Peruvian Pro-Life President and Health Minister Ousted, Pro-aborts Installed

LIMA, July 8, 2003 (LifeSiteNews.com) – Last week, the 16 Peruvian government ministers submitted their resignations to Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo as they have every year in these politically tumultuous times.  With his approval ratings dropping and under pressure from activist groups Toledo axed a few key ministers including Health Minister Fernando Carbone and Prime Minister Luis Solari, both of whom were strongly pro-life.  The two, who were recently berated in the international media for not approving wide distribution of the abortifacient morning after pill, were under constant attack from feminist groups, according to pro-life sources in Peru.  Moreover, LifeSite was informed that newly installed Prime Minister Beatriz Merino was a member of pro-abortion feminist group “Manuela Ramos”. A Spanish language article in the paper “Peru 21” published July 1, 2003 notes that the new Health Minister Alvaro Vidal is in favour of abortifacient morning after pills.  Pro-life leaders on the international scene warn that Peruvian politics may be manipulated with funds from foreign pro-abortion governments.  Jim Hughes, Vice President of International Right to Life noted that the United Kingdom’s Department of International Development (DFID) had given some $18 million to the feminist group Manuela Ramos and a few other such groups last December to promote “sexual and reproductive rights”.  See related LifeSite coverage:  PERU GOV’T STRONGLY OBJECTS TO PRO-ABORTION UK AID CONDITIONS https://www.lifesitenews.com/ldn/2002/dec/02120302.html