Peruvian Newspaper Questions Literacy of Indigenous Congresswoman

The Lima newspaper Correo published a front page story [es] about the low level of Spanish language proficiency by the indigenous Congresswoman Hilaria Supa and saying that in order to be a Congressional representative one should have a minimum level of education. As a result, the Peruvian blogosphere put forth various opinions including agreeing that legislators should speak and write well. There are also accusations of racism and discrimination.

Nila Vigil of Instituto Linguístico de Invierno [es] repudiates the Correo newspaper and its editor Aldo Mariátegui:

Cuando he leído lo escrito en Correo me he llenado de rabia e indignación. Se ha descalificado a la congresista Supa porque no tiene una escritura “correcta” del castellano y se ha pretendido que en el parlamento no pueden estar representados todos los peruanos sino solo los que saben leer y escribir “bien” (aunque sabe Dios qué signifique eso). O sea, la palabra no vale sino que “papelito manda”. Yo no creo que es así y por suerte tampoco el Congreso lo cree y ha condenado al diario Correo y se ha solidarizado con la congresista Supa.

When I read what Correo wrote, I was filled with anger and outrage. The Congresswoman Supa was discredited because she does not have the “correct” writing in Spanish and they intend that all Peruvians cannot be represented in Parliament, only those that know how to read and write “well” (even though God knows what that means). In other words, someone’s word does not count, only their “titles and diplomas.” I don’t think it is like that and thankfully neither does Congress and it has condemned the Correo newspaper and is in solidarity with Congresswoman Supa.

Miguel Rodríguez Mondoñedo of La Peña Linguística [es] provides examples of linguistic differences and says that the newspaper is trying to point out spelling and grammar mistakes, but essence they are providing the opportunity to “ridicule a political adversary.” Gustavo Faverón of Puente Aéreo [es] has no trouble in calling the editor Mariátegui a racist and says that he judges Congresswoman Supa’s personality through her grasp of written Spanish.

Silvio Rendón of Gran Combo Club [es] sees the political context of the proposal to require higher education in order to be a Congressional representative:

Bueno, la intención es clara: excluir las opciones políticas con las que no se coincide. La democracia actual estaría permitiendo que las opciones “humalistas” tengan una numerosa representación congresal. Se trata de cerrarles el paso cambiando los requisitos para ser elegidos. Hace cuarenta años los analfabetos no podían votar, con lo cual en el departamento del Cusco sólo votaba el 5% de la población en edad de votar. Los campesinos más pobres e indígenas que eran analfabetos no tenían representación, con lo cual el congreso no pasaba leyes que los pueda beneficiar. Hoy se trata de erigir barreras de entrada a la actividad política, con un objetivo parecido.

Well, the intention is clear: exclude political options of those you don’t agree. The current democracy permits that those associated with (former presidential candidate Ollanta) Humala to have numerous representation in Congress. They are trying to block their path by changing the requirements for those elected. Forty years ago, illiterates were not able to vote, and in the department of Cusco only 5% of voting age voted. The poorest peasants and indigenous were illiterates and did not have representation, and in that case, Congress did not pass laws to benefit them. Now it has to do with barriers to entrance to political activity, a similar objective.

Not everyone agrees, the blog Sale Caliente [es] writes:

una congresista (Hilaria Supa) se ha sentido humillada por que un periodista (Aldo Mariátegui) dice que escribe mal, y muestra pruebas. O sea, ¿ahora ya no se puede hablar mal de nadie? ¿y donde quedó la libertad de opinión y expresión? A este paso terminarán bajandose a todos los diarios, programas de radio y televisión, y ¡cuidado! hasta a los bloggers. … Es muy fácil hablar de racismo y discriminación. Nada se puede criticar. O sea, la señora se agarra del tema del racismo para tapar una gran verdad: no sabe escribir en castellano, es más, tampoco lo habla bien. … Pero, saber hablar y escribir si es importante. Y en vez de sentirse ofendida y discriminada, la congresista Hilaria Supa debería sentirse avergonzada, y debería preocuparse por estudiar.

