Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(by Micah Cantley)

Buses block the main square in Arequipa, Peru, on Monday, Nov. 6, 2006 Photo: LIP, Micah Cantley

(LIP-mc) -- The streets were quiet in downtown Arequipa yesterday, but empty they were not. Municipal busses lined the streets along the Rio Chile and filled the quadrangle of the Plaza de Armas sitting idle and empty in protest against what is being called “corrupcion municipal.”

Speaking with an unnamed local resident, it seems the Mayor of Arequipa, in one of his last acts as elected official, is seeking to contract a Spanish company to import new busses to the downtown area. While this may beautify the city, it will also cost the bus owners and operators plenty, a cost they apparently are not willing to absorb.

At first glance it seemed but another Monday morning in Arequipa. By 9:00 a.m., however, a difference was noticed. Schools were oddly absent of children, only a small number from each class attending. By mid-day educational institutions were deciding to cancel the remainder of classes, as without students, and in some cases teachers, they were difficult to conduct. Equally strange, several one-way downtown streets seemed to have two way traffic, wrong-way traffic, or no traffic at all.

Though not much fanfare was made regarding today’s strike it seems far from over. While in many parts of the city busses continued to run, the sheer number of participants in today’s silent protest downtown may be hinting that Arequipa is experiencing but the initial phase of what could become a long-term transportation strike.

Down with corruption- Respect the laws! Photo: LIP, Micah Cantley

Local residents still recall quite vividly the transportation strike of last year. Lasting almost two weeks and nearly crippling the city, causing food shortages and economic hardship on the masses, a repeat is not hoped for, though many will welcome a day or two of unexpected rest.

While businesses remained open and the sidewalks stayed full, day one of any strike is always just a warm-up, a period in which the real protests are eased into. With the support of the people a strike can go on “indefinido,” as is being called for here.

For now, all anyone can do is wait.