WITNESS OF HISTORY

The military career is very sacrificial, however, it offers exceptional opportunities to get up close with society, the country and history, and sometimes allows us to be part of it.

After the rise to power of Alberto Fujimori and the defeat of the novelist Mario Vargas Llosa, in what was one of those strange twists of fate and the designs of an electorate that only observes, but does not listen; the armed forces, faithful to the constitutional mandate, must invest the new head of the Executive Power with the recognition of Supreme Chief of the Armed Forces. In turn and later, each branch proceeds to grant its highest decoration to the acting president for ... just nothing, just for being the president.
On that occasion, and to add more pomp to the moment, I was chosen (among no one, because it was the youngest, that is, the most "trinche") to carry with martiality, elegance and excellence - three well represented attributes - the beautiful "José Quiñones" medal to be placed on the chest of the hieratic Fujimori. The story, and the friendly graphic journalism captured the historic moment, becoming not only a witness, but almost a tribune observer of the historical political scene.

After the customary kissing of hands, this disjointed "trinche" - that´s me- close the parade of starry generals and was able to shake hands with the new president, and in the process obtain a photograph that perennialized that occasion. Anyway, who can blame a pretentious boy?. In those days Odebrecht still did not exist and there was nothing to fear.

I was not wrong to foresee that historic moment. Alberto Fujimori will go down in history anyway and in unexpected ways. The books could claim that it was the president who launched the country towards the modern economy and ended with the stupid communist revolution of Abimael Guzmán. Other books will say that he destroyed politics and that he was a satrap and a thief. However, we are witnessing the quality of the Peruvian political class, evidence that contributes a lot to the discussion.
For me it does not matter much anymore. The "trinche" achieved his goal. He gave a hand to one of the most important characters of the last 30 years and, in a flash, he slipped into the graphic history of the country.
As the Chavo del 8 would say: "it was without wanting, wanting …"