Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 27 January 2020
Peruvians choose new lawmakers to replace ousted Congress

By FRANKLIN BRICENO and The 130 new lawmakers will investigation, as is opposi-
CHRISTINE ARMARIO only hold office until sched- tion leader Keiko Fujimori,
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Peruvian uled presidential and con- whose party previously
President Martín Vizcarra gressional elections in 2021 dominated Congress.
urged citizens to "show and will not be allowed to Adriana Urrutia, director of
love" for their country and run in next year's vote. the political science pro-
vote Sunday for a new Data from international gram at Antonio Ruiz de
slate of legislators nearly polling firm Ipsos indicated Montoya University in Lima,
four months after his po- that none of the 22 com- said Peruvians are now
lemical decision to dissolve peting parties was likely to more inclined to vote for
Congress. get more than 10 percent individual candidates than
The South American na- of the vote, suggesting the parties the public has lost
tion roiled by entrenched likelihood of a fragmented confidence in.
corruption is grappling with legislature. "That makes building rep-
widespread voter apathy "No one party has been resentative institutions diffi-
that could pose a chal- able to capitalize on the cult," she said.
lenge for Vizcarra's bid to A man leaves a voting booth after voting in the congressional wave of anti-establishment Many voters were skeptical
transform the legislature. elections at a public school at the Villa El Salvador shantytown sentiment," said Abhijit that even with a new Con-
Polling leading up to the of Lima, Peru, Sunday, Jan. 26, 2020. Surya, Peru analyst with The gress much will change.
vote indicated that fewer Associated Press Economist Intelligence Unit. Victor Salazar said he was
than one in three voters Vizcarra rose to power in doubtful that incoming
had decided on a candi- day to vote." decades, with anti-Vizcar- 2018 after President Pedro legislators given less than
date, with nearly half still Vizcarra stunned the nation ra lawmakers accusing him Pablo Kuczynski resigned two years in office will
undecided and one in five in late September when of overstepping the law following months of turmoil have enough time to pass
planning to cast a protest he invoked seldom-used and briefly swearing into related to previously un- through meaningful anti-
ballot by selecting none of executive powers to shut office their own president. disclosed financial ties to corruption reforms.
the more than 2,300 candi- down the opposition-con- Nonetheless, the move was Odebrecht, the Brazilian "I don't have a lot of hope,
dates in the running."One trolled legislature he ac- widely popular with the construction giant that has to tell the truth," he said.
way to show our love for cused of shielding crooked public and was upheld by admitted to paying nearly Others were putting their
the homeland is strength- politicians and blocking his the Constitutional Tribunal. $800 million in bribes across hope in electing candi-
ening our democracy," Viz- anti-corruption drive. The president is hoping the 12 countries in exchange dates new to politics and
carra told journalists as he The decision plunged Peru new Congress will break his for lucrative public works free of the corruption-tar-
cast his ballot. "And how do into its deepest constitu- stalemate with the legisla- contracts. Peru's past four nished history of many past
we do that? Showing up to- tional crisis in nearly three ture. presidents are all under lawmakers.q

Mexico sees rise in gangs,

vigilantes recruiting children

more options, and that is Guerrero state. In a nearby of welfare for these com-
leading them (gangs) to town, a local drug gang munities and in defending
get desperate, and they had killed 10 men and the rights of children" in the
are looking to reinforce burned most of their bod- conflict-torn area.
themselves with kids". ies, and vigilante organizers Drug gang violence has
López Obrador said "the key said the kids were need- been so bad in Guerrero
is to attack the root causes, ed to guard their villages that thousands of residents
to stop the breakdown of against the drug gang. have fled remote commu-
families, to strengthen val- The head of the Guerrero nities across the state and
In this Nov. 29, 2019 file photo, Mexican President Andres Man- ues and material welfare, state human rights office now live as internally dis-
uel Lopez Obrador listens to questions during his daily morning
press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City. to give attention to young forcefully condemned the placed persons.
Associated Press people" to avoid them be- vigilantes, saying they were For example, the vigilantes
ing recruited. exposing the children to said many of the children
MEXICO CITY (AP) — One President Andrés Manuel The issue came to a head danger. who have been recruited
day after a vigilante group López Obrador said that Wednesday, when a vigi- "We categorically reject can't continue their educa-
revealed that it was using because social programs lante group in southern the involvement of minors tion beyond grade school
children as young as 8 as are giving more youths op- Mexico publicly displayed in security roles that put because they are afraid to
"recruits" for armed defense portunities to study or work, a troop of 19 armed, their physical safety, their leave their towns to trav-
patrols, Mexico's president drug cartels are having masked children who had lives and their develop- el to the nearest middle
said Thursday that drug trouble finding gunmen, been recruited to act as ment at risk,"the office said school.
cartels too are recruiting leading them to recruit chil- "community police". in a statement. The vigilantes belong to the
ever-younger kids. dren. The children appeared to But the prison and youth Regional Council of Com-
The whole issue has "The gangs are having range in age from about advocacy group Reinserta munity Authorities, a split-
sparked a debate in Mexi- trouble getting hit men, so 8 to 15, and they carried Un Mexicano A.C. said the off from a decades-old
co over the use of children they are recruiting more shotguns and rifles. Some of Guerrero state govern- force known as the CRAC.
in armed confrontations, children and young peo- the very youngest carried ment's position is irrespon- Since the 1990s, the groups
with rights groups saying ple, because there is com- sticks instead of guns. sible because authorities have mostly policed re-
the practice threatens not petition," López Obrador They performed rifle drills there "have been systemat- mote indigenous hamlets
only kids' safety, but their said. "The thing is, the social on a road in the township ically negligent in guaran- where regular police sel-
mental health. programs are giving youths of Alcozacán in southern teeing minimal conditions dom venture.q