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LivinginPeru.com

LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

Rev. Dr Samuel Kobia, General Secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC) , has addressed a letter to President Alan García Pérez, expressing his concerns on the recent Bagua clashes, calling them "one instance of a series of government actions to abrogate the rights of the Indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon over land and resources".

Kobia urged the Peruvian government to order the "immediate cessation of violent repression against indigenous people" and the launch of a "meaningful dialogue" in order to "peacefully and justly resolve the conflict".

Kobia deplored the "government's inability to resolve the conflict" by peaceful means, and expresses alarm about "reports of attempts to dispose of the bodies and cover up the true extent of the loss of life".

The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of Churches with 340 member churches worldwide representing over 550 million Christians.

(The full text of the letter can be seen in this link.)

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 Promotion of Exports and Tourism Commission (PromPeru) is organizing a Peru Tourism Fair, from June 5th to Sunday 7th , which will gather more than 70 tour operators from all around the country.

This is the most important tourism fair held by Promperu.

On this occasion, Promperu will present new programs and travel prices, based on three major tourist segments: Rest Seekers, Fun Seekers and Knowledge Seekers.

Another attraction will be the Peru Tourism 3D simulator, which will display videos at 180°C from diverse Peruvian tourism destinations: the potential passengers will be virtually transported to the tourist site of their choice.

The fair will be open on 5th (15:00 to 20:00 hours), June 6th and 7th (11:00 to 20:00).

Admission is free.

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 international organization Marketing Hall of Fame awarded yesterday the “Great Modern Brand” prize to Claro, and “Great Classic Brand” prize to Bembos.

Another awarded companies were Backus (any product), Procter & Gamble (new product launch), Telefonica (new services and any service) Braedt (corporate image), Interbank (small budget campaign) and Mibanco (better promotion).

Effie awards in Peru are sponsored by the National Association of Advertisers (ANDA), the Peruvian Association of Advertising Agencies (APAP), the International Advertising Association (IAA-Peru) and the Peruvian Market Research Company (APEIM ).

The Effie awards, created in 1968 by the American Marketing Association, are the main professional distinction that recognizes the contribution of strategy and creativity into achieving goals and results.

Effie awards are currently acknowledged as the most important ones in the advertising industry in over thirty countries in Europe, Asia, North America and South America.

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

Peru has chosen the Japanese-Brazilian standard for its digital terrestrial television system that will be implemented starting in 2011, according to the announcement made today by Enrique Cornejo, Minister of Transport and Communication.

The decision was taken based on the recommendations of the commission assigned by the government to evaluate which digital standard would be the best (ATSC - U.S.A, ISDB-T - Japan or DVB-T - Europe) for Peru.

In March this year, the National Radio and Television Society (which is made up of four private television stations and seventeen radio stations) stated it had done a detailed commercial and economic analysis and had come to the conclusion that the Japanese-Brazilian standard would be the best for the country.

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
Isabel Guerra

According to Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (Mincetur), medicine prices in Peru are likely to drop thanks to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States.

“There is no reason to say that medicine prices will rise because the FTA has entered into force, we are sure prices will drop due to lower import tariffs,” Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Mercedes Araoz said.

Peru’s Association of National Pharmaceutical Industries (Adifan) had said that the reform of Health General Law would imply that laboratories should pay 1,2 billion soles for studies made to certify that Peruvian medicines fulfill requirements of duration and quality in temperatures up to 30 degrees, which represents additional production costs.

Peruvian Minister denied this argument and said “They (Adifan) know that their problem is not related to fulfill bio-equivalences, but to compete against other products with better prices.”

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.

DPA - El Comercio

Former Peru President Alberto Fujimori is considered guilty of the alleged crimes of violation of human rights and corruption during his government, according to a survey published today, conducted   by the Catholic University (Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú -PUCP) a few days before the issuing of his sentence.

