History of Peru Special: FIESTAS PATRIAS 2010 – 200 years ago this week in London, Simón Bolivar “declares” independence for Hispanic America

By Paul Goulder – Special to the Peruvian Times – Although in Peru 1821 is celebrated as the year of independence, the process of emancipation had begun much earlier and July 28 of that year was neither the beginning nor the end of the long march to independence. Latin American communities around the world are celebrating [...]

Peru declares emergency due to cold in 16 departments

Peru’s government has declared an emergency in 16 of the country’s 24 departments on Friday as a result of a cold wave, with an emphasis on areas located at least 3,000 meters above sea level, state news agency Andina reported. Peru’s minister of Women, Nidia Vilchez, said the emergency was for Ancash, Apurimac, Arequipa, Ayacucho, [...]

Peru purchases 8 helicopters from Russia for use in the VRAE

Peru’s government has purchased eight Russian helicopters to be used for to combat drug traffickers in the country’s Apurimac and Ene River Valleys (VRAE), daily La República reported. The purchase includes two MI-35P helicopters and six MI-171Sh helicopters, which will be acquired in January 2011 and May 2011, respectively.

Peru’s gov’t calls on Colombia, Venezuela to resume dialogue

Peru’s government has called on Colombia and Venezuela to open up dialogue after President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela severed diplomatic ties with Colombia, state news agency Andina reported. “We appeal for the two brotherly countries to recuperate the level of dialogue and understanding that they should have,” Peru’s Foreign Affairs Minister José Antonio García Belaunde [...]

Central Bank chief expects Peru’s economy to grow by 10 percent in June

Peru’s Central Bank chief estimates that the country’s economy could grow by approximately least 10 percent in June, state news agency Andina reported. “In June, we expect a spectacular figure,” Central Bank President Julio Velarde said. “I won’t say how much it will be but, since growth in June last year was not so good, [...]

President García ratifies law to create Ministry of Culture

President Alan García ratified a law on Wednesday that will create Peru’s first Ministry of Culture, local media reported. “Ths ministry is an extraordinary work, promoted by committed people. No people can live without culture, so rich as in Peru,” daily El Comercio reported García as saying. He added that it will be an important [...]

Temperature in Lima dips to 8.8C degrees, lowest in more than 40 years

Temperatures in Lima fell to 8.8C degrees on Wednesday, their lowest in more than 40 years, according to daily El Comercio. The temperature was registered early Wednesday morning in La Molina, Ate and other Lima districts and was influenced by La Niña weather phenomenon, said Raquel Loayza, a meteorologist at the national meteorological and hydrological [...]

Indigenous community plans demonstrations over promises following oil spill

The cocama indigenous community is planning a series of demonstrations this week to protest Argentinean oil company Pluspetrol’s response following an oil spill last month in the Marañón river in Peru’s north-eastern Loreto department, CNR radio station reported. Alfonso López, a cocama leader, said the company had agreed to provide medicine, food and water after [...]

President García launches plan to tackle the drug trade, money laundering

President Alan García launched a national plan on Tuesday aimed at curbing drug trafficking with a focus on money laundering, state news agency Andina reported. The key to overcoming the drug trade is to prevent money laundering from the illicit activity, according to García. He called on “rich countries” to do more to stop the [...]

U.S. State Department offers reward for Shining Path leaders

The United States Department of State has placed the leaders of two Shining Path factions on its narcotics rewards program, which offers compensation of $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of the targets. The announcement comes only weeks after a UN Office on Drug Control and Crime (UNODC) report, questioned by [...]

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