Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Jobana Soto

This week, Bolivians are in Lima to help organize a protest against Peru and Colombia for agreeing to sign a Free-Trade Agreement with the European Union.

Peruvian chancellor, José Garcia Belaunde, made it known that if protesters try to intervene in Peruvian politics they will be sent back to Bolivia.

Naturally, Peruvian officials are not so keen having their fellow Latin American neighbors start political trouble, especially during the country's most important event, the Asian-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima this week.

“We’re going to see what they [Bolivians] do, but evidently, they  cannot intervene in Peruvian politics. If there is any kind of intervention from these people, they will be sent back to their country,” Belaunde affirmed.

A total of 14 union leaders have coordinated with other Peruvians to mobilize a joint protest refusing Free-Trade Agreement negotiations with Canada and the European Union.

According to the Bolivian Ambassador, Franz Solano,  he assures that although Bolivian President Evo Morales is opposed to the Free-Trade Agreement involving Peru, Canada and the EU, he is not advocating for union leaders in his country to start protests in Lima.

“That is a matter strictly of the social movements in Peru, not of Bolivia,” Solano told Andina, adding that in no way would the president want to intervene in the commercial decisions of his neighboring countries.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


Peru's youth and young people in Latin America in general prefer surfing the internet instead of watching television, revealed a survey done by the University of Navarra and Educared, a program organized by the Telefonica Foundation.

On Friday, Telefonica released the results of the new survey, which included seven Latin American countries.

22,000 children from over 200 schools in Peru, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Mexico and Venezuela took part in the poll.

The technological preference survey for children and youth, which is the first of its kind, was conducted between July and October 2007.

According to the survey, 42 percent of the 11-year-old children that participated stated they preferred surfing the Internet as opposed to watching T.V

Figures rose as high as 60 percent in adolescents between the ages of 14 and 15.

Youngsters between the ages of 10 and 14 that did not have access to the Internet at home stated it was one of their strongest desires and affirmed they logged on without their parents' supervision at cafes and other places.

The survey also showed that while 81 percent of the children questioned used cellular phones to make and receive calls, over half of them used the phones to play games.

Today at the annual Government Leaders Forum—Americas in Miami, Microsoft Corp. signed a collaborative agreement with the Telefónica Foundation, an entity of Telefónica S.A., to promote the development and improvement of education through information and communication technology (ICT) for teachers and students in Latin America.

The agreement was signed by Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates and César Alierta, chairman of Telefónica and the Telefónica Foundation.

Through the agreement, Microsoft and the Telefónica Foundation will expand an online training network — called Profesores Innovadores (Innovative Professors) — to provide online content, services and curricula to innovative teachers in Latin America.

The program will help educators learn, develop professionally and exchange knowledge with their peers. It already is operating in Spain, Mexico and Colombia, with a goal to expand offerings throughout more countries in the Latin American region, including Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Peru.

Additional countries will be announced in the near future.

Innovative Professors is offered through the Telefónica Foundation’s EducaRed program, in connection with Microsoft programs and resources, including the flagship Partners in Learning program, that enhance the educational process through technology solutions which foster innovative teaching and learning.

Official Press Release

(LIP-ir) -- If Peruvian citizens living in the U.S. are afraid of being deported, they shouldn't open their front door.

This was the warning and suggestion made by Peruvian Immigration lawyer, Vital del Carpio, to all undocumented Peruvians living in the U.S.

According to the immigration lawyer, the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) has changed its method of locating undocumented immigrants.

It was reported that INS officials are visiting homes in search of a specific person, if this person is not home, INS officials then proceed to ask everyone present for legal documentation.

All those that do not have valid and legal documents are detained. "Before they didn't do that, they only went for the person they were looking for..." recalled del Carpio.

The immigration lawyer, a native of Peru, explained that undocumented immigrants in the U.S. did not have the right to a free lawyer and therefore had to provide there own.

Del Carpio suggested that if an undocumented Peruvian is caught in the U.S., he/she should not sign anything. They should ask to speak to a judge and if they have any immediate family that is a U.S. citizen - father, mother, spouse or children - they can request temporary protection, which would allow them to fight their case for up to 10 years.

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	U.S. INS Detains Immigrant s from Peru after Workplace Inspections (by LIP, Sept 4, 2007)
	U.S. President Bush - Peru's President Garcia to Discuss Permit for Undocumented Peruvians in the U.S. (by LIP, Sept 3, 2007)
	Peru: 500 Thousand Undocumented Peruvians in U.S. could Benefit from TPS (by LIP, Aug 27, 2007)
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(LIP-jl) -- A recent poll conducted in Chile's capital city of Santiago revealed that the majority of Chileans believe the former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori should be extradited back to Peru to face corruption and human rights violation charges.

According to the survey published in today's La Tercera newspaper, a whopping 75 percent of the poll's participants favor Fujimori's extradition.

Meanwhile, 55 percent of those surveyed indicated that the arrival and subsequent extradition trial of the former Peruvian leader has strained diplomatic relations between Chile and Peru.

Despite clear support for his extradition, 42 percent believe Fujimori has not received a fair trial in Chile thus far.

Fujimori has been in Chile ever since he surprisingly arrived from Japan in November of 2005. He was immediately arrested by Chilean authorities and confined, but was later released.

After a Chilean Supreme Court prosecutor officially recommended Fujimori's extradition, the former president was placed under house arrest last week.

(LIP-jl) -- After meeting yesterday with Chilean President Michele Bachelet in Bolivia, Peruvian President Alan Garcia declared that both leaders have vowed to strengthen and renew efforts to improve their already solid friendship.

