Living in Peru : your everyday companion

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

In an effort to protect Alberto Fujimori in the case that he was extradited and placed under trial, an organization of political thugs was created at the beginning of the 21st century, said a report issued by La República daily.

According to information released by the daily, the organization, known as The Cell Command, has been operating in Peru since 2001 with funds provided by main offices in New Jersey.

The Cell Command has defined itself as a Fujimorista command that brings together men and women of all ages from all social classes with the sole purpose of bringing Alberto Fujimori, who they call "nuestro chino", back into office, reported La República.

In its mission to bring the former president back into office and in defense of Alberto Fujimori, the organization generates political pressure by hurting and threatening anyone that opposes their cause.

Evidence of this was the incident that took place in late August at the Ojo que llora monument, where a group of vandals interrupted a human rights meeting by destroying a structure that had been built in memory of terrorism victims.

La República and other sources have identified the head of the organization in Peru as José Contreras Jimeno, the man responsible for coordinating campaigns in the Andean country with The Cell Command's head office in the United States.

It was reported that funding for operations was provided by the International Organization Fujimorista USA in New Jersey.

The daily affirmed that the information it provided could be confirmed by searching INOFUSA TV on the internet.

Peru trusts that the European Union will negotiate a trade agreement with the Andean countries that are really interested in one, stated President Alan García during the closing ceremony of the conference “Peru: a Globalized Country” carried out at Peru’s chancellery.

The Andean Community (CAN) and EU have been negotiating for several months an association agreement, which has found some obstacles on Bolivia’s side, though both blocs have ratified their aim to finish it next year on the basis of three components namely political and commercial dialogue, as well as cooperation.

"I am sure the European Union will open its doors to negotiate with those countries that really want to negotiate”, he indicated.

The Peruvian president also said that he hopes that trade relations with China, which Peru is negotiating a trade pact with, progress fast.

García indicated that these agreements, and the ones already signed with United States, Canada, Thailand, Singapore and soon Mexico, represent an enormous potential for Peru to commercialize its products in international markets.

News source: ANDINA

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Just three months after Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori was treated for a precancerous lesion on his tongue, it was announced he had a cystic tumor in his pancreas.

The announcement was made by Fujimori's daughter, Keiko, who asked that people take the news of her father's delicate health both seriously and professionally.

"We are worried about the appearance of a cystic tumor in my father's pancreas," said Keiko, explaining Alberto Fujimori had undergone a series of tests less than a year ago and no problem had been detected.

Keiko requested that her father have all the necessary analyses done to determine the nature of the cyst so that the appropriate treatment could be provided and the former president's health could be restored.

According to a report released by the Neoplastic Institute, Alberto Fujimori has a "1.5 cm cystic formation in his pancreas".

The prison conditions in which Fujimori must live coupled with the tension of having to attend a great deal of hearings have contributed to the former president's bad health, said Fujimori's general practitioner, Alejandro Aguinaga (pictured above).

Aguinaga affirmed that prison life was "breaking the former president down", explaining that the trial was being made longer than necessary.

"The hearings of a 70-year-old man are being unnecessarily extended, not even during the Nuremberg Trials was a person submitted to three hearings per week."

Peru and US government representatives will meet within two weeks to report progress made on the environmental chapter of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) implementation process.

For this purpose, Peruvian officials will hold a working meeting with US agencies in charge of environmental issues, such as the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) and the US Department of State, among others.

The meeting will discuss topics such as the establishment of the International Secretariat to receive people's requests and commentaries about the environmental implementation.

It is worth noting that Peru and US representatives are currently meeting in Washington, USA to coordinate the regulatory texts required for the implementation of the trade deal between both countries.

The Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Peru and the United Stated is expected to come into force starting January 2009, after both presidents Alan García and George W. Bush announce the completion of this implementation process during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC) to be held in November in Lima, Peru.

News source: ANDINA

The strengthening of cooperation between Peru and Chile is not just a "slogan" of goodwill in view of the maritime dispute taken to the International Court of Justice in the Hague to define the maritime boundary between the two countries, Chilean senator Jaime Orpis said on Monday.

"It is true that our countries have a border issue that will be solved by The Hague Tribunal. This should not be an obstacle to progress because we have to join efforts in the fight poverty," he said.

In his statements to Andina, Orpis said that the goodwill of both nations is vital in strengthening cooperation and resolving this boundary dispute in the best possible way.

The Chilean senator mentioned it is important that both countries begin to stand out in the region by providing added-value to their products offered on the international market.

