Living in Peru : your everyday companion

The president of the Peruvian Congress, Luis Gonzales Posada, expressed today that the freeing of 15 hostages from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) represented a triumph for democracy in Latin America.

“This is a victory and a triumph of Colombia and Latin America’s democracy, and it is also a hard impact that initiates the end of FARC’s terrorist groups and those sectors that trafficked with hostages exhange”, said Gonzales Posada to Andina news agency.

However, he said that the freeing of Colombia’s ex-presidential candidate Ingrid Betancourt and another14 people did not mean that FARC kidnappings and the National Liberation Army (ELN) had ended.

He recalled that there were still 700 people that had been kidnapped, a number that is very significant, even when compared to other Latin American realities.

“But I think it is the beginning of the terrorism’s end and they must permit humanitarian agreements to lay down arms and free people that are kept in the Colombian forest”, he said.

News source: ANDINA

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz

After being one of the first gay men to receive a California wedding license, George Takei, best known for playing Mr Sulu in Star Trek, announced that he and his partner would be heading to Peru for their honeymoon.

"We'll be going to South America, Buenos Aires, Igazu Falls, Lima, Cusco and Machu Picchu, a historic place my parents went and a place I have dreamed of going," said the 71-year-old actor.

The Star Trek star is to marry 54-year-old Brad Altman, his partner for the past 21 years, in September.

They received their marriage license in West Hollywood on Tuesday.

"Congratulations to all of us and may equality live long and prosper," said Takei to a supportive and delighted crowd that was unable to hold back their cheers.

Takei and Altman were among the first homosexual couples to receive their marriage license after California's Supreme Court lifted its ban on same-sex marriage.

The state affirmed that the "right to form a family relationship" applied to everyone in California, regardless of sexuality.

According to E!, Takei, who recently appeared on the US TV series Heroes, is the first celebrity to take the plunge.

Living in Peru
Israel J. Ruiz


Juan Cardenas, a Peruvian that experienced the 7.9-magnitude earthquake that destroyed a region of small cities and towns in China, affirms that fate saved him.

Although the Peruvian consulate in Beijing, some 1545 km (960 miles) northeast of the epicenter, stated that there were no Peruvians living in the province of Sichuan, a correspondent for El Comercio daily located Juan Cardenas and confirmed he was alive.

"It was our destiny. Every Saturday three friends and I go on a motorcycle trip, but this time we decided to go on Monday - the day the earthquake occurred - to Dujiangyan Mountains, near the epicenter," said Cardenas.

Cardenas explains that as he and his friends had been driving in circles for hours searching for the path to the top of the mountain, the shaking started and it was evident that a landslide had begun.

"We started running down the mountain and found ourselves at the edge of a river, the path across had been blocked by debris and rubble so we crossed a bridge to an open area," said the Peruvian, who has been teaching English in China since 2000.

"Other people began crossing the bridge as well. There were aftershocks every five or ten minutes," Cardenas explained.

"It began to get dark so we collected food from neighbor's houses and began cooking for everyone and built shelter, five provisional tents," said Cardenas, explaining that fortunately he had a first aid kit with him and was able to help those with minor injuries.

Cardenas and the group survived the cold and moist night by forming a circle to keep warm.

"At that moment it didn't matter if you were Chinese, American or Peruvian. We were a group of human beings in a circle of life."

The next morning the group set off for the city. Cardenas explains that his group met with others along the way until a massive crowd of people had formed, all making there way to the city.

"There were a lot of elderly people, children and injured people in the group so we had to walk slowly."

"We couldn't help everyone but we made sure an elderly woman got to her home in Chengdu."

Peru’s President Alan Garcia received yesterday the credentials of the newly arrived ambassadors of Japan, Thailand, Uruguay and Denmark and reaffirmed the government’s commitment to boost the economic and trade ties with these countries. In a ceremony held at the Government Palace, President Garcia received the credentials of the ambassadors of Thailand, Udomphol Ninnad; Uruguay, Juan José Arteaga; Japan, Shuichiro Megata; and Denmark, Charlotte Slente. First, Peru’s president received credentials from Thailand’s ambassador Udomphol Ninnad and expressed his commitment to work in the strengthening bilateral relations. Garcia also invited Thai businessmen to get to know the Peruvian market and invest in the different sectors that its economy offers. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)