Speaking from the Bolivian city of Tarija, Garcia indicated that during the meeting he told the Chilean leader that the ongoing maritime border issue between both nations will be resolved legally and peacefully, and above all else, without affecting the excellent economic and friendly diplomatic relations between the Andean nations.

"We have renewed our friendship and fortified our confidence in one another. Despite any discrepancies that we may have - which will be resolved in the most peaceful and legal methods available to us, we will maintain our investment association and in activities that aim to strengthen our growing commercial relationship," Garcia said.

Referring to the 'pending' maritime border issue, Garcia reported that both leaders left the hour long meeting with a clear understanding of each other's position and reasoning.

"The purpose of the meeting was to have a better understanding of the reasoning and position of both sides. I explained to her, with the utmost sincerity and respect, that as a country linked to the global community, we will appeal and use all of the mechanisms available to us to find a peaceful solution," added Garcia.

(LIP-jl) -- Peruvian President Alan Garcia and his Chilean counterpart Michele Bachelet have announced they will meet later this afternoon during the Community of Andean Nations Summit currently being held in the Bolivian city of Tarija.

Chilean and Peruvian diplomatic relations have experienced some tough times as of late due to the ongoing controversy caused by the 'pending' maritime ocean limit.

Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde and Alejandro Foxely, Chancellors from Peru and Chile, respectively, have recently reaffirmed their opposing positions on the matter leading many to speculate that a prompt resolution is unlikely to occur.

Enter Garcia and Bachete - Both leaders have not divulged the subject of their meeting, though many believe they will attempt to smooth out any differences caused by the recent declarations made by diplomats and political parties from both nations.

The maritime border limit has been a constant thorn in the side of recent Peru-Chile relations. Chile has long claimed that the ocean limit between both countries was set in previous treaties while Peruvian officials maintain that those treaties only referred to fishing boundaries.

Peruvian officials have recently stated that they will take their claim to the UN's International Court of Justice in The Hague while Chilean officials have reiterated they will not acknowledge 'unfounded claims.'

(LIP-jl) -- Former Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori's legal team will appeal the court order which limits the former leader to the premises of a luxurious home located in the exclusive Chicureo district of Santiago.

Peru's Supreme Court issued Fujimori under house arrest last Friday after Chilean prosecutor Monica Maldonado recommended extraditing Fujimori on 10 corruption charges and human rights violations that occurred during his presidency.

Fujimori's defense team will reportedly argue that their client should not be placed under house arrest since he has fully cooperated with Chilean authorities ever since he surprisingly arrived in the country in November of 2005.

"His cooperation with the Chilean Justice system has been impeccable, and he has not done anything to merit being under house arrest," added one of Fujimori's legal representatives.

Meanwhile, Jorge Saavedra, Secretary of Chile's Supreme Court Prosecutor's Office, stated that things will soon get worse for the former Peruvian leader as Supreme Court Judge Orlando Alvarez will recommend adding an additional charge to Fujimori's extradition case.

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	Peru's Fujimori "incarcerated" in mansion (by LIP, 9 June, 2007)
	Chile: Judge orders Peru's Fujimori to house arrest (by LIP, 8, June, 2007)
	Peru's Fujimori one step closer to extradition (by LIP, 7 June, 2007)
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(LIP-jl) -- Peruvian President Alan Garcia will depart Lima, Peru this afternoon at 2:30pm (Peruvian time) to attend the Community of Andean Nations (CAN) Summit in Tarija, Bolivia which will be inaugurated by an official state dinner given by host President Evo Morales of Bolivia.

Among the many items on the agenda for member nations, which include Peru, Bolivia, Colombia, and Ecuador -in addition to 8 associate/observer members, is to begin preliminary negotiations to establish a free trade agreement with the European Union.

A possible commerce promotion agreement with the European Union has been deemed as vitally important by CAN members who are optimistic in breaking ground during preliminary talks.

Additionally, the Peruvian president also confirmed that he will meet with Chilean President Michele Bachelet (Chile is an associate member), although he did not reveal the issues the two leaders would talk about, only saying they will have "a clear dialogue, as usual."

The political relationship between both countries has been touchy as of late as both Chancellors have reiterated they will not back down from their positions in the ongoing maritime border dispute.

The CAN summit is scheduled to end on Thursday, after which Garcia will head back to the Peruvian capital.

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	Peru's opposition: Cut economic ties with Chile (by LIP, 12 June, 2007)
	Peru's exports to Europe expected to surpass US4 billion (by LIP, 11 June, 2007)
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(LIP-jl) -- Peru's opposition party, the Partido Nacionalista Peruano (Peruvian Nationalist Party) has called for an end to economic negotiations between Peru and Chile until the matter of the 'pending' maritime border is resolved.

According to the leader of the party and former presidential candidate Ollanta Humala, Peru has no other alternative but to suspend economic talks due to Chile's insistence that all border issues, both land and maritime, were resolved years ago.

"It is absolutely necessary to suspend all of the activities that look to consolidate a commercial agreement with Chile until we resolve our ocean limits. This is one of the options the government must take on instead of only focusing its efforts on going to the Hague," said Humala.

Humala, who narrowly lost the presidential election to now-President Alan Garcia, also praised the Peruvian Chancellor's Office for submitting a map of Peru's defined ocean limits with Chile to the United Nations last week.

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	Chile blasts Peru's Chancellor (by LIP, 11 June, 2007)
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