Living in Peru : your everyday companion

(LIP-jl) (El Comercio Peru) -- Peru's Agricultural Minister announced a 10-day suspension of coca plant eradication efforts in the Andean nation after holding talks with protesting coca farmers from the jungle city of Tocache yesterday.

However, the suspension does not include areas where maceration wells, used only to produce cocaine, are located.

"Areas where maceration wells are located are not included in the suspension because these areas are known to produce cocaine," informed Peru's Agricultural Minister, Juan Jose Salazar.

Salazar also informed that 10 agreements were reached during the meeting with coca farmer representatives, one of which calls for coca farmers to register and formalize their activities with the Ministry of Agriculture within the next 30 days.

An additional stipulation will give restitution to farmers who lost their crops during eradication efforts during 2001-2007 despite the fact that their crops were designated to a legitimate purchaser, Peru's National Coca Company (Enaco).

Back in Lima, Peruvian Prime Minister Jorge Del Castillo reiterated the Peruvian
government's position on the eradication of known illegal coca plant cultivations, stating that additional measures such as the regulation of materials used in the cocaine making process (i.e. kerosene), will also be strictly enforced.

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