Attempt to nationalize a US mining company by a military government in Peru amid agrarian reform and social inequality

Image courtesy of the Senate House Library Latin American Political Pamphlet Collection

by patricia roman

On October 3, 1968, a military coup led by General Juan Velasco Alvarado took place in Peru. Thus began the so-called Revolutionary Government of the Armed Forces, with promises to carry out agrarian reform and close the gaps of social inequality. The government expropriated and expelled the North American International Petroleum Company (IPC). Convinced that the country's natural wealth was being plundered by “Americans”, Velasco also sought to nationalize the Southern Peru Copper Company, but was unable to do so legally.

The illustration on this pamphlet shows the Peruvian military government, representing Velasco and his commanders, on top of an excavator as it carries away Peruvian copper. Also on the excavator, which belongs to Southern Peru Copper, we see a version of the familiar US "Uncle Sam" figure holding up the contract that prevents Velasco from nationalizing the company. Beneath the excavator, to the bottom of the scene, we can see people (peasants and workers) showing their discontent by protesting for agrarian reform and better wages.

The themes of this image clearly relate to the later, more well-known coup that took place in Chile five years later, in 1973. In both cases, the influence of the US is overwhelming and played an important part in maintaining authoritarianism and neoliberalism.