Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Protests that began last week in Moquegua, a region located between the southern regions of Arequipa and Tacna, have escalated from 5,000 to 20,000 protestors and from a riot to a hostage crisis.

National police general Cesar Alberto Jordan and almost 40 police officers were taken hostage this morning after officers clashed once again with miners and Moqueguan residents as they were on a mission to clear the highway.

The week-long blockade has left cities in Peru short of food and fuel, both of which had to be flown into the region on Friday.

Furthermore, foreign tourists had to be airlifted to a safer part of Peru.

In a call made to RPP news in Lima, the police general assured the situation was out of police control and asked officers to retreat.

"I have problems. Please have the police retreat," said General Jordan.

After apologizing to the people of Moquegua for the police mission, the general offered to be a negotiator between the mass of protestors and Peru's government.

Protests, which later turned into riots, began after Southern Copper Peru mining company announced that royalties paid to the regions of Tacna and Moquegua would no longer be the same.

Company representatives stated that royalties would be paid equivalent to the amount of production in the region, since less is produced in Moquegua, the regional government will not receive as much in royalties as Tacna.