Peru-Korea FTA feasibility study well on track

A joint feasibility study examining a possible free trade deal between Peru and Korea will be finished by the second quarter of the year, announced the Korean ambassador to Peru, Hahn Young-Hee. He said Korea was very interested in having a trade agreement with Peru not only for its great number of natural resources but for its strategic geographic location in the center of South America, which will provide Korean investors with better access to this continent. Hahn Young-Hee added that the main Peruvian products exported to Korea were mineral, agricultural and fish products; while the main Peruvian imports from Korea included electronic devices, chemical products and vehicles, among others. “Without a doubt, Korea would play a key role in encouraging the expansion of Peruvian exports into the Asian market. The Peruvian fishing and mining sectors have high levels of competitiveness in the international market”, he pointed out. (ANDINA - click here read complete article)


Peru, Japan to study possible FTA next year

Peru’s vice-minister of Foreign Trade, Eduardo Ferreyros, said that the feasibility studies for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Peru and Japan would begin next year. Peru and the Central American countries will also undertake feasibility studies for a bilateral FTA which, is to begin earlier next year. “Next year, we will initiate joint feasibility studies for possible free-trade deals with Japan and the Central American countries”, he said. Ferreyros added that the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism (MINCETUR) expected to launch negotiations for trade deals with Korea and Australia in 2009. “Regarding other trade deals, the second round of negotiations with China will be held next week and we will also attend the fourth round of negotiations with the countries of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) to take place in Bogotá (Colombia)”, he said on a national radio program. (ANDINA - click here to read complete article)

Peruvian president, Alan Garcia Pérez, telephoned Ecuador's president Rafael Correa and Colombia's Alvaro Uribe to calm the diplomatic dispute that arose after a Colombian strike against FARC rebels in Ecuadorian territory, said today Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo. "Peru trusts that the historical ties between Ecuador and Colombia are stronger than any circumstantial differences", he added. Last Saturday, Colombian troops killed a top rebel commander in an attack on a jungle camp across the border in Ecuador in a severe blow to Latin America's oldest guerrilla insurgency. (ANDINA - click here to see article)


García calls for OAS meeting to solve Colombia-Ecuador political crisis

Peruvian president Alan Garcia Perez has proposed an urgent meeting of the Organization of American States (OAS) to overcome the diplomatic crisis between Ecuador and Colombia, and strengthen cooperation against terrorism and drug trafficking. García said that the Colombian raid into Ecuador was unacceptable and  considered President Uribe's statements on alleged ties between the FARC rebels and Ecuador's President Rafael Correa as a worrying issue. President García added he would try to talk with his counterparts in Brazil, Panama, Chile and the OAS General Secretary, Jose Miguel Insulza in order to arrange an immediate meeting. “If the OAS does not react immediately, it would lose value and presence”, he said. He highlighted that this meeting must remain a “clear” commitment among the region's countries not to intervene in other country's issues. (ANDINA - click here to see article)

(LIP-ir) -- Peru's President Alan Garcia condemned today the assassination of Pakistan's former Prime Minister, Benazir Bhutto and ordered to have Peru's national flag at half mast at the Government Palace.

The president received the news of Benazir Bhutto’s assassination in his office today and requested that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs send an official letter to Pakistan expressing his condemnation of the murder.

President Garcia also sent his condolences to Benazir Bhutto’s family as well as Pakistan’s people

Benazir Bhutto was an active member of the Socialist International and a close friend of President Garcia. She was assassinated Thursday by an attacker who shot her after a campaign rally and then blew himself up.

At least 20 others were killed in the attack during the rally for the Jan. 8 parliamentary elections, where the 54-year-old former prime minister had just spoken.

At least another nine people were killed across the country in rioting that broke out in the aftermath of the assassination, reported AP.

At the hospital where Bhutto died, some supporters smashed glass and wailed, chanting slogans against President Pervez Musharraf, whom they blamed for not ensuring her safety.

Musharraf blamed Islamic extremists for her death and said he would redouble his efforts to fight them.

News source: ANDINA

(LIP-ir) -- The Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca (ATL), which depends on Peru and Bolivia's Foreign Affairs Ministries, is promoting that the highest navigable lake in the world, Lake Titicaca, be nominated as one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World.

Under the direction of Julián Barra Catacora, the Binational Autonomous Authority of Lake Titicaca has been established by Peru and Bolivia to promote and manage programs and projects related to the lake.

