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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

After several Peruvian media reported that the cadaver of missing PN Major Felipe Bazan had been found, National Prosecutor Gladys Echaiz clarified that this was not true.

“This is a confusion. The only finding we have reported is that we verified that the person who appears in the photo presented by the Police is actually Major Bazan,” said Echaiz.

“After the investigations we have fully established his identity and the ones of the people who are with him in the photo, who are probable responsible of what might have happened to Major Bazan,” she added, in an interview aired by RadioProgramas del Peru.

Echaiz, currently in Chiclayo (Lambayeque), said that the experts in charge of the investigations have determined that the aforementioned photo “has not been tricked,” in response to Bazan's family claims on the matter when the image was presented by the police last month.

In that photo, the victim is beaten and covered in blood, accompanied by seven natives armed with spears.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Prosecutor Gladys Echaiz announced today that Peru's Police has found the the cadaver of Major PN Felipe Bazan, who was missing after the violent clashes that took place in Bagua, Amazonas, in June 2009.

According to RadioProgramas del Peru, Prosecutor Gladys Echaiz and Police Regional Director in Chiclayo Victor Ordinola, are currently having a meeting in that city, in order to share more details on the finding

Internal Affairs Minister, Octavio Salazar, had said some time ago that the available clues indicated that Bazan had been murdered.

This was based on the testimony given by native Asterio Pujupat Wachapea, who was arrested on Dec. 29 and is currently in jail in Bagua Grande.

More details on this story are expected in the next hours.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

After five days, the final tourists stranded at Machu Picchu Pueblo were rescued, according to Peru's police.

More than 3,800 tourists (Peruvians and foreigners) were rescued from the town at the base of the Inca ruins, which became isolated after a flooded Vilcanota river destroyed the railway, the only access to the area.

Police Colonel Santiago Vizcarra reported that 1,277 tourists were rescued today, Friday, and the last 800 being the youngest and healthiest. "The air operation ended at 5:15 p.m,” he said.

“We will stay until Saturday to check the hotels and make sure that not anyone is left stranded,” Vizcarra said.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Today three helicopters started airlifting tourists left stranded in Machu Picchu, once the sky cleared enough to allow air operations.

Government officials, led by the Transportation Minister, Martin Perez, told the press that tourists will be airlifted to Ollantaytambo, where Peru Rail will take them by bus back to Cusco.

They also announced that more helicopters from Peru's Armed forces and from the US Embassy in Peru are expected to join the rescue labors today, which would add the number of operating helicopters up to 10.

Peru Rail and Orient Express have announced that they will take food to help the tourists waiting to be evacuated.

Pablo Pozo, from the Cusco's Regional Communication office, told the press that they estimate that, if they can actually count on 10 helicopters, they could complete the evacuation process today.

“The situation has been really difficult,” he pointed out, recalling that the tourists have been stranded for three days “and food are water were starting to scarce, the roads are still blocked and the rains prevented the helicopters from arriving.”

“Cusco region has 13 provinces, from which 11 are in state of emergency; the roads to Lima and Arequipa are blocked, and it's been raining 10-12 hours a day since 14 days ago,” he said.

The Peruvian government is currently trying to organize help for thousands of affected people.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Businessman and former vice President Maximo San Román, who is currently is Cusco, reported to Radioprogramas del Peru  that the situation generated by the rains is "dramatic," since the Vilcanota river keeps on growing and has damaged the bridge between Pisac and Sacred Valley, and is threatening other bridges.

There would be approximately 2,000 affected residents, and some 500 tourists (Peruvians and foreigners) left stranded in the area of Aguas Calientes, also known as Machu Picchu town. Some of them are camping in the main square, and some others in the train station, since the trains cannot operate.

El Comercio reports that the total number of stranded tourists in the are would reach 1,000.

Reportedly, another group is going now (9 a.m. local time) on foot towards Ollantaytambo town, reported Radio Capital.

(Photo: Courtesy of Carlos Jose Rey)

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The transportation strike in Peru has come to and end. The collection of transportation unions finally reached an agreement with the government, regarding the refunds of the Selective Consumption Tax (ISC).

“We are lifting the strike and resuming our work,” said Alfonso Rivas, from the National Council of Public Transports.

Rivas also said, in a press conference attended also by state Ministers Javier Velasquez Quesquen and Enrique Cornejo, that the agreement is not satisfactory for them, but that decided to lift the strike because of the crisis that it was generating along the country.

They accepted the government's proposal to refund them 30% of the ISC, instead of the 100% that they were demanding.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Manuel Vasquez Coronado, Director of “Miguel Castro Castro” prison was shot to death this morning in Lima, Peru.

Police reports state that three men shot him in the head when he was leaving home, on his way to work, in the Limenian district of El Agustino.

Vasquez Coronado was immediately rushed to the National Hospital Hipolito Unanue, where he was declared dead on arrival, Radio Capital reported.

Local Police has no clues yet on the reasons or the possible suspects of the crime.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Former Polish President and Nobel Peace recipient Lech Walesa canceled his visit to Peru due to health reasons, which was scheduled between Jan. 11 and 14, according to diplomatic sources.

"The Polish Embassy regrets to report that, due to health reasons, former President of Poland, Mr. Lech Walesa, has to postpone his trip to Peru to another date to be yet determined," says the brief press release.

This would have been Walesa's second visit to Peru, after receiving an honorary doctorate awarded by the University of Lima in 2007.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Eight prison guards kept as hostages at the Huancas prison in Chachapoyas were finally released, after the Justice Ministry agreed to remove the Director of Huancas prison, said the Justice Deputy Minister Gerardo Castro.

After remarking that authorities have regained control of the prison, the Ministry delegation reported that the inmates were demanding not only the removal of the director of the prison, but also better prison conditions, according to El Comercio.

The inmates accuse the authorities of the prison of mistreating them, and also complain about the bad quality of the food, and demand a quick solution to the delaying of their respective legal processes.

The released hostages seem to be in good conditions, but have some bruises on their faces, so they will examined by a doctor.

The hostages are Magno Hernán Martínez, Marco Portillo Uchiñahua, Saúl Cruz Espinoza, Nilton Yopán Comeca, Merci Elena Grandez Iberico and Marlon Chuqui López.

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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

A confrontation between two groups of convicts left two inmates dead and several injured in the prison on Huancas, in Chachapoyas (Amazonas region), while eight prison guards are currently being held hostages, reported Peru's Prime Minister Javier Velásquez Quesquén.

Last minute radio reports mention the dead inmates have been indentified as William Chavez Huaman (23) and Fernando Jesus Mariano (35).

In an interview with RadioProgramas del Peru, the Justice Minister announced that an official delegation, headed by the Deputy Minister, was on their way to the area.

"It is not known exactly what was the reason for these inmates' actions, because they took place right at the moment when the guards were taking them back to their individual cells. We will learn more as soon as we can establish a dialogue,” Pastor said.

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