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Five foreign tourists detained for taking part in protests in Peru

(LIP-ir) -- Five foreign tourists were detained by Peru's national police in Cusco for taking part in protests against a new tourism law that facilitates the concession of cultural sites and the expansion of hotels in the region.

Three tourists from Argentina, one from Colombia and another from Spain were detained for taking part in protests alongside merchants from the San Pedro de Cusco central market earlier this week, said police at the Imperial City.

According to lawyers, by taking part in open manifestations against the Peruvian government and protesting alongside merchants, the tourists violated aliens act 703.

The five tourists were identified as 57-year-old Mercedes Páez Guerrero from Colombia, Marta Doménech Jiménez (41) from Spain, Alejandro Mario Beretta (32) from Argentina as well as Matías and Bruno Murabito (24 and 21 years old).

Farmer's protests

Peru's President Alan Garcia blamed "pseudo leaders and extremists" for the deaths of several people during farmer's protests earlier this week. He stated that the leaders of these organizations did not go out and protest themselves but sent their members out as "cannon fodder".

On Tuesday evening, union leaders officially called off protests, which were begun to push for state subsidies and concessions on loans.

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# Paro Seco says :
21 February, 2008 [ 09:22 ]

Today, Thursday and tommorow friday
Cusco is under a Paro Seco, a total strike, no movement in the streets allowed, cars, bikes, or walking, tourists will be transported in a police bus additional police have been brought in from Arequipa.
They are protesting different things not only the new law as was the case in the protests in the past weeks.
The roads in the Sacred Valley Urubamba have been covered with baracads of rocks, nails and broken glass.
No trains to Machu Picchu today or tommorow.

# mericorps says :
21 February, 2008 [ 09:38 ]

I agree with the purpose for the strike, I just disagree with the anarchistic approach that harms the wrong people. A strike should serve 2 purposes, to affect the decisionmakers and to garner public support, awareness and sympathy for the cause. These strikes do neither.

However, I am against the government's attempts to silence voices based on their country of origin, I find that incredible and fully against democracy and is a black eye for Peru.

# Cusco Airport says :
21 February, 2008 [ 10:02 ]

Hope no one has plans to fly in or out of cusco taday.
The protest mob has shut off acess to the cusco airport.
http://www.rpp.com.pe/detalle.php?nid=115338

# Robert Cantu says :
21 February, 2008 [ 11:07 ]

These people are total IDIOTS! Shut down tourism, no money for the local economy, and then blame the government for this as well! Anarchistic is a good term for these IDIOTS!

# Andres says :
21 February, 2008 [ 12:36 ]

Some idiots do not see the eventual cultural and physical damage this privatization will provoke in places like Cusco. It is true that more people will come to see Cuzco, but at very high cost. if they come, we will not have the peasant and relaxing athmosphere that we enjoy it in that city. In fact, Cusco will become a place full of fast food sites, hotels and a lot of cultural garbage.
let fight to keep cusco as it is now. A place where nature evolve in its natural way. 


best

Andres

# Deb says :
21 February, 2008 [ 12:58 ]

I am planning to fly to Lima on Monday, Feb 25 and to visit MP on March 3.  Please keep updating this with comments as to what is happening there now.  Are people expecting this to be over by Friday and back to normal next week - or do you expect this disruption to continue into next week?

I'm very concerned about my travel plans at this point.  Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you.

# Harikari in Cuzco says :
21 February, 2008 [ 14:17 ]

Cuzco is committing social and economic harikari.  Read Alfredo Ferrero's column in Peru21 (http://www.peru21.com/comunidad/Columnistas/html/FerreroIndex.html).  It says it all.

# Robert Cantu says :
21 February, 2008 [ 14:45 ]

Correcto Andres. But to burn, torch, and cause distruction in the process? This does not help to solve problems. It only creates more problems trying to mantain the cultural civility they are trying to protect.

# Tolduso says :
23 February, 2008 [ 05:30 ]

Good way to open the door to Drug trading for the Outside World and i guarranty tourist are going to take full advantage of every situation to do so. So good on you Peru Government,you know what is best for the Nation,as the World will exploit all methods of controlling the demises to their benefits,not yours  Be Proud,of what your future,you set forth

Be very aware i am going to raze these concerns,at a later date