"Cybersurfers can send their vote via the internet using their e-mails. The selection process will last until August 8 of next year. Afterwards, 21 finalists will be chosen internationally and we hope that lake Titicaca will be among these," stated Barra Catacora.

In addition, Barra Catacora stated that Lake Titicaca's nomination would have a strong effect on the socioeconomic development of the people living around Lake Titicaca. He also stated that it would be recognized by the international community so "all Bolivians and Peruvians should cast their votes in favor of (Lake) Titicaca."

It was announced that the ATL would organize a campaign to promote Lake Titicaca as one of the Seven Natural Wonders and help people realize the importance of the event.

The contest which is to nominate the Seven Natural Wonders of the World is being organized by the New 7 Wonders Foundation. Machu Picchu, Peru was recently nominated as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.

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(LIP-ir) -- Brazil faced its worst air disaster in history yesterday evening, when an Airbus-320 passenger plane couldn't manage to land on a short rain-slicked runway.

The plane, belonging to Brazilian company TAM with an estimated 186 passengers, crashed into a gas station and TAM building immediately bursting into flames.

The Brazilian government is enduring serious criticism for allowing planes to continue landing on the short runway known as the "aircraft carrier."

Apparently the pilot attempted to land on the slick runway but took off again when unable to land properly. Upon pulling up to try and land again, the plane was unable to gain altitude and barely cleared the airport fence while just missing rush hour traffic below.

It is estimated that the death toll has reached 200, 162 passengers - 18 TAM employees, a crew of six, workers in the building the plane crashed into and others on the ground at the time of the crash.

Peruvian citizen, Ricardo Tazoe Suguiyama was among the passengers on the plane. 36 year-old Ricardo Tazoe was traveling from Porto Alegre to Sao Paolo when the tragic accident occurred.

Tazoe's family in Miami has been contacted and are in the process of sending dental records to positively identify him.

Ricardo Tazoe was an employee of Santander Bank in Miami. He is survived by his wife and two children.

(LIP-ir) -- As part of a campaign against the commercialization and uncontrolled sales of weapons and firearms, Amnesty International (AL) and the Municipality of Miraflores have organized a trade-off.

The trade-off, which is to take place on Wednesday July, 4, allows any child or adult to trade a war-related toy, such as a toy gun, soldier or toy grenade, for a puzzle, stuffed animal or board game.

During the event, different institutions will be present at different stands, exhibiting games which promote peace. The toy trade-off is directed at boys, girls, adolescents, students and the general public.

This event is part of the worldwide "Control Arms" campaign, which began in October of 2003 and is calling for an international, legally-binding Arms Trade Treaty.

The event, also held in May of last year, was a great success in which 5,000 people were present and over 2,000 war-related toys were collected.

The following information was taken from the Arms without borders report, October 2006

On average, up to one thousand people die every day as a direct result of armed violence. Between one-third and three-quarters of all grave human rights violations and 85 per cent of killings reported by Amnesty International over the past decade have involved the use of small arms and light weapons.

The US Congressional Research Service estimated that collectively, countries in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America and Africa spent $22.5bn on arms during 2004; 8 per cent more than they did in 2003. This sum would have enabled those countries to put every child in school and to reduce child mortality by two-thirds by 2015, fulfilling two of the Millennium Development Goals.

(LIP-jl) -- The United States Trade Representative's Office (USTR) and representatives from Peru's Foreign Trade Ministry will begin talks today which aim to develop amendments that will help obtain a universal ratification of the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in both US and Peruvian Congresses.

According to information divulged by Mercedes Araoz, Peru's Foreign Trade Minister, David Lemor -the ministry's official representative in Washington, and the Peruvian Ambassador to the United States, Felipe Ortiz de Zevallos, will join USTR members to develop amendments to the original FTA which was previously approved by Peru's parliamentary body.

Araoz indicated that she has sent a team of legal specialists belonging to the ministry to evaluate and translate the USTR developed texts.

Once the amendments have been drawn up, member's from the Peruvian Congress will have the first opportunity to ratify the readjusted agreement, something which she added: "is sure to happen."

"Both governments must sign and endorse the amendments before they are submitted to a vote before the parliaments from both countries. Peru's legislative body will be the first to vote for the modified FTA while it is expected the US Congress will vote for it before its August recess," said the minister.

No dates have been given as to when Peru's parliamentary body will vote on the amendments, but ministry representative Lemor suggested they should be approved before next month's Peruvian Independence Day holiday, July 28.