Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Protesting a law passed by President Alan Garcia as a part of Peru's free trade deal with the United States, indigenous groups are holding a police captain hostage.

Police Captain Gabriel Ramírez Quijandría and Officer José Rodríguez Salazar were taken hostage by natives in Peru's Amazonas region when protestors and national police clashed on Sunday afternoon.

The officers were taken by protestors as they attempted to clear a blocked water canal that feeds one of the region's hydroelectric plants.

While protestors set Officer Salazar free on Monday morning, it was reported they still have Captain Ramirez in their custody.

Protestors surrounded several of the country's energy installations nine days ago demonstrating their opposition to a law that makes it easier for national and international companies to purchase land belonging to communities.

As opposed to the past, when investors needed two-thirds of the community's support to buy or lease land, large companies can now use the property with the majority of the community's approval.

Indigenous communities from more than sixty ethnic groups have shut down an oil pipeline in northern Peru owned by state-run company Petroperu, occupied the El Muyo hydroelectric power plant in Amazonas region, overrun a great deal of Pluspetro, which sits in the Camisea natural gas field, and blocked major highways and wharves.