Héctor Béjar, former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Peru: “The ultra groups in Congress want the dismissal of Pedro Castillo” | The ex-guerrilla and sociologist tells the behind the scenes of his departure from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

From Lima

In dialogue with PageI12, the first chancellor of the government Pedro Castillo, the ex-guerrilla and sociologist Hector Béjar, who before three weeks in office had to resign at the request of the government due to pressure from the army, the right and the media, looks behind the scenes and the repercussions of his departure, the direction taken by the Castillo administration and the risks to its stability. On Tuesday, Béjar handed over the direction of the country’s external relations to his successor, diplomat Oscar Maúrtua, who previously served in the neoliberal government of Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006). In his farewell speech, he emphasized what he said when he took over the Chancellery: the need to change Peruvian foreign policy bet on regional integration.

The former foreign minister reveals that after the Navy issued a furious statement the attacker said in a last lecture given before becoming minister that members of this armed institute initiated terrorism in the country in the 1970s – there were attacks against senior officials of the Navy itself, who supported the reformist left-wing government of General Juan Velasco and the bombing sabotage against two Cuban fishing boats, called him the head of the ministerial cabinet, Guido Bellido, to inform him that the government wanted his resignation. “It was very funny because Bellido was very nervous and didn’t know how to explain what he wanted to tell me,” he laughs.

– The Navy has threatened to file a legal complaint if it is not rectified and apologizes for its allegations that this armed institute initiated terrorism in Peru. Will you do it?

– Of course not. What I have done is gather more information. What I said at a conference last year that in 1974, before the Shining Path appeared in 1980, elements of the Navy started terrorism in Peru, is historical truth.

– In the internal war of the 80s and 90s, was there state terrorism?

– Sure. State terrorism was terrible. The Peruvian Andes are a great mass grave, there are thousands of people buried. At the army headquarters, which we call here El Pentagonito, located in a residential area of ​​Lima, there are ovens in which the bodies were burned. They are so clumsy that they left a charred finger, which allowed us to verify that corpses were burned there.

–That the government gave in to pressure from the right and the military to leave the Foreign Ministry shows its weakness and allowed these sectors to gain significant space?

– Yes absolutely. What happened was a sign of the government’s weakness in the face of armed power and a very dangerous precedent. Here, the right is made up of mafias committed in various crimes which are covered by an extreme right ideology. These sectors have gained a lot of political space, but in the streets they have not gained space. It was the start of a smooth coup. What the ultra groups in Congress want is the impeachment of the president. The right can remove Castillo from parliament, another thing is for Peru to accept him.

– Would the street go up if Castillo was suppressed?

– These right-wing groups are strongly discredited and I find it difficult for the country, whether the street supports President Castillo or not, accepts a government imposed by these criminal groups.

– Why do you think the right-wing opposition to the government was aimed mainly against you?

– They find it unacceptable that someone who was part of the guerrillas is in government. It seemed to them that I was the most dangerous in the regime, because I have a clear position. In my first message as Chancellor, I announced an independent and sovereign foreign policy, unacceptable to these sectors.

– Was your departure forced to block a change in foreign policy favoring regional integration?

– Yes, they are still living the Trump era. Peruvian foreign policy obeyed Trump’s policy without any discussion. Trump is gone, but they continue with this policy.

– How do you see Peruvian foreign policy with the new Minister of Foreign Affairs Oscar Maúrtua?

– It’s a question mark. I hope you are brave enough not to accept the sanctions against Venezuela. I hope you will have the decency not to continue the hostile policy that has existed against this brother country. Out of courtesy, I don’t want to comment on the new chancellor, but I have deep doubts about the ability of the Castillo government to maintain a dignified foreign policy.

– What importance does Castillo give to foreign policy, to regional integration?

– This is not your priority agenda. I think he assumed that in a very vague, very imprecise way.

– Has the government given the lead to the right in an attempt to lower its criticism a few days before the ministerial cabinet appears in Congress on Thursday to ask for a vote of confidence?

– Yes, they want to make merits so that the Congress, which is under pressure from an ultra-right group like Vox, accepts them. Unfortunately, there is a tradition of a sector of the Peruvian left that wants to be the left that the right accepts. I think that is the behavior the government is adopting at the moment.

– Is the strategy of the right to concentrate its attacks on the most left sector of government?

– Yes, I agree with that. The strategy of these groups is first to get the government to get rid of its most radical left, which the government is already doing, to divide the government, which is a kind of alliance between radicals and moderates, and when this division is established, start attacking the moderate left groups that are in the cabinet and on the basis of this attack blackmail these moderate groups to turn to the right. If they fail to do so, they will seek to oust President Castillo.

– How did you see President Castillo and the government within the executive?

– To be frank, I saw a heterogeneous government, weak, with a stature less than necessary. And to a surprised president, who does not know the mechanisms of state power. Corrupt groups have initiative, a lot of money, and they know the state. There is a situation of very dangerous inequality for the interests of the people and the country.

– Are you disappointed with the direction the government is taking?

– More than disappointment I would say worry, and even worse, more than worry, I almost believe that Peru is heading towards a center government which is unachievable because corruption is so great and the power of these groups so fierce that not even that will satisfy them.

– What is the alternative?

– Draw a red line not to be crossed, that Castillo maintains its alliance with the most radical sectors and on the basis of this alliance projects a real democracy, with the driving role of the poorest sectors, which must be made responsible.

– Is a radical government of Castillo viable with the right controlling Congress?

– I think so, because these right-wing groups are cowards and when people mobilize in the street, thugs run. We must mobilize people, but not only in rallies and demonstrations, but by putting power in the hands of the people, in the neighborhood committees that already exist, by giving power to this population. This huge network of popular organizations that exists in Peru and which is incoherent, the government should articulate and transfer power to it and create a new situation. It must be around the points which are on the first program of survival of the people, which are work, health and education.

– What did Castillo tell you when he offered you the Chancellery?

– I’ve never spoken to him before. He told me he wanted to appoint me chancellor in honor of what I represent. The tribute was not mine, but everyone who fought with me, especially them. How could I say no. I was not expecting this proposal, I hesitated for about fifteen seconds and accepted.

– How do you feel now that you had to leave the Chancellery?

– I feel very good, let go. I will continue to write, to give lectures. I will continue to try to work with the government because this is a historic opportunity that should not be missed. I will always be an ally of the government. Of course, if the government goes to the other side, then I will no longer be its ally. I have received a huge membership from thousands of people from all over Latin America, including many colleagues from Argentina, for whom I am very grateful.