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Saturday, July 03, 2004

UPDATED: Toledo & Peruvian Squad, Sheepherder from Huancayo

Anarchy in Ayacucho, cont. updated: MISNA News reports that "the situation in Ayacucho has apparently returned to normal after a crowd lashed out at police, accusing them of using violence to quash a strike by teachers. Shops have reopened and public transport services have resumed, although the traces of the clashes are still clearly visible." NOTE: Prime Minister Carlos Ferrero blamed the guerrillas of ‘Sendero Luminoso’ ... the students called a demonstration in protest against the premier’s statements, shouting “Ferrero liar, we are not terrorists”. CITED: Robert Huaynalaya. The Miami Herald (registration peruvia@peruvia.com/peruvia) reports that the Minister of the Interior, Javier Reategui "had dispatched about 250 riot police to Ayacucho to quell violence between local police and striking teachers." Reategui declared that "order was restored, stores reopened and public transportation up and running." The Voice of America catches up with yesterday's reporting using AP, AFP, and Reuters. VOA includes two points that Reuters didn't yesterday: "The violence broke out after police used tear gas to evict teachers from city offices they had occupied for several days. The educators went on strike June 21."

Fujimori’s PR Man: The Los Angeles Times (registration: peruvia/peruvia) profiles Carlos Raffo Arce who is aptly defined as Alberto Fujimori's one-man public relations/propaganda machine. NOTE: "In South America, political fortunes can shift as quickly as a mountainside in an Andes avalanche ... and Fujmori smells a comeback." ALSO: "Every Saturday morning, Raffo brings audio messages from Fujimori to the Peruvian people on an hourlong radio show broadcast on dozens of stations nationwide." CITED: Raul Sulca, a pro-Fujimori activist. IN SPANISH: See a profile of Raffo in Caretas from 2001.

Truth & Reconciliation, cont.: Retuers reports that "Peru will give relatives on Monday the exhumed remains of men killed by state security forces in a notorious 1986 prison massacre, but human rights lawyers said the reconciliation process was undermined by a failure to properly identify victims." NOTE: "Returning the 31 sets of remains is part of an reconciliation effort after two decades of rebel and state violence tore Peru apart in the 1980s and early 1990s." CITED: Elviro Aponte (father of a victim) and Ivan Bazan Chacon (human rights lawyer).
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Copa América News:
- updated Toledo and the Peruvian Squad: Reuters offers photographs of Peruvian soccer players Guillermo Salas, Leao Butron, Julio Garcia, and Jefferson Farfan "at their training camp in Lima." In another photograph, President Toledo is seen with Walter Vichez and Jefferson Farfan. SkySports reports that Jhon Galliquio "will miss the Copa America after picking up an injury in the friendly against Argentina. Galliquio has usually played center half. The article lists the 22-player squad.

- Strikers & Strikers: The Associated Press and Reuters report on the strikers outside and inside the stadium during Copa America. The AP says that , "with nationwide strikes on tap and Peru's leading airline in hot water for alleged drug trafficking, hosting the Copa America could prove sticky business." NOTE The AP says that "tourism promoters say the protest threats could deter more than half of the 30,000 soccer fans expected to visit Peru." Reuters quotes Carlos Canales Anchorena (National Chamber of Tourism) saying the protest threats could deter more than two-thirds of the 30,000. The piece says that "Recent polls show most Peruvians oppose the timing of the strike." However, the latest APOYO poll found that "93% of Peruvians said a planned July 14 national strike by Peru's largest labor union, the CGTP, would be acceptable, as long as it was peaceful," according to Dow Jones. HISTORY: "Peru last hosted a South American championship in 1953, playing all the matches in the then year-old National Stadium. Peru managed to beat Brazil for the first time ever that year, although the cup went to Paraguay." ALSO: Toledo's squabbles with Congress over permission to visit Spain and Israel.

- Interview with AWoodman: FIFA has an interview with Arturo Woodman who was asked about how the man on the street sees the Copa: "In the provinces, yes, everybody is talking about the Copa América. It is to be expected really, as many of these cities will be hosting top class football for the first time in their newly renovated stadiums. Take Chiclayo, for example, where the people could be watching Argentina take on Uruguay." ALSO: Says Woodman, "There remains one more stadium to be built, which will be in the small northern city of Iquitos beside the Amazon river," for the 2005 FIFA U-17 World Championship.

- Nobby Asks For Help: Team Talk reports that Nolberto Solano "believes the Peru fans will have a big part to play when they host the Copa America next week. Our supporters must stay calm and stick with us. They must not lose faith, because their support is very important to us if we are going to do well in the Copa America."

- The Stars Attend: FIFA's news reporting headlines: 'European stars head Peru challenge.'Nolberto Solano and [Captain] Claudio Pizarro "will spearhead host country Peru in the Copa America." CITED: Vice President of the country David Waisman and President of the Peruvian football federation Manuel Burga; Julio Velasquez (a member of the Peruvian 2006 World Cup committee).

