Juanson World

Conspiracy theories abound in Peru, as the Financial Times reports that the Peruvian congress is set to approve a law that would force NGOs to register with a state watchdog and be subject to sanctions if they have "stepped beyond the national interest:"

Many in Peru suspect the proposal was revived in response to the administration’s perception that NGOs are helping organise protests against foreign investors.

Officials were irritated at the role they said Racimos de Ungurahui, a Lima campaigning group, had in encouraging indigenous Achuar protesters to occupy an oilfield operated by Pluspetrol, the Argentine energy group, in the northern Amazon last month.

There are other theories, including one that suggests that members of the Apra party are conspiring with pro-Fujimori supporters in the congress to delay his extradition to Peru for alleged human right abuses during his ten year presidency. In effect, this law is a stark demonstration of the polarization between civil society and government that exists in certain parts of Latin America. This is the money quote:

“Many of these NGOs are run by communists, pinkos and failed politicians who have set themselves up in opposition to the political class,” [Jorge del Castillo, Peru's prime minister] says.