This survey, run in Lima right before the second and final day of Fujimori's personal defense, shows that 64% of the 462 interviewed people consider that Fujimori is guilty of the charges.

Around 25% think that the 70-year-old former President is innocent, and 10% refuse to answer, according to the same survey

Lima, Peru's capital city, represents 1/3rd of the total of the nation’s voters.

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.

Living in Peru
Dely Goicochea

Galena Corporation, a Peruvian company that operates lottery and mobile phone games, and is supported by both MGS, a Finnish public company quoted on the Frankfurt stock Exchange, and Silverstring Investments N.V., a company with professional international gaming experience – subscribes an important agreement with the Chulucana’s Beneficence and launches the most innovative and secure mobile phone lottery system.

Thanks to this agreement, a percentage of Galena Corporation’s lottery profits will be donated to the Chulucana’s Beneficence, an entity that supports poor children and elderly people.

It is worth noting that the company will donate 5.5% of its profits to the Chulucana’s Beneficence.

This certainly generates great expectations because the global growth for the mobile phone games segment is expected to reach US$ 16.6 billion by the year 2011, while the profit projection for Peru is US$ 12.7 million for the first year, just for SMS lottery.

As a gesture of its long term commitment, which is much more than profits generated by lottery, Galena Corporation’s first donation to Chulucanas will be a children’s park, as well as musical instruments for INABIF to set up musical bands in five orphanages.

Juha Kikeri, MGS’s CEO, pointed out that, “We will launch an innovative lottery via mobile phone within the next few months, developing a new segment in the lottery market. Galena Corporation introduces a new way to play the lottery, offering all the guarantees and the latest technology”.

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.

U.S. District Judge Marcia Cooke late today issued a final judgment against the Government of Peru in the amount of $8.3 million and in favor of Jose Guevara, a Venezuelan national who helped Peru capture its fugitive spymaster Vladimiro Montesinos in 2001.  At the same time, Judge Cooke rejected Peru’s request that the Court reconsider its decision finding that Mr. Guevara had proven his entitlement to collect the reward for Montesinos’ capture.

“Peru has not set forth any grounds justifying reconsideration,” said Cooke. “Accordingly, Peru’s motion for reconsideration is denied.” Cooke’s order denying the motion went on to state that “three major grounds to justify reconsideration must be met: an intervening change in controlling law; the ability of new evidence; and the need to correct clear error or prevent manifest injustice.” None were according to Cooke.  

The ruling against Peru’s latest attempts reaffirmed Cooke’s September 9th summary judgment that the government of Peru owed Guevara the reward money.

“After a long, arduous fight, Mr. Guevara and his family are now one step closer to receiving the promised reward,” said Diaz, referring to Cooke’s ruling. “This is a precedent-setting case in international litigation in this post 9/11 era, where countries routinely make reward offers for the capture of terrorists, political figures and drug dealers.”
   
In 2001, Guevara filed to claim the widely publicized reward for providing crucial information that led directly to the arrest of Montesinos, who is now on trial in Peru on a long list of charges related to arms trafficking, drug dealing, money laundering, extortion and murder while he headed Peru’s National Intelligence Service in the 1980s.

However, the Peruvian government reneged on its reward offer and since then, Peru’s legal team has used a variety of tactics in its efforts to avoid payment. However, Guevara’s claim has withstood all those challenges, said Gonzalez, who noted that the decision represents a dual victory for Guevara and the community-at-large.

“By enforcing Peru’s promise to pay Mr. Guevara, the U.S. courts have recognized the basic principle that a party will be held to its word,” he said. “If a government or a governmental entity is going to offer a reward in exchange for information that it cannot otherwise obtain on its own, then it must be prepared to pay that reward.”

In her Nov. 7th decision, Cooke rejected counterclaims by the Peruvian government that Guevara, who was Montesinos’ guard for several months in Venezuela, had stolen funds from that nation, aided Montesinos in stealing government money and enriched himself at the government’s expense. 

