U.S. Revokes Visa of Peru Presidential Candidate
Ollanta Humala decries actions of U.S. embassy in Lima
On Tuesday, the U.S. embassy in Peru released a statement that it was revoking presidential candidate Ollanta Humala's visa.
The candidate called the revocation of his U.S. visa interfering in Peru's presidential election.
Embassy officials said the U.S. State Department revoked the visa to Humala in January 2005 after an armed assault to the police station of the Peruvian city Andahuaylas was carried out by Humala's brother, Antauro, who demanded the resignation of President Alejandro Toledo.
In that assault, in which four policemen and two civilians died, Humala's brother presented him as "the intellectual author" of the that operation, though Humala was in France in that time.
Antauro has surrendered to the authorities and he is jailed now.
Embassy officials said a certain immigration law prohibits anybody's entrance to U.S. soil who is related to those committing terrorist activities or attempts against democratic governments, although the candidate has no accusations against him but a summons as a "witness" only.
The embassy said they informed Humala in a timely and properly way, but he denies it and maintains that the embassy did not inform him.
However, U.S. Ambassador to Lima James Curtis Struble said a presidential candidate can request a new visa, but Humala told the press he will not pursue another one.
Humala who claims his U.S. visa was good for 10 years, hoped to travel to the United States to hold meetings with officials of the Organization of American States, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, among other financial organizations.
He said that if elected, he will keep good ties with the United States as long as "its interests don't collide with our interests," such as national rights over biodiversity, the penalty-free sowing of coca, and a trade treaty under other terms, unlike the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement, which he criticizes.
After Humala made these statements in the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa, a day later he met with Bolivian President Evo Morales in Bolivia.
On Tuesday, the U.S. embassy in Peru released a statement that it was revoking presidential candidate Ollanta Humala's visa.
The candidate called the revocation of his U.S. visa interfering in Peru's presidential election.
Embassy officials said the U.S. State Department revoked the visa to Humala in January 2005 after an armed assault to the police station of the Peruvian city Andahuaylas was carried out by Humala's brother, Antauro, who demanded the resignation of President Alejandro Toledo.
In that assault, in which four policemen and two civilians died, Humala's brother presented him as "the intellectual author" of the that operation, though Humala was in France in that time.
Antauro has surrendered to the authorities and he is jailed now.
Embassy officials said a certain immigration law prohibits anybody's entrance to U.S. soil who is related to those committing terrorist activities or attempts against democratic governments, although the candidate has no accusations against him but a summons as a "witness" only.
The embassy said they informed Humala in a timely and properly way, but he denies it and maintains that the embassy did not inform him.
However, U.S. Ambassador to Lima James Curtis Struble said a presidential candidate can request a new visa, but Humala told the press he will not pursue another one.
Humala who claims his U.S. visa was good for 10 years, hoped to travel to the United States to hold meetings with officials of the Organization of American States, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, among other financial organizations.
He said that if elected, he will keep good ties with the United States as long as "its interests don't collide with our interests," such as national rights over biodiversity, the penalty-free sowing of coca, and a trade treaty under other terms, unlike the U.S.-Peru Free Trade Agreement, which he criticizes.
After Humala made these statements in the southern Peruvian city of Arequipa, a day later he met with Bolivian President Evo Morales in Bolivia.
posted by Alice at
Thursday, May 11, 2006
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