Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Andina

Over the next two years, the European Union (EU) will further strengthen cooperation against drug trafficking in Peru, said the representative of the European Commission in Peru, Francisco Acosta.

At this moment, we cannot calculate exact figures, but officials in Brussels are already planning to make a "substantial" contribution to Peru for that period, which will be primarily used to replace coca crops in the area.  

Acosta referred to the Peruvian authorities’ vision regarding the reduced support provided by Europe to combat drug trafficking in producing countries, which would militate against the principle of shared responsibility between producers and consumers.

Although the European cooperation is not as strong as the one provided by the United States, it has been achieved, as evidenced in the two projects currently running in Peru worth 28 million euros, to replace crops in the central jungle region, said the official.

The first one conducted in Pozuzo-Palcazu Valley, worth 20 million; and the second one to be signed shortly worth eight million euros, (Satipo).

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Isabel Guerra

The Peruvian Ombudsman's report, sent to the Chancellery today, found that none civil neither Amazonian indigenous people disappeared on the events occurred in Bagua (Amazonas) on June 5th and 6th.

The report states that "as a consequence of their meticulous work the Ombudsman concluded that the acts of violence which occurred on June 5, 2009 in Bagua threw an unfortunate balance of 33 people dead (23 policemen, 5 natives and 5 settlers of Bagua)".  

According to this report, other 200 people got injured, 83 were arrested and 18 of them were taken to the prison establishment of Huancas, located  in the city of  Chachapoyas, northeast of Lima.  

Despite reporting that none civil neither amazonian indigenous people disappeared, police officer Felipe Bazán Soles still remains missing, and has not been found.

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Isabel Guerra

The riots registered this morning in several areas of Lima due to the transport strike called by various left-sector unions has left at the moment more than 100 arrested protesters, according to Julio Talledo, a public affairs prosecutor for Peru's Ministry of Interior.

The representative explained that most of these people were arrested  while generating violence during the riotings, by blocking tracks, burning tires and throwing stones at vehicles, all this in order to prevent any other transit.

Talledo confirmed that a Venezuelan citizen, identified as José Francisco Araque Cordova, was arrested during the clashes, while he was blocking a street with tacks.

The strikers are protesting against a new traffic code that sets very high fines to certain infractions.

Meanwhile, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Enrique Cornejo, said that  “to avoid being fined, the simplest thing to do is not breaking the rules."

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Isabel Guerra

Days after Peru overturned two controversial land laws, demonstrations still continue, on issues like wages, mining and hydroelectric projects.

Despite having successfully attracted a lot of foreign investment, Peru still has high rates of poverty and extreme poverty, and many people are very frustrated about not having any salary increase during these boom years.

So, protesters have been periodically demanding that President García do more to spread the wealth, and demanding foreign companies (especially mining ones) to do more for the country and for them, in terms of building schools or hospitals or creating jobs.

After the bloody Amazon clashes Peru's government had to back, and the Prime Minister Yehude Simon has started to travel around the country to listen to the demands from the provinces, specially the poorest ones.

Simon has been able to able reach agreements with Andahuaylas people and organizations, but had no luck in Sicuani (Cusco) where the strike and the protests continue, despite the leaders' declarations about a three days' truce to learn the goverment's proposals.

Sicuani farmers demand the repeal of the new Law of Waters, which they believe that will privatize the irrigation waters, and the annulment of the mining concessions in the area.

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Isabel Guerra

The representative of Doe Run Peru's employees, Alfredo Huarica, announced that they have decided to lift their strike, (for 30 days) after the meeting they had with an executive committee.

Congressman Jorge Del Castillo had said that the workers might manage the mining complex.

Alfredo Huarica told to Radio Programas del Peru that the workers were to lift the strike and clear the Central Highway in the short term.

During the last 2 days the workers blocked the road (causing thousands of passengers to be left stranded on highways) claiming for the presence of a governmental committe in order to discuss the company's status and to avoid massive layoffs.

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Isabel Guerra

Peru's Prime Minister, Yehude Simon, said today that local radio station La Voz (in Bagua) was closed due to legal matters only, and ruled out any governmental interference on freedom of press.

He emphasized that the radio's closure is not related at all to the violent events that took place on June 5th in Bagua, Amazonas region.

“If we really wanted to eliminate freedom of press, we would not have all the media we have now that actually criticize the government,” he said.

He remarked that the aforementioned radio was having problems before the Amazonian strike started.

However, Carlos Flores, the radio's director, says that the real issue for the government was the fact that La Voz was the only media broadcasting live during the June 5th's events.

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Isabel Guerra

Peru's Agriculture Minister, Carlos Leyton arrived in Andahuaylas today, heading an executive committee intended to talk with local leaders and trying to solve their indefinite strike.

However, the leaders require the presence of the Prime Minister Yehude Simon.

The aforementioned committee consists of representatives from various ministries and also includes Apurímac's Regional President, David Salazar Morote.

The strike in Andahuaylas started last week, and the demands include, among other things, the construction of a road, appointing more teachers to remote rural areas, sanitation and the completion of an irrigation canal.

Meanwhile, the roads remain blocked, and shops and markets closed their doors at 10am, due to this strike.

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Isabel Guerra

In order to prevent Monterrico Metals (Majaz) company from escaping from its responsibility for the torture of 29 Ayabaca communards (in Northern Peru), British justice ordered their assets (amounting to US $11.7million dollars) to be frozen.

The National Human Rights Coordinator reported yesterday that this decision had been taken as there was a risk the company would try to avoid paying compensation to the victims by disposing of its assets and moving its offices to Hong Kong.

British lawyers firm Leigh Day, which obtained this legal measure, is currently working to present a demand that will allow the 29 people who were tortured in 2005 (and other victims) to eventually obtain a financial compensation.

The diligence of the British courts contrasts with the behaviour of the Peruvian justice system, which is still to hold anyone responsible for these events.

 As is now known, torture was committed in the mining camp, leading to one death.

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Isabel Guerra

The Public Prosecutor's office issued an arrest warrant for the Amazonian native leader Santiago Manuin, natives' chief of 5 basins in Santa Maria de Nieva.

According to the website Lamula.pe, Manuin was presumed dead after being badly hurt during the recent Bagua clashes. However, he survived to eight bullet wounds and is still convalescing in Las Mercedes Hospital (Chiclayo).

Manuin Santiago, one of the most important leaders in the Aguaruna-Huambisa communities, received the Queen Sofia Prize for his defense of human rights and the environment

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Isabel Guerra

The United Nations special rapporteur on human rights and fundamental rights of indigenous peoples, James J. Lenoir Anaya, will arrive in Lima tomorrow (Tuesday).

Acording to Foreign Minister Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde, the United Nations official will visit Peru at the Government’s invitation, after a series of violent clashes in the Amazonian town of Bagua.

Lenoir Anaya, who is a professor of Human Rights Law and Policy at the University of Arizona, had previously expressed his deep concern over the clashes that left 33 dead (24 policemen and 9 civilians) in the town of Bagua.

He was appointed to his actual position in March 2008, for an initial period of three years.

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