“Guevara never received any money from the defendants directly,” said Cooke in her ruling. “There was no evidence for conspiracy or aiding and abetting the conversion of funds. There was no evidence of a benefit to Guevara.”
   
Seven years ago, Guevara filed his suit in the U.S. to claim the reward.  The Peruvian government then sought to dismiss the case under the Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act (FSIA), which protects foreign governments from U.S. lawsuits. Diaz and Gonzalez argued that by offering a reward, Peru had engaged in “commercial activity,” which is an exception to the FSIA.

On November 1, 2006, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit upheld Guevara’s position and ruled the case could continue in the U.S. The Peruvian government then filed a series of counterclaims, which were dismissed in Cooke’s summary judgment.

Looking ahead, Diaz said, “I am not sure when Mr. Guevara will be paid, given the recent resignation of Peru’s entire Presidential Cabinet for allegations of corruption and kickbacks, but at least they now know the U.S. judicial system is not a place for them to seek refuge from their legal responsibilities.”

Panoro Minerals Ltd. is pleased to announce that the most recent results from its exploration program at the Company's 100% owned Antilla Project in Peru have demonstrated;

1. Positive infill results confirming the continuity of the supergene enriched zone within the East Block Target Area; and

2. The extension of the supergene enriched zone to the Northwest side of the East Block Target Area.

The table below presents a summary of the results from the infill drilling program within the East Block Target Area.

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Drillhole    From (m)    To (m)    Thickness (m)    Cu (%)    Mo (%)
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ANT-46            76       102               26      0.63     0.006
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includes          82       102               20      0.70     0.007
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and              142       151                9      0.41     0.003
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ANT-48            56       106               50      0.61     0.016
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includes          68       106               38      0.73     0.013
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ANT-49            28        76               48      0.85     0.008
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ANT-52           160       187               27      0.38     0.014
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ANT-55           108       131               23      0.25     0.001
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ANT-59             0        54               54      0.32     0.002
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includes           0         6                6      0.41     0.001
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and               28        42               14      0.49     0.001
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                  68       100               32      0.42     0.002
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ANT-60             7        18               11      0.42     0.001
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and               58        62                4      1.04     0.001
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and               80        86                6      0.46     0.001
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ANT-62            60       110               50      0.48     0.012
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includes          60       102               42      0.52     0.012
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and              134       144               10      0.47     0.005
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ANT-62 was extended to a depth of 757 m and encountered primary copper mineralization in the sedimentary package that is likely related to primary porphyry copper mineralization with erratic grades below the nominal cutoff grade of 0.3% adopted for the current exploration program. ANT-60 is located at the southeast boundary of the East Block Target Area confirming the thinning of the mineralization in this area however ANT-59, also located at the southeast boundary, but to the southwest of ANT-60 indicates that the mineralization extends outside the East Block Target Area in this sector.

The table below presents a summary of the results from ANT-61 which was collared approximately 70 m from the northwest side of the East Block Target Area indicating that the supergene enriched zone also extends beyond the East Block Target Area in this sector.

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Drillhole    From (m)    To (m)    Thickness (m)    Cu (%)    Mo (%)
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ANT-61           196       242               46      0.51     0.010
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Includes         198       220               22      0.74     0.009
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ANT-58 was collared outside the western boundary of the East Block Target Area and intersected a leached horizon with very low mineralization. Three additional drillholes have been advanced outside the northwest boundary of the East Block Target Area in order to further delineate the extension of the supergene chalchocite zone.
These holes have been located between 200 m to 250 m from the boundary of the East Block Target Area. The assay results from these drillholes will be reported as they are received.

The drillhole locations are shown on the company's website.

All drilling was carried out by Bradley MDH S.A. and all assay samples are being tested by ALSChemex laboratory in Lima, Peru. Fred Tejada, P.Geo., is the Company's VP-Exploration and the Qualified Person for this project.