The Hindu : Opinion / News Analysis : From military coups to people's coups

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Friday, Jun 10, 2005

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Opinion - News Analysis

From military coups to people's coups

Latin America's political elites need to accept the new reality that power has passed from the drawing room to the street.

— PHOTO: AP

END OF THEIR TETHER: Demonstrators demand nationalisation of the energy industry in La Paz, Bolivia.

ECUADOR PRESIDENT Lucio Gutierrez was forced out of power on April 20, 2005 by mass protests. He fled from the roof of his residence in a helicopter to escape the wrath of the surrounding mob.

Mr. Gutierrez' ouster, before the completion of his four-year term, was not unusual in Ecuador's political history. Two of his predecessors were forced out of power by popular uprising. In 1997, President Abdala Bucaram just six months into his term, was ousted. President Jamil Mahuad was forced to exit within two years. Although the Presidents were legitimately elected in free and fair elections, the people got angry with their policies and abuse of power and decided to show them the door ahead of their terms.

The same thing has happened in Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Haiti, and almost happened in Venezuela. In December 2001, President De La Rua of Argentina had to quit amidst bloody popular protests. He also had to fly out of the Presidential Palace in a helicopter since his residence was surrounded by mobs. The masses were enraged by his policies that aggravated the economic crisis.

In 2003, President Sanchez Lozada of Bolivia was forced out of office by popular demonstrations against his free market economic policies. He took a helicopter to the military airport and fled to Miami.

Mass protests not only oust Presidents; sometimes they also help them to power as happened in Mexico. The President and Congress tried to keep out Lopez Obrador, the Mayor of Mexico City, from contesting in the 2006 Presidential elections. The ruling party had pressed charges against him for violating a court injunction against building of an access road to a public hospital. But this was not a serious case of corruption or of political consequence. However, on technical and legal grounds, Congress removed the immunity of Mr. Obrador. He was to be sent to jail and disqualified from contesting in the Presidential elections. They were afraid because he was leading all the other Presidential candidates by a clear margin of at least 10 points. A march by about a million people in the last week of April 2005 forced President Vincent Fox to withdraw the case and let Mr. Obrador contest the elections. This is a clear victory for the people vis-à-vis the all-powerful President and the Congress.

People's power prevailing over Presidential power? Direct democracy? Mob rule? Democracies under threat? Questions like these are inevitable. Before searching for answers, it should be noted that it is the people's will, not the barrel of the gun, which is changing the governments. Significantly, the people who overthrew Mr. Gutierrez and Mr. Sanchez were unorganised groups of students, labourers, and the middle class.

Maturing of democracy

The overthrow of elected Presidents does not mean the weakening of democracy. Democratisation has indeed taken strong roots in Latin America in the last two decades. The power of the ballot has replaced that of the barracks irreversibly. Power has passed to the masses from the elite. Not only do the people elect Presidents but they also choose to oust them when they see a violation of the mandate, without waiting for the end of the term. This is part of the maturing of democracy in Latin America.

People's protests have emerged as the new check and balance on the power wielded by Presidents. Middle class people and the indigenous populations resent the fact that the gains of liberalisation, and exploitation and export of natural resources go mainly to foreign companies and local elite. The roots of the public impatience and protests lie in poverty, disparity and marginalistion. When Presidents, Congress and the political parties do not address these issues, the people have started raising their voice and resorting to direct action.

The people's power displayed in some countries is a warning to the political elites of Latin America. They need to accept the new reality that power has passed from the drawing rooms to the streets. The military coup may be thing of the past, but the people's coup is here to challenge and change unpopular governments and policies. The rulers who used to keep an eye on the barracks need to look out for the mobs in the streets now. The sound of beating of pots and pans by street protesters have come to signal a greater danger for unpopular governments than the guns and bombs of the past. The message is clear. The Presidents need to address the concerns of the masses. Or else, keep the helicopter ready.

(The author is with the Ministry of External Affairs. Views expressed here are personal.)

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