Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Health Minister Oscar Ugarte has just announced via Radio Capital that the traditional military parade, a part of Peru's independence celebrations, has been suspended, taking into account the quick spread of AH1N1 in the country.

This is a decision taken by Peru's Council of Ministers' Presidency (PCM).

"We have considered that, due to the nature of this event, that usually gathers more than 150,000 people, it would be wiser to cancel it, in order to try to avoid the spread of this virus," he said to Radio Capital.

Peru's Defense Minister, on the other side, remarked that "this is parade is a tradition," so it's not going to be suspended, but postponed to another date, instead probably in September, in coordination with Peru's Health Ministry (Minsa).

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

According to a press release from Peru's Ministry of Health, the A/H1N1 influenza death toll in Peru rose to seven.

The deceased patients were a 36-year-old male patient who had hypertension and a 21-year-old female with 30 weeks of pregnancy. Both patients had been categorized as of “high risk.”

On the other side, another death allegedly on AH1N1 (a 43 year-old woman with a heart condition) has been just reported in Huanuco region: however, the health authorities are yet to confirm this information.

At present, 144 new cases have been confirmed in the country; 89 in Lima, 33 in La Libertad, 3 in Junín, 2 in Ancash, 9 in Cusco, 7 in Arequipa and 1 in Pasco.

This brings the total of cases up to 2,226.

All of the patients are Peruvian and are currently receiving antiviral treatment under home isolation.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's President Alan García has just announced that the mid-year school vacations might start earlier this year, in order to prevent the spreading of AH1N1 influenza.

He said that Peru should not give up prevention, so several measures are being evaluated now.

“How are we preventing this flu's spreading? We are taking some mesures such as starting vacations earlier,” he said, pointing out at the fact that the great number of students gathered in schools can actually boost the spreading of the virus.

According to this, mid-year vacations for public schools would start on Monday 13th.

Private schools might take their own decisions on this matter.

Garcia made this announcement during the opening of a new school in Nuevo Pachacutec, a slum area in Ventanilla, a poor district in Callao province.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

Andina

Peru's first influenza A/H1N1-related death was confirmed on Sunday with the Ministry of Health reported two deaths linked to the virus.

In a press conference held Sunday noon, Health Minister Oscar Ugarte has confirmed that two people have recently died, with their deaths linked to influenza A/H1N1.

A 38 year-old woman died on June 28 at Casaimiro Ulloa hospital in Lima; and a 4 year-old girl died on Friday, July 3, in Cayetano Heredia hospital in Lima.

In the first case, Minister Ugarte detailed that the woman suffered from high blood pressure and was overweight, while the second case involved a girl with Down's syndrome.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

This afternoon the Peruvian Congress, following a recommendation issued by the Government, repealed Legislative Decrees 1090 and 1064, which amended the Forestry and Wildlife Act and the Legal Regime for Agricultural Lands, respectively.

These were the decrees that had been strongly rejected by the indigenous inhabitants of the Amazon and which had led to the tense situation between these inhabitants and members of the Armed Forces.

At least 34 people died in bloody clashes in Northern Peru between police and indigenous peoples, after police moved in to break up strikes and blockades started in April by indigenous leaders in protests against the aforementioned decrees.

According to indigenous representatives, said decrees had violated their right to be consulted, as set down in Agreement 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO).

Today’s proposal was approved with 82 votes in favor, 12 against (National Unity Party) and no abstentions.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Amazon protest leader Alberto Pizango has just left Peru on a plane headed for Nicaragua, where he has been granted political asylum.

Amazon leader Edson Rosales says Pizango left Lima Wednesday on a Copa Airlines commercial flight.

Pizango had left the Nicaraguan embassy under strict police surveillance.

The flight will stop in Panama and El Salvador before arriving in Managua.

Peru's Public Prosecutor's Office has started a process against Pizango, who is held responsible for inflamming tensions and provoking the recent Bagua clashes, which caused an official death toll of 24 police officers and 9 civilians. 

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Ministry of Transports and Communication has officially closed the local Radio Station La Voz de Utcubamba (in the Amazonian Region).

According to Carlos Flores, spokesman for La Voz de Utcubamba, the station has all its legal licenses, permits and paperwork “in order” since 13th March 2007.

However, the aforementioned Ministry issued a closure order against the radio station (official number 211-2009-MTC) alleging that it had not “sent the documentation regarding licenses for some of the station’s equipment”.

This is the only radio station that has transmitted live coverage of the Bagua conflict, providing a voice through its microphones to the people of Bagua.

Government congressmen have accused the station of inflaming tensions among the population, and the station has reportedly received several anonymous threats.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Ombudsman, Beatriz Merino Lucero, declared to local Radio Capital that no mass graves have been found by the prosecutors.

Merino had admitted earlier that she had sent Roberto Guevara, the the Chief of  the  Ombudsman's Office in Bagua, who went along with some public prosecutors to check on the facts.

"Mr. Guevara has inspected the area, known as El Reposo,  along with 4 prosecutors and 5 forensic doctors, and has just reported me that there are no mass graves nor human remains, " she explained this afternoon.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The Parish priest of Bagua, Casinaldo Ramos, informed RadioProgramas del Perú (RPP) that a mass grave has been found containing the bodies of native peoples, close to an area known as El Reposo.

“The number of corpses is yet to be determined” he said.

He also stated that the parish is registering native peoples distributed throughout Bagua Grande (some 700 have been registered so far), and will help them return to their communities.

Priest Ramos, from Chachapoyas explained that the register is likely to be much higher, and that the Catholic Church has decided to undertake this task due to local people feeling “very afraid” and believing they will be attacked by the police at any time.

He said that this census is being coordinated with the Public Minister (Public Prosecutor's Office) and the Ombudsman’s office.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's Amazon indigenous leaders and Ombudsman Office presented today very different death toll figures.

Peru's Police Chief, General Jose Sanchez Farfan, confirmed that 23 policemen died during the riots.

Official reports admit only nine civilian casualties, including natives and mestizos as well.

However, some witnesses, the natives and human rights organizations claim that the number of civilians casualties may be in fact higher: around 40 people.

Indigenous leader Champion Nonimgo, who has taken the place of Alberto Pizango, declared to RadioProgramas del Peru that these corpses have not been found since "the police and the Army has either incinerated them or thrown them to the rivers, to hide them.”

Meanwhile, General Sanchez reported that 18 of the 38 hostages had been taken somewhere into the rainforest, where they were shot.

According to him, eight officers escaped during the executions. and another five  were rescued afterwards; but the others are still missing.

Reportedly, Bagua is undergoing a tense calm, due to military presence, but the strike and blockades continue in another Amazon cities and towns.

Have other topics you'd like to see in our news section? If you or someone you know would like to contribute a news article to Living in Peru, whether it's translated or based on a personal investigation, send it to editor@livinginperu.com.