Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

After a long silence, Susan Hoefken, known now in local media as “la robapulmón” ("the lung robber") declared to the press, saying that the recent theft of a lung from a exhibition “The Human Body, real and fascinating,” was not a part of any marketing strategy.

"The lung was stolen, that's a fact; I did not hide it. I have not invented the story," she said in a local TV interview.

Visibly angry, Hoefken said that she has had to move to another house and that she is receiving death threats on her cell phone and via email.

She denied having told anyone that the robbery was an invention, and also said she is unaware of the reasons why Premier representatives accuse her.

“Why did the police have to wait 11 days to publicize that email, and not through the regular process but through the media?” she wondered.

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 Congress has passed a bill creating a special regime of temporary early retirement under Peru's National Retirement System (ONP), for women over 50 and men over 55.

The bill states that in order to qualify for this benefit, the worker must have been unemployed for 12 months or more.

Reportedly, if the monthly pension payout is worth more than 550 soles (US$192) per month, which is considered the minimum livable wage in Peru, early retirement will be granted and pension payouts will begin immediately.

Luis Galarreta, President of the Commission of Economics at the Congress, explained that this law will return 50% of the worker's total fund, and then the other 50% once he turns 65.

Reportedly, initial calculations estimate that at least 20,000 people will qualify for early retirement, while between 120,000 and 180,000 will qualify for the 50% lump sum payment.

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 Emergency Decree that establishes that every Saturday, Sunday and holidays are considered working days in state entities (for administrative procedures) will come into effect on October 24th.

The measure aims to reduce paperwork time and to prevent administrative delays in various state agencies, including regional and municipal governments.

Public agencies must establish shifts for their staff to serve the public, regardless of their employment or contractual arrangements, 7 days a week, during all year.

However, all public servants will keep their weekly rest.

Indeed, the Presidency of the Council of Ministers announced that from now they will serve public on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, to carry out all administrative formalities.

The only exceptions to this rule on January 1st, May 1st, July 28th and 29th and December 25th

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

Peruvian congress passed a bill against sexual harassment or blackmail at workplace, that even contemplates firing the offender.

"This law comes to fill a legal void, establishing standard procedures and minimizing the risks of sexual harassment, and in general it comes to provide legal security and social peace to the country," said Chairman of the Working Committee, Juan Carlos Eguren.

The law includes as sexual harassment any verbal or physical conduct of sexual nature or sexist nature which is repeatedly done, creating a climate of intimidation, humiliation or hostility.

Eguren said that the law is incorporates as sexual harassment any harassment that is sex-related or with sexual connotations, or activities that are unpleasant enough to disturb the harassed employees.

The bill was sent to the Executive for its enactement.

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 Constitutional Court (TC) invalidated the free distribution of Emergency Oral Contraception (EOC) pills in the country, and asked the Health Ministry (Minsa) not to develop public health policies based on it, because the TC considers that “the absence of abortifacient effects has not been fully proved.”

According to an article printed today in El Comercio, the Constitutional Court accepted the claim filed against Health Ministry by NGO “Action Against Corruption,” which requests Minsa to refrain from starting free-distribution programs, and also to include in the pill's brochures the warning that the product could prevent a fertilized egg from being implanted.

TC alleges it has examined several arguments: those presented by Pan American Health Organization, claiming that “international scientific community agrees that the pill is not abortive,” and Latin American Alliance for the Family, which declares that “scientifically, it is not possible to say that this pill does not have an abortifacient effect.”

The TC states that it had be cautious, alleging that, despite its function is not to determine when life actually begins, it must handle the fact that lack of consensus generate doubts and that there is no certainty on the real effects of this pill.

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

Alberto Pizango, former president of the Inter Ethnics Association for Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), declared that he wants to return to Peru, but he also requested the authorities to change the arrest warrant issued against him.

The arrest warrant was issued due to his alleged responsibility in the deaths of police officers and Indians during the eviction operation conducted in Bagua on June 5th.

Pizango wants Peruvian Justice to cancel the arrest warrant and change it for a citation, so that he can come and respond to Justice.

"The government knows very well that my only crime was to denounce publicly their intentions to violate the Amazon's rights. Therefore the government does not want to change the arrest warrant,” he said to Ideeleradio.

"I've said many times that I would return home, but only if they issue a citation instead of an arrest warrant,” he remarked.

Pizango Chota also told Ideeleradio that “if the Amazonian peoples are proposing as its presidential candidate, I will obey this mandate because it means they still trust me.”

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 Congresswoman Nancy Obregón denied today having any tie with drug trafficking and assured the other members of her party support her.

Congressmen from the ruling party (APRA) had previously submitted a constitucional accusation against her, on charges of collaboration with drug trafficking, supplies traffic, rebellion and concealment.

"You cannot link me with drug trafficking just because I had hired my ex assistant Max Caller", said Obregón right after arriving at the Congress.

The accusation is focused on the the ties between Obregon and her ex collaborator, Max Caller.

Caller was arrested by the Peruvian police carrying 140kg of cocaine, and Obregón reiterated that Peruvian Justice is the one to determine his guilt.

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

Peruvian Prime Minister Javier Velasquez Quesquen announced that the country's Council of Ministers on Wednesday approved a decree eliminating non-working days throughout the year.

With the approval of this decree, the Independence Day holidays (July 28th), Christmas holidays (December 25th), January 1st and May 1st will be the only non-working days.

He stated that the rule would come into force tomorrow and that it does not mean to pay overtime or extend civil servants’ working hours, but rationalize the human resources by setting shifts.

Velasquez said that the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM) will attend all weekends, beginning this week.

On the other hand, he announced the establishment of ministerial committees which will travel to the countries belonging to the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) as part of the international crusade to sensitize against the arms race in the region.

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

After a long debate, the Commission for the Revising of Peru's Penal Code rejected the request of reconsidering the bill that would decriminalize therapeutic abortion or the abortions performed in case of rape, or when the fetus suffers from severe malformations, by 6 votes in favor, 5 votes against, and 1 abstention.

The voting rules out the objections that several political and religious groups had expressed against this proposal, since they consider it to be an crime against life.

While the commission was debating on this matter, hundreds of demonstrators, from pro-choice and pro-life groups, were shouting mottos like “I aborted!” or “Say YES to life!” in front of the Congressional building.

After this, the President of the Commission, Carlos Torres Caro, he will send the bill with the final conclusions to the Congressional President, Luis Alva Castro, who will decide if the bill will be sent or not to be debated in Congress.

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 overcrowding in many Peruvian jails is forcing the country's Justice Ministry to consider the possibility of decriminalizing certain offences, and also to list more convicts as able to qualify for enrolling in jail time-reducing programs.

Aurelio Pastor, Justice Minister, informed that a special commission will work on these issues.

However, the first step has been already given. According to a decree printed in the official gazette El Peruano, convicts of kidnapping or extortion can now apply for enrolling the 7x1 program, that is, seven days of work will count as one day less in jail.

“They will need to observe very strict rules,” Pastor said.

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.