- Reuters offers photos of the Brazilians in Arequipa and the Paraguayans still in Asuncion.

- Luringancho Copa: Reuters reports on a soccer tournament inside Luringancho jail where "the Hijackers snatched victory from the Robbers on Friday when inmates of South America's biggest jail staged their own Copa America final, four days before the real soccer tournament kicks off in Peru." BAD LUCK?: "Argentina" beat "Peru" 2-1 on penalties in the prison's sports stadium. CITED: Wilfredo Pedraza Sierra, (head of the National Penetenatiary Institute). Team Nicknames: Colombia - drugs dealers; Ecuador - thieves. HOWEVER: The Associated Press reported this story in early June (see 'Copa Luringancho' in June 10's Peruvia. This Florida newspaper still has a photo/caption from that event.) Reuters accompanies today's story with several photographs from Luringancho jail. Reuters mispells the name ('Lurigachos') and refers to it as "South Americas biggest jail."
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More Electricity: Dow Jones reports that "Peru's electricity production totaled 2,015.4 gigawatt- hours in May, a 4.4% increase compared to the same month a year earlier," according to the National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy said Friday, using data from the Energy and Mines Ministry. NOTE: "Electricity production has strengthened alongside growth in the economy."

Sheepherder from Huancayo: Colorado's Durango Herald profiles Aldo Quiñones Inga, a sheepherder from Huancayo who "will be alone with [3,500] sheep until October." NOTE: "Taking care of sheep can be a nomadic existence. In order to provide them with enough food to fatten them up for selling season, [they are herded] high into the mountains. Then Quiñones Inga [will be alone] with an Akbash sheepherding dog named Big Boy and a horse named Jim." ALSO: "He also has three older brothers, who have herding jobs of their own in Idaho, Colorado and Utah."

Falun Gong in Peru: The Epoch Times (a pro-Falun Gong paper) reports on China's policy to “intensify the campaign [against Falun Gong] overseas, collect more information and prevent protests.” It lists cases in countries around the world and includes this on Peru: "In addition to reporting telephone eavesdropping, Falun Gong practitioners in Peru have reported that the Chinese Embassy has ordered local Chinese newspapers to withhold articles that introduce Falun Gong, has persuaded a newspaper to publish articles slandering Falun Gong, and has asked news stands to stop selling Falun Gong books."

Asparagus Wars, cont.: The Associated Press and Washington State television station KAPP file short stories on 'Asparagus Woes' about Peruvian crops hurting the Washington economy.

La Chica in Madrid: The Guardian offers an essay by their correspondent in Madrid, writing on how summer differs there. She includes this: "When all else fails, the middle-class Madrid family falls back on la chica, 'the girl'. La chica is an Ecuadorian, Peruvian or Colombian immigrant who, despite the name, may be aged anywhere between 18 and 60. She is a cleaner, nanny and, sometimes, cook. In posher parts of town, and one apartment in my building, she must wear a maid's uniform. La chica is the key to summer survival. For it is she who takes the kids to the park in the early morning, cooks them their lunch, finds their Gameboys and turns the telly on in the afternoon."

Alicia Dibos Tries Again: New York's Journal News profiles Alicia Dibos, the former LPGA Tour veteran who is now an assistant at Winged Foot Golf Club. She missed the cut in the 2004 U.S. Women's Open at 7-over 149. Dibos is happily semi-retired and "last played a full schedule on tour in 2001."

LAN Airlines & the Atacama Crossing: The LAN Airlines announced in a press release that they are sponsors of the inaugural Atacama Crossing (not online when Peruvia tried it), "part of Racing The Planet's 1000-kilometer endurance racing circuit spanning four deserts on four continents on foot, including the coldest, the hottest, the driest and the windiest places on earth."

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Friday, July 02, 2004

Anarchy in Ayacucho: The Associated Press, Reuters and Xinhua Net all report on the violence in Ayacucho. Reuters has the most extensive reporting: "thousands of protesters overran Ayacucho, setting fire to government buildings and hotels after police used tear gas to break up a protest by teachers. At least 39 people were hurt." NOTE: "The government blamed followers of the Shining Path." Omar Quezada (President of the Ayacucho region) declared that "anarchy is reigning at the moment in Ayacucho." Xinhua also says that Mayor Ludela declared, "I denounce all these acts of violence in Ayacucho and blame the president and the interior minister for this chaos." The New York Times (second to last item) uses a brief summary of Reuters in their World Briefings column. The Miami Herald (second to last item) uses the Associated Press and says it was 'hundreds' not 'thousands' of protestors and notes that "members of a communist-led teachers union have been on strike in this Andean city since June 21." The Associated Press offers several photographs of the violence. The captions all report that the violence "grew after police used force to remove teachers from city offices they had occupied earlier in the week." CITED by Reuters: Prime Minister Carlos Ferrero; Interior Minister Javier Reategui; Tulio Nicolini Ayarza (chief of Peru's fire service); Yuri Revollar Huaman (Ayacucho SUTEP leader); and Robert Huaynalaya Camposano (a factional SUTEP leader, sometimes identified as President of SUTEP's Comité Nacional de Lucha) who claimed two teachers had been killed. IN SPANISH: The Ministry of Interior will be taking legal action against these two SUTEP leaders, among others, as this document details with their photographs. See also the official communique from the Ministry.

