PERU: Well-Ordered Revolution

It was as well run as a revolution could be. First, it was financed by Lieut. Colonel Alfonso Llosa, commander of Peruvian army forces high in the Andes by the Bolivian border. Hotheaded, reactionary Soldier Llosa forcibly borrowed 100,000 soles from the local bank; then he issued a clarion call to the army to rise against President Bustamante.

Three days later, Llosa finished the revolution as methodically as he had begun it. While the rest of the army closed in on his rebellious garrison—but before a drop of blood was shed—he and seven of his officers beat it across the border to Bolivia. Before going, he sent the change back to the bank—95,000 of the 100,000 soles he had borrowed—along with his personal note for the 5,000 soles which the revolution had cost.

At 5,000 soles ($800), the revolution was well worth the price as a demonstration of Bustamante’s strength. A month ago Bustamante had dismissed from his cabinet the reactionary army leaders who wanted to outlaw the leftist Aprista party. Fortnight ago he announced that he meant to steer Peru on a straight-down-the-middle course. In the quick showdown forced by Llosa, the army stood behind the President. Within a few hours of the first call to revolt, all garrison commanders pledged loyalty to Bustamante. Early rumors that General Manuel Odria and other former cabinet members might join the uprising were discredited. Another favorable sign: before the Andean rebels were squelched, APRA’s paper La Tribune, announced that APRA too was “wholly on the side of the government.”

But Bustamante cold-shouldered an Aprista delegation that called to offer him support. Instead, after a scuffle a few days later in Lima’s market place, his police arrested 15 men, four of them La Tribuna staffers, and charged them with trying to start a food riot. Intent on his middle way, Bustamante wanted to make clear that he would be just as tough with Apristas as he had been with right-wing plotters.