"The development model of Chile and Peru must strengthen our position, without letting the maritime affect the outlook. At least in Chile we see that the commercial relationship is strong because we have adopted the Economic Complementation Agreement," Orpis added.

News source: ANDINA

The relations between Peru and Venezuela are fine despite the decision of Venezuela to withdraw the Operación Milagro program, which consisted of free eye surgeries in Peru, José Antonio García Belaunde, Peru's chancellor, said today.

He indicated that Venezuelan cooperation caused some suspicions due to the risk of political use in some sectors, reason why Peru always looked for the transparency of this aid, and dismissing these fears.

García Belaunde said that in the case of Operación Milagro, Peru offered Venezuela two or three hospitals for the carrying out of eye surgeries, so patients would not have to travel to Venezuela, but there was not an answer.

“If the Venezuelan government considers they must not do this contribution because it is subject to negative interpretations or investigations, they have the right to do it and I do not have anything to say; however, I would have preferred it to be more transparent”, he stated on a local radio station.

News source: ANDINA

The Ministry of Justice presented Monday morning the first official edition of Peru's bilingual Constitution in Spanish and Quechua ("Peru Suyu Atun Kamay Pirwa"), with the aim of creating awareness about people's rights and duties and promoting social inclusion among Peruvians.

In a ceremony held at the Municipality of San Jerónimo in Cusco, the deputy minister of justice, Erasmo Reyna, along with other government authorities presented the Constitution in printed and electronic versions.

Noemí Vizcardo, responsible for the translation of the Constitution into Quechua; the regional president of Cusco, Hugo Gonzáles; and the mayor of the San Jerónimo district, Justino Zúñiga, among other local authorities attended this event.

Quechua (Runa Simi) is a Native American language of South America.

It was already widely spoken across the Central Andes long before the time of the Incas, who established it as the official language of administration for their Empire.

It is still spoken today in various regional forms (the so-called ‘dialects’) by some 10 million people through much of South America, including Peru, south-western and central Bolivia, southern Colombia and Ecuador, north-western Argentina and northern Chile.

News source: ANDINA

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Cabinet Chief Jorge del Castillo has affirmed Garcia's administration will not promulgate the law passed by congress on Friday to repeal legislative decrees 1015 and 1073.

The two laws, which congress voted to revoke on Friday, were passed by President Alan Garcia earlier this year as part of Peru's free trade deal with the United States.

Because the laws make it easier for mining and energy companies to purchase tribal lands, dozens of indigenous groups began a protest that lasted for eleven days across Peru.

Del Castillo affirmed that revoking the law as congress had suggested was a step backwards because it would close the doors to investment possibilities in the area.

"There are enemies of free trade in congress that don't believe in market rules, they represent a wave of political thoughts in Peru and I think that wave went out in the 70s and 80s," said the Premier.

There are over 1,000 communities in the jungle but 5,000 in the highlands, which consist of three million people, said Del Castillo, explaining these millions of people had not been asked about revoking the laws.

Peru's Prime Minster stated there were three paths that could be taken by the government and that only one had been discarded.

"The only thing I think is discarded is that the government will promulgate the law, for now that option is out."

After several weeks of treatment, Peruvian congressman Mario Peña Angulo died early Monday morning of lymph node cancer at the age of 56.

Congressman Peña Angulo was a respected economist who belonged to the Acción Popular political party, a centrist and conservative liberal party in Peru.

In 2006, Peña Angulo became an elected representative of the Amazon jungle region of Loreto, where he was in 1952.

His death occurred early Monday morning at the National Institute of Neoplastic Diseases in Lima.

After his death, the National Elections Jury (JNE) will decide which member of Acción Popular party will replace him in office.

News source: ANDINA

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

Satomi Kataoka, a Japanese businesswoman and wife of Peru's former President Alberto Fujimori explained that she would remain married to Alberto as long as he needed her help.

While Kataoka admitted she had married Fujimori for political reasons in an effort to seek protection from the Japanese government, she assured she would continue to support him.

"The marriage is going to remain just the way it is for now because he (Fujimori) is in a situation in which he needs help," said the Japanese businesswoman in an interview.

She explained that her relationship with Alberto Fujimori was more of a father daughter relationship than anything else.

"When the risk of being extradited to Peru arose after Fujimori arrived to Chile in 2005 my son, who had grown fond of him while he was in Japan, as well as other acquaintances told me that if he married me it would be easier to request protection as a Japanese citizen," said Kataoka.