Peru gives army green light to intervene in Puno protests

Just weeks after a deadly intervention in Bagua, the Peruvian government authorized the army to send troops to Puno, where residents have launched a 72-hour strike to protest the recently enacted Water Law, reported daily El Comercio. The authorization, valid for 10 days as of June 24, aims to provide back-up for police, “and guarantee the [...]

Peru to possibly give Doe Run more time for La Oroya cleanup, workers lift strike for 30 days

The La Oroya smelter workers decided late Wednesday to lift their strike, giving the government and Doe Run 30 days to offer them acceptable solutions. Police and workers joined forces late into the night to clear rocks from the highway and roads around the smelter town. The strikers had blocked all traffic to and from [...]

Indigenous communities pursue strike, charges pressed against Alberto Pizango for “insurgency call”

As indigenous communities throughout Peru’s jungle provinces continue to block highways, waterways and oil pipelines, Peru’s Justice Minister pressed criminal charges Friday against Alberto Pizango, who called for an “insurgency” against the government last week. “People have to learn that their actions have consequences,” said Justice Minister Rosario Fernández. “When Mr. Pizango called for an [...]

Stretch of Inca Trail shut down due to forest fire near Inca citadel of Machu Picchu

Route 5 of Peru’s Inca Trail was temporarily shut down Wednesday, after a forest fire was detected in a protected area surrounding Machu Picchu – Peru’s top tourist attraction. The blaze, which was put out by more than 300 firefighters, affected 90 hectares of land and burned down a rest area, six handrails and fire [...]

Strike in Amazon

By Antonio Zapata Note: This article was written 15 April 2009 for La República newspaper by historian and commentator Antonio Zapata. It has been translated for the Peruvian Times in order to provide some general background to the ongoing critical dispute in the Amazonian area of Peru. ————— While the Fujimori case has been the [...]

Peru taxi drivers block streets to protest Lidercon Co.’s safety and emissions inspection monopoly

Approximately 200 taxi drivers affiliated to Peru’s National Federation of Taxi Drivers, or Fentac, blocked streets in various districts of Peru’s capital, Lima, on Thursday, to protest a monopoly held by Spain’s Lidercon Co. – the exclusive provider of technical vehicle inspection services. “We are protesting to defend our rights,” said Fentac president, Joaquin Rosas. [...]

Radio Programas: Farmers strike suspended after two days of violent protests leave 4 four dead

A top farm federation leader called on his followers late Tuesday to end a violent two-day national strike that claimed the lives of four people, disrupted highway transit and prompted the government to declare a state of emergency, suspending constitutional rights in seven provinces, Radio Programas reported.