Amazon natives launch innovative forest conservation program

Native leaders and communities in Peru’s central Amazon region have launched an innovative forest conservation program, designed to halt deforestation and illegal logging in its tracks.

Social conflicts up by nearly 250 percent since Peru’s Garcia took office

Social conflicts have shot up from 84 in July 2006 – a month after Peru President Alan Garcia was elected as APRA’s presidential candidate in a runoff election – to 284 this past month, reported daily El Comercio on Tuesday. Of the 284 social conflicts tracked last month, more than 60 percent were related to [...]

Peru Interior Ministry to monitor social conflicts in collaboration with Ombudsman’s Office

Nearly two months after the deadly Bagua clashes that left 34 dead and hundreds of people injured, Peru Interior Minister Octavio Salazar Miranda announced Wednesday the creation of a special office to monitor social conflicts and prevent any further outbreaks of violence. “We have to evaluate the situation. We can’t watch events unfold from a [...]

Peru top chef Gastón Acurio minimizes Amazon River raid on luxury ship: we will be back, he says

Days after Peru’s top chef Gastón Acurio was robbed by six armed bandits aboard Aqua Expeditions’ luxury river ship, the culinary celebrity described the raid as “an isolated incident,” and said that he and his family would definitely visit the Amazon region again. “I thank everyone for their support and their love,” posted Acurio on [...]

Cardinal Cipriani warns of “foreign meddling in Peru’s internal affairs” during July 28th homily

The Archbishop of Lima, Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani, said during his sermon on Independence Day Tuesday that “Peru needs an iron front to stamp out foreign meddling and interference in the country’s internal affairs.” “Peru is an open country and is always ready to initiate dialogue with those willing to collaborate in good faith,” said [...]

Number of social conflicts reaches year-high in June

Social conflicts in Peru have shot up from 132 in March 2008 to 273 this past month, daily El Comercio  reported Wednesday. Of the 273 social conflicts tracked last month, more than half were related to environmental concerns and 83 percent are still active, said Peru’s Ombudswoman, Beatriz Merino. Last month’s most heated and severe [...]

Human Rights Watch: Peru radio closure could undermine press freedom

The Peruvian government’s decision this month to revoke the broadcast license of a local radio station “could have a chilling effect on community broadcasting in Peru,” reported Human Rights Watch on Wednesday. “The timing and circumstances of the revocation suggest that it may have been an act of censorship, or punishment, in response to coverage [...]

Indigenous leader Alberto Pizango granted safe passage from Peru to Nicaragua

The Peruvian indigenous leader Alberto Pizango boarded a flight Wednesday to Nicaragua, where he has been granted asylum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted a letter of safe-conduct to Pizango, a Shawi Indian and former president of Peru’s Interethnic Association for the Development of Peru’s Jungle, Aidesep. But, according to Foreign Affairs Minister José Antonio [...]

Peru Government adopts conciliatory tone after Amazon clashes

In a conciliatory move, after two months of telling indigenous communities that the government would not review legislation aimed to open up the Peruvian Amazon to more foreign investment, Peru’s Premier Yehude Simon asked Congress to repeal the controversial decrees by June 18. “I understand that the members of Congress are upset,” said Simon. “But I [...]

Minister of Women’s Affairs resigns following violent clashes in Peru’s Amazon

The Minister of Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Carmen Vildoso, resigned from the Cabinet of Peru’s President Alan García late Monday evening, following violent clashes between police and indigenous protesters in Peru’s northern Amazon that left dozens of police and civilians dead.

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