A 48-hour strike in Cusco has caused authorities to temporarily suspend commercial flights to the city and train services to Machu Picchu, the ancient citadel of the Incas and Peru’s top tourist attraction.
The Peruvian Corporation of Airports and Commercial Aviation, Corpac, suspended commercial flights to the city’s Alejandro Velasco Astete airport after 10 a.m. today, daily El Comercio reported. Peru Rail suspended their train service which transports tourists between Cusco and Machu Picchu, according to Radio Programas radio. Corpac and Peru Rail made the decision ahead of the strike to prevent property damage and protect tourists.
The Cusco protests are organized by the department’s Regional Assembly following Congress’ approval of a tourism development law last week, which would ease private investment adjacent to Peru’s rich archaeological ruins and historic sites.
Cusco’s regional president, Hugo Gonzalez, originally opposed the legislation, which he said threatens to ruin the country’s archaeological sites by privatizing them. But Gonzalez backed down after national authorities in Lima threatened Cusco, saying they would not allow it to host any meetings this year for Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation summit because of instability.
Gonzalez told daily El Comercio yesterday “I understand radicalism and intolerance are prevailing in the Regional Assembly. I hope they reflect and a climate of peace will return to Cusco, which is an APEC venue.”
Cabinet Chief Jorge Del Castillo blamed the protests on the regional assembly’s coordinator, Efraín Yépez. Del Castillo told daily El Comercio Yépez is a member of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas, ALBA, and alluded to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez possibly supporting the protests.
“The question is who is financing this strike? Who is driving this barbarity and with what purpose?”
