Peru Candidates Court The Poor

BBC News, Lima

March 13, 2006

By Michael Voss

As dusk falls over Lima and the summer heat finally starts to ease, thousands of Ollanta Humala's supporters crowd in front of a makeshift in a working class suburb of the capital.

A populist former army officer, Mr Humala has captured the imagination many of Peru's poor and dispossessed ahead of next month's presidential elections.

The mood is noisy and festive, and the warm-up acts cover everything from the urban rhythms of "musica criolla" to Andean folk dances. Then the cheering erupts, as Mr Humala steps onto the stage.

He has the fit lean look of a soldier, combined with a relaxed and engaging smile. He and all his entourage are dressed in red T-shirts bearing the slogan "Amor por el Peru" ("Love for Peru").

An ardent nationalist, Mr Humala wants to increase state control of key mining and gas sectors. He has the support of Venezuela's Hugo Chavez, which has alarmed Washington as has his pledge to legalise coca production.

"Nationalism is the recuperation of our sovereignty and of our resources, which God put in the ground to benefit out children," was his message to the enthusiastic crowd.

More:http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4790272.stm