Living in Peru : your everyday companion

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Today at noon, President Alan Garcia will swear in Victor Garcia Toma, former head of Peru’s Constitucional Court (TC) as Peru's new Justice Minister, replacing Aurelio Pastor.

Garcia Toma, who is an attorney specialized in constitutional law, told the press that he will focus on improving Peru’s justice system: “We must begin a strong campaign to improve the justice system. It is a necessity,” he said.

Garcia Toma, who has a very good professional reputation, holds a Masters Degree in Constitutional Law from San Martin de Porres University, and has been President of Peru’s Constitutional Tribunal, from December 2005 to December 2006.

He has also been the dean of law at the University of Lima, where he also taught constitutional law.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

President Alan García's administration is facing a major scandal of alleged corruption because of the pardon granted a few months ago to former TV executive Enrique Crousillat, who is now a fugitive from justice.

Political analyst Eduardo Toche told Efe news agency that Crousillat's case generates "huge suspicions that corruption has extended to the highest levels in APRA government,” and a feeling that the corrupt relationships between political power mass media still exist — practiced most significantly by presidential adviser Vladimiro Montesinos during Alberto Fujimori's administration (1990-2000).

After Crousillat was granted with a presidential pardon based on humanitarian reasons due to a heart condition, he has been seen and photographed shopping in a supermarket, working out at a gym or eating at a luxury restaurant, apparently in a good state of health.

Political opponents suspect that the president was not unaware of Crousillat's intentions of trying to take back the control of America TV, which was also the station that aired the so-called "petrogate" corruption scandal involving people from APRA's inner circle.

“This could be a kind of under-the-table deal between government and business sectors, seeking to protect and hide certain affairs,” says Toche.

Police now actively seeking Crousillat, despite the concerns that he may already have left the country.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

Andina

Within the framework of the 3rd Ministerial Meeting of the initiative, “Pathways to Prosperity in the Americas”, in the Costa Rican city of San Jose, Foreign Minister of Peru, Jose Antonio Garcia Belaunde and his counterpart from the United States, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, held a working meeting to discuss issues of bilateral relations and mutual interest.

Accompanied by Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Arturo Valenzuela, the chief of U.S. Diplomacy, announced her official visit to Lima in the coming month of June.

The main objective for the regional forum “Pathways to Prosperity”, is to promote the welfare of the people through trade, investment, education, good practices and health.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Peru's President Alan Garcia has just passed a decree declaring March 1, 2010 as National Mourning Day, as an act of solidarity with the Chilean people suffering the effects of the destructive 8.8 Richter earthquake that rattled that country early this morning.

The document states that the deaths and damage registered in Chile are not only a tragedy for that country but also for humanity.

Thus, the Peruvian flag will be hoisted half mast that day on all public buildings, military installations, bases, ships, police stations, etc., and also in Peruvian diplomatic and consular missions in foreign countries.

The decree also clarifies that this national mourning will be a working day.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Sachi Fujimori, the younger daughter of former President, says she is thankful and happy because authorities will allow her to celebrate her Catholic wedding at the chapel of the Directorate of Special Operations (Diroes), where her father is serving his sentence.

“I think this is fair, my dad will take me to the altar. It wasn't big deal since the wedding will be inside the Diroes, it's not that he is going anywhere out,” she said in a TV interview.

“This is not ideal for any girl, but anyway I am thankful and happy, because he will take me to the altar,” she said.

She also said that she expects that her wedding will not become a political issue.

Prime Minister Javier Velásquez Quesquén said that the executive branch does not find any objection “since this is a humanitarian issue.”

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Public disapproval towards President Alan García of Peru rose to 68%, while the approval dropped to 26%, according to a nationwide survey conducted by Ipsos Apoyo and published in Lima.

According to Ipsos Apoyo, the polled people justifies their disapproval alleging that "there is too much corruption under his government,” that he does not honor his promises and “is a liar.”

The survey, conducted between Feb. 9 and 13 and given to 1,200 people, also found that the approval for Garcia rose to 30% in Lima and to 32% in northern Peru.

Citizens who support Garcia claim that he has built roads, hospitals and water and sewage works (40%), and also that “he has changed compared to his first government,” between 1985 and 1990.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The possible presidential candidacy of journalist Jaime Bayly is apparently rising, since a nationwide survey conducted by Compañía de Investigación de Mercado (CPI) for Correo daily shows that 3% of the polled may expressed that they would vote for Bayly.

The study, conducted among 1.450 people, gives Bayly a surprising 3.2% (reaching 7% in the jungle regions), beating out candidates like Yehude Simon, Humberto Lay, Edwin Donayre, Cesar Acuna and Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, reports Correo and Peru.com.

Perhaps one reason for the growth of Bayly is that half of his proposals are supported by many people, according to the survey.

Thus, 75.4% agree with paying congressmen the same salary as a schoolteacher, while 75.3% agrees with reducing the Defense budget to improve the educational one.

64.9% said they agree with reducing the number of congressmen, and 57.7% support the idea of reducing military spending to increase educational spending.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Alberto Pizango, the Peruvian indigenous leader currently who obtained political asylum in Nicaragua, said that he will soon come back to Peru to face all the legal processes against him.

In an interview to La Voz de la Selva Radio, he said that he is satisfied with the decision of the Bagua Chica Court, that change the arrest warrant issued against him for just a citation.

"I always said that justice may be late, but finally arrives. I consider that the arrest warrant was an abuse of authority and now I am waiting for more positive signals from the courts at Bagua and Utcubamba. I am considering all this before taking the decision of coming back to Peru,” he said.

He also expressed his wishes of a reconciliation between the government and the indigenous peoples “and that facts like those that took place in Bagua last Jun. 5 never happen again.”

Pizango claims that he has not been evading justice, and that he was granted asylum “because my life was endangered.”

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The A-37B-Dragonfly planes that Korea donated to Peru will be used “in the surveillance of Amazonian borders,” and “in the battle of narcoterrorism in the country,” said Defense Minister Rafael Rey (in the photo).

Peru is the second world producer of coca leaves and cocaine, after Colombia, according to data from the United Nations.

These planes will also be used in practice operations of aerial space control with Brazil and Colombia to protect the Amazon, according to the terms of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty signed in 1968, says a press release from the Defense Ministry.

Drug production in Peru focuses mostly in the Apurimac-Ene River Valley (VRAE), a rainforest area located in South East Peru, where the so-called “remnants” of Shining Path are still operating, in an alliance with drug traffic bands.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

The candidacy of TV host Jaime Bayly represents the expectations of young people, which is the sector that is taking him to an unexpected sixth place in polls for Peru's 2011 presidential election, said Fernando Tuesta, Director of the Grupo de Opinión Pública of the Universidad Catolica in Lima.

The voting intention for Bayly has risen up in the last 30 days, since he announced his run for the Presidency.

Tuesta Soldevilla thinks that those who think Bayly's candidacy is part of a joke should take it seriously.

The poll was conducted only in Lima.

In the latest poll, 6% of respondents said they would vote for Bayly. Luis Castañeda is first with 38%, followed by Keiko Fujimori with 17% and Lourdes Flores with 9%. Former President Alejandro Toledo also appears with 9%, and Ollanta Humala with 7%.

Have news you'd like to see in LivinginPeru.com? Contribute an article, whether it's translated or based on your own reporting. Contact editor@livinginperu.com.