Peruvia

War of the Pacific, cont.: China's Xinhua Net offers two reports on the Peru-Chile maritime border dispute. First, Xinhua reports from Lima that "the Peruvian armed forces said Monday they will analyze the rejection of the Chilean government to negotiate the demarcation of the maritime border between the two countries," according to Peruvian Joint Chiefs of Staff Aurelio Crovetto Yañez. NOTE: "The government of Peru demands 30,000 square km from the commonsea border with Chile from Santiago, and has mentioned its intention to take the case to the International Court of Justice of The Hague should there be no positive reply." ALSO: Chilean President Ricardo Lagos is quoted saying that the maritime demarcation with Peru in the Pacific Ocean "is a problem for Peru." Later, Xinhua Net reported from Santiago that "Chile has rejected the petition of Peru for a revision of the maritime limits between the two countries and affirmed these borders are determined by international treaties in effect for over half a century," according a statement by the Chilean Foreign Minister María Soledad Alvear Valenzuela. She also tried to bring the border with Ecuador into her disucsion declaring that "Peru has signed border treaties not only with Chile, but also with Ecuador." On Saturday, President Ricardo Lagos stated that, "from the Chilean perspective, this is a very simple issue: there is no issue." See Also: 'War of the Pacific via Fishing' in yesterday's Peruvia.

Newmont's Troubles, cont.: The Denver Post has a story titled, 'Peruvians Battle Newmont' on "the hundreds of farmers who have invaded Denver-based Newmont Mining Corp.'s Yanacocha gold mine" on September 3. The paper reports that the dispute continues to be about the proposed mine expansion at Cerro Quilish and the 'farmers' "fear it could reduce and contaminate water supplies they need for growing potatoes and watering livestock." CITED: Marco Arana Zegarra (a Catholic priest and a leader of the protest); and Stratus Consulting's two-year water study in which, according to Nick Cotts, Yanacocha's Director of External Affairs, "the outcome of that study was very clear. In no way has Yanacocha affected water for human consumption." The article also cites last week's New York Times' "scathing account of water pollution at Newmont's gold mine in Indonesia." ALSO: "The farmers have blocked all the roads leading into the mine, and protests have mushroomed at Cajamarca, a city of 100,000 that lies 30 miles away from the mine. As many as 10,000 people filled Cajamarca's main square Thursday, according to Peru's El Comercio newspaper, and demanded that the government rescind the permission it gave Yanacocha in August to begin exploring Cerro Quilish." NOTE: "Last year, Yanacocha produced 2.9 million ounces of gold at an estimated $527 million in profit, according to production figures and prices released by Newmont." Curiously, the newspaper article is accompanied by a photograph of the protestors; the photo credit goes to Grufides, an environmental group associated with Marco Arana. The article also offers a map of the 'sacred mountain under dispute'; the map credit goes to Newmont. See Also: 'Newmont's Troubles' in yesterday's Peruvia; and (in Spanish) 'Mapa Minado' from the Sept. 9, 2004 issue of Caretas.

Huari in Anchash: The Miami Herald reports in their 'Latin America Briefs' column that "a Japanese archaeological expedition has discovered what is believed to be a pre-Inca cemetery on the slopes of a mountain in northeastern Peru," according to local media. NOTE: "Scientists from the University of Tokyo who traveled to the Andean Ancash region said the human remains and pottery were in good condition. The group has been searching for remnants of the Huari civilization, which existed in northern Peru in the 15th century. A local official was quoted as saying the age of the cemetery could not be determined but could be pre-Inca."

Paniagua Pulls Ahead? Canada's Centre for Public Opinion and Democracy offers more data from last week's Datum poll and states that "former head of state Valentín Paniagua is the top presidential hopeful in Peru," even though the poll was narrowed to Lima. NOTE: 21% of respondents would support Paniagua in the 2006 election; Alberto Fujimori is second with 17%, followed by Lourdes Flores Nano; Alan García is fourth with 14%. SEE ALSO: 'Toledo's Numbers Rise' in yesterday's Peruvia.

Free Trade Talks, cont.: The Associated Press and Xinhua Net report that the fourth round of negotiations of the Free Trade Agreement between the United States and Andean countries began Monday in Puerto Rico, "with an agenda which includes subjects such as better access to markets and possible benefits to the agricultural and textile industries." NOTE: "Together with the delegates that are participating in the meeting, groups that oppose the trade agreement also arrived. They are going to hold an educational forum and a protest, however specific dates and places have not yet been announced."

Sugar Wars: Louisiana's Gambit Weekly publishes a fascinating look at Peru's sugar industry reported from Lambayeque. The piece, authored by C.J. Schexnayder, publisher of The Northern Report, is pegged on the free trade talks taking place in Puerto Rico (see paragraph above) and looks at the tensions trade creates. NOTE: The American Sugar Cane League is based in Thibodaux, Louisiana. Says league president Jim Simon, "the [sugar] industry is very fragile in terms of the changes of supply and demand. We are teetering right now on break-even." ALSO: "Experts warn that, if the United States persists in denying the world access to its domestic sugar market, there could be drastic repercussions to other agricultural areas." CITED: Martin Torres, (Committee for Sugar Cane Production for the Department of Lambayeque); Mayor Moises Martinez; Yehude Simon (President of the Department of Lambayeque); Bob Odom (Louisiana Commissioner of Agriculture); Eduardo Gozalo and foreman Miguel Villaleza (Empresa Agroindustrial Tuman); Stephanie Childs (Grocery Manufacturers of America); and William Garcia (on a harvesting crew in the fields around Tuman).

Trans Amazon Cooperation: The Voice of America reports on the Amazonian Cooperation Treaty Organization meeting in Manaus where "foreign inisters from eight South American countries have gathered to consider a pact for preserving the Amazonian rain forest." NOTE: "They are reviewing a strategic plan drafted for 2004 to 2012. The plan is designed to reduce deforestation and promote sustainable use of the region's natural resources. It includes a scheme for regional economic integration that would reduce harmful development of the Amazon forest." The Associated Press offers photographs of Foreign Minister Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros at the meetings.

APESOFT Says 'Growth': BNAmericas reports that APESOFT, the Peruvian software association, "expects software exports to grow 35% this year for total sales of US$13.5mn compared to US$10mn last year," according to Apesoft general manager Yosif Humala Acuña. NOTE: "Apesoft's 35 members achieved total sales of US$69mn during 2003, and Humala expects 20% growth this year to give a total of US$82.8mn." SEE ALSO: APESOFT's PowerPoint presentation: Plan Para el Desarrollo de la Competividad de la Industria del Software; and this 2003 report The Critical Role of the Software Industry in Economic Growth: Peru.

More Mining: