be wise to grant him some limited powers to meet the current crisis, but I do hope the Peruvian electorate is watching what he does with it very carefully (even more so, because Mrs. infowarrior is currently in Peru...)
the infowarrior
He was only reelected because a chavista poodle was the alternative. I would have much preferred Lourdes Flores but Garcia’s worked out fine.
Garcia knows all the pitfalls, he’s made every blunder it’s possible to make and unlike Hugo, he says he’s sorry for them. I would not pass judgment, he’s been pretty good for us.
Us? You're Peruvian, then? While I am not, my wife is, and she *still* has harsh things to say about Senor Garcia, dating back to his *last* presidecy...
the infowarrior
You should have seen the stuff I wrote about him, denouncing him as the ultimate loser scumbag during the Peru election,which I followed closely. I definitely know his record. He gave Reagan so much garbage - he was sort of the Hugo of his day. But he grew up. he’s not perfect but he’s a sight better than Ollanta Humala and if those two were the alternative, wouldn’t it be better to try to live with the repentant Garcia rather than the lunatic Humala?
On ‘us’ - I meant America. Alan’s done lots of heavy lifting on the Chavez problem, undercutting him at every opportunity. I respect him for that. He’s not left all the hard work for us, he’s done some himself. Chavez hates and fears him.
Garcia’s problem...if he’s really interested in dealing with the organized crime problem in Peru...is the fact that the Peruvian government and military are hip deep in it.
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