Morales and Peru's Humala tout Latam leftist unity

by Helen Popper
COPACABANA, Bolivia
Bolivian President Evo Morales and a nationalist competing in Peru's presidential election opened a Cuban-run clinic on Monday, touting it as a sign of regional unity heralded by Latin America's leftist leaders.

The appearance by Morales alongside Ollanta Humala, a former army commander pledging to increase state control over his country's natural resources if elected, came weeks before Peru's June 4 runoff vote.

Hundreds of Bolivians, some chanting "Viva the nationalist presidents!" and waving Cuban flags, greeted both men as they opened the eye clinic, a tin-roofed building in this town on the fringes of Lake Titicaca bordering Bolivia and Peru.

"This is the kind of thing that strengthens Latin American integration -- something that is natural between Peru and Bolivia that have a shared history," said Humala, draped in a flower garland.

A banner reading "Thank you, Commandante Fidel" in reference to Cuban President Fidel Castro hung in the background.

The clinic represents a deepening of ties between Morales and Castro. Last month, both leaders, joined by Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, signed a "People's Trade Treaty" in a largely symbolic trade accord cast as an alternative to U.S. free trade pacts with some Latin American countries.

Shortly after winning office in December, Morales, a socialist, signed an agreement with the Cuban leader who pledged to train 5,000 Bolivian doctors and provide eye treatment to some 50,000 Bolivians each year.

Backed by funding from Chavez, Cuba has also sent some 30,000 doctors and other professionals to Venezuela while tens of thousands of Venezuelans have sought medical care at Cuban hospitals.

Morales paid tribute to Cuba and said the new medical center highlighted the solidarity between the two countries.

"There are countries that send troops to other countries to kill, and others like Cuba that send troops to save lives," Morales said.

"This is a country that is under an economic blockade but it is helping us to become free economically," he added, referring to Cuba.

Chavez, meanwhile, has openly backed Humala, who faces former Peruvian President Alan Garcia in a runoff vote.

Last week, Peru withdrew its envoy from Caracas after Chavez threatened to cut diplomatic ties with Lima should Garcia win the election. Polls show Garcia, a center-left former president whose 1985-90 government plunged Peru's economy into ruin, is expected to beat Humala in the final round of the election.