Ex-PM Simon urges Humala to focus on conflicts in central, southern Peru

The incoming government of President-elect Ollanta Humala will need to provide more attention to central and southern Peru in order to reduce social conflicts, said former Prime Minister Yehude Simon. Simon recommends Humala form a team aimed at preventing protests, state news agency Andina reported. Over the past few months, social conflicts have led to numerous [...]

No alliances will be made with Lima Mayor Castañeda for upcoming 2011 presidential elections, says Simon

Former premier and head of the Peruvian Humanist Movement Yehude Simon said Friday that his party would not be making any alliances with the “authoritarian” Lima Mayor Luis Castañeda Lossio for the upcoming 2011 presidential elections. “We have a different vision,” said Simon, who compared Castañeda’s style to that of Ollanta Humala, head of Peru’s [...]

Former premier Yehude Simon launches 2011 presidential campaign

Former premier Yehude Simon has turned down an offer to be Peru’s ambassador to the Organization of American States, OAS, in Washington, D.C., and has announced his run for President in 2011. “I have thanked President Alan García for his generosity and courtesy but, evidently, I have not accepted any job assignments,” said Simon in [...]

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 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.

Indigenous leader granted political asylum by Nicaragua following deadly melee in Peru’s Amazon

Presidential Cabinet Chief Yehude Simon told lawmakers Monday that the leader of Peru’s largest Indigenous federation was holed up in the Nicarguan Embassy, protected by political asylum following a deadly melee with police in Peru’s northern jungle.

Puno Regional President accused of negligence in child deaths from cold

Peru has declared a state of emergency in the highland department of Puno, where 35 children have recently died from exposure to cold weather, and accused Regional President Hernán Fuentes of negligence and mismanagement of funds, reported daily El Comercio. These deaths are due to “structural poverty,” but in this particular case, the “mismanagement of [...]

Protests and state of emergency in Amazon region continue, negotiations have so far failed to find solution

After negotiations with premier Yehude Simon fell through on Thursday, indigenous communities in Peru’s Amazon region decided to pursue their protests against the contamination of their ancestral lands by mining companies, and to demand the repeal of a series of decrees they say are promoting unrestricted oil exploration. “Peru is one country, where each and [...]

Peru government harshly criticized for turning down $2 million donation for museum

Over the weekend, Peru’s leading op-ed columnists continued to criticize President Alan Garcia’s decision to reject a $2 million donation from the German government to build a museum to honor the memory of 70,000 people who died as a result of Peru’s 1980-2000 civil war. The criticism prompted President García to admit that the successive [...]

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