a congresswoman (Hilaria Supa) has felt humiliated by a journalist (Aldo Mariategui) who said she that writes poorly and shows proof of it. So, now we can not speak ill of anyone? And where was the freedom of opinion and expression? In this manner, they will drop all newspapers, radio and television programs, and be careful! even bloggers. … It is very easy to talk about racism and discrimination. Nothing can be criticized. That is, the woman holds onto the issue of racism to cover a big truth: she cannot write in Castilian Spanish, and even does not speak it well. … But knowing how to speak and write is important. And instead of feeling offended and discriminated against, Congresswoman Hilaria Supa should feel ashamed, and should worry about studying.

The blogger from Perú es Babel [es] poses a couple of questions about these claims:

Por otra parte eso de querer hablar en quechua todo el tiempo en el congreso cuando sabe bien que sus interlocutores no le van a entender, ir con ropas “típicas” y hacerse la discriminada de todo y por todo no son más que una pose para hacerse la más peruana de todas las peruanas del ande. Pose y nada más. Más allá de la pose cabe la pregunta: ¿Qué hace en el congreso la Sra. Supa? Es decir ¿Qué ha hecho hasta ahora?

On the other hand, wanting to talk in the quechua language all the time knowing that that others will not understand, wearing “typical” clothes and to act discriminated against are nothing more acts of a poseur. Nothing more than a poseur. Beyond the point, the question is raised: What does Mrs. Supa do in Congress? Meaning, what has she done up until now?

Matt from The ONE Blog [es] pushes for the annulation of the obligatory vote:

ME INDIGNA QUE EN EL CONGRESO DEL PAÍS EN EL QUE VIVO, HAYA GENTE GANANDO MILES DE SOLES OBTENIDOS DE MIS IMPUESTOS ESCRIBA PEOR QUE UN REGGAETONERO DE 10 AÑOS MANDANDO SMS EN UN CELULAR SIN DOS TECLAS. Mariátegui se mide, pide que se cancele el voto obligatorio y se instaure el voto preferencial; yo sigo pidiendo lo de hace años, cancelen el voto obligatorio, olviden el voto preferencial e instauren el voto restringido para la gente con un mínimo de conocimientos prácticos para elegir a los más capacitados. Ciérrenle la puerta a todos los ignorantes e incapaces ya sea que se apelliden “Supa”, “López”, “Fuentes del Río” o “Goldstein” y permitan que ingresen los “Quispe”, “Linares”, “Posada de Gamboa” o “Levesque” que tienen la suficiente experiencia profesional como para dirigir este país y llevarlo a buen puerto.

I AM OUTRAGED THAT IN MY COUNTRY’S CONGRESS THAT THERE ARE PEOPLE EARNING THOUSANDS OF SOLES OF MY TAXES WRITE WORSE THAN A 10-YEAR-OLD REGAAETON ARTIST AND SENDS SMS ON A CELL WITHOUT TWO KEYS. Mariategui is measured, called the cancellation the of mandatory voting and the installation of preferential voting, which I have been asking about for years, to cancel compulsory voting, preferential voting and implement restricted voting to those people with minimal skills in order to choose the most qualified. Close the door to all the ignorant and incapable people named “Supa”, “Lopez”, “Fuentes del Río” or “Goldstein” and allow the entry of “Quispe”, “Linares”, “Posada de Gamboa” or “Levesque” that have enough experience to lead this country and take it forward.

Supa addressed Congress [es] saying that she is proud of where she is from and will not lower herself to anyone. From that moment, she indicated that all of her Congressional speeches will be in quechua. While there is not a consensus view with the ingredients sensitive to Peruvians in respect to racism, it is interesting to read the different positions on the issue and draw out the best of them.

Originally published by Juan Arellano in Global Voices.

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