LAN Peru Grounded? cont.: The Associated Press follows up on yesterday's Reuters story on Arequipa Judge Eloy Zamalloa's ordering LAN Peru "to stop flying because of [Aviandina's] complaint about ownership rules." However, this reporting clearly states that Aviandina's parent company is Aero Continente. NOTE: Lan Peru flights were taking off normally Thursday. SEPARATELY: An opinion column in the Scotsman writes (second to last item): "We bear a cautionary tale of two intrepid Edinburgh lady adventurers just back from Peru. When they checked in at Juliaca Airport for their LanPeru flight from Puno to Lima, they were somewhat taken aback to be asked for the telephone numbers of their next of kin. 'Needless to say, we were relieved to reach Lima in one piece, and gladly gave ourselves over to the efficient custody of KLM staff to transport us safely back across the Atlantic'." SEE ALSO: 'LAN Peru Grounded?' in yesterday's Peruvia for the confusion on the relationship between Aviandina and Aerocontinente.

Airport Strike, cont.: Reuters reports that "a strike by hundreds of Peruvian airport workers on Thursday to protest government plans to bring in private operators delayed flights and hit a number of tourists just days before a major international soccer tournament. Striking workers at the country's 16 airports said the partial walkout would continue on Friday and included Lima's international airport. But no flights had been canceled so far," according to the Ministry of Transportation. CITED: Sergio Salazar (CORPAC union leader) who declared “they may join a general strike on July 14 if the government does not agree to new talks.”

June Econ. Numbers: Bloomberg reports that the Central Bank "held its benchmark interest rate at a record low [3.25%] for an eighth month even as the country's inflation rate jumped in June as a drought in the Andes crimped the harvest of vegetables such as potatoes." Bloomberg also reported that "four of six economists surveyed by Bloomberg News expected no change," including Vikash Panda (4Cast Inc). Henry Alvarez (Maximixe Consult) was a dissenter. ALSO CITED: Rebeca Vargas, a vegetable wholesaler in the La Parada market in Lima. Vargas also owns some fields outside Lima where she plants coriander and beets." Reuters explores yesterday's INEI numbers and reports that Peru's mining output "grew less than 1% in May and agriculture continued its slump, but fishing production rocketed." NOTE: "The economy is expected to grow more quickly in the second half of the year as it pulls out of a 12-month slowdown," according to INEI. SEE ALSO: 'June Econ. Numbers' in yesterday's Peruvia.

Asparagus Wars, cont.: The Associated Press (last item; registration: peruvia@peruvia.com/peruvia) reports that USA Congressman George Nethercutt "urged President Bush to accept any recommendations that might aid Washington's ailing asparagus industry. Last month, the Washington Republican asked the U.S. International Trade Commission to investigate asparagus imports from Peru, the leading competitor to the United States." The Seattle Times runs several letters on their series on globalization and how Peru's asparagus industry is impacting the Washington State economy. Among the comments: “Peruvian export asparagus industry is … the epitome of an inefficient, wasteful system, designed to enrich investors and agrimoguls at a great cost to society.” ALSO: Marilyn Watkins from the Economic Opportunity Institute writes, "Your article reports that workers in Peru's asparagus plant make $7 per day for a 10-hour day. We should be proud that no one in our state has to work in such near-slavery conditions." Ms. Watkins is an historian and not an economist.

Shell To Sell Some Peruvian Assets, cont.: The Guardian follows up on the Shell divestiture story and reports that "it would sell large parts of its Peruvian operations, including its service station network."

Betting On Copa America: Read-A-Bet offers advice on wins and losses at Copa America and declares that "home advantage and a settled team make Peru a decent bet at 11/8 to finish top" of Group A. Title of Story: 'No Need To Peru-ve Bookies Wrong.' However, in a separate article, Read-A-Bet predictably suggests that "the bookies have installed the big guns of Brazil and Argentina as favourites to prevail in the land of the Incas." Separately, Reuters has a photograph of a banner with El Chasqui displayed on the National Stadium and a photograph of Argentine soccer player Luis Gonzalez arriving in Lima on his way to Chiclayo.

Peruvians Abusing Peruvians, cont.: Newsday reports that the 69 Peruvians caught up in the smugglers ring in Long Island "weren't allowed religion [and] were overcome with emotion at their first Mass in four years." As a result, "Msgr. Thomas Molloy of St. Luke's parish in Brentwood presided over a religious service in Spanish for them in the hallway of a hotel in Suffolk County." The immigrants are now "officially being represented by Catholic Charities." NOTE: "Carmen Maquilon, director of immigrant services at Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Rockville Centre, said she believes it is the largest human trafficking case uncovered in the United States to date." SEE ALSO: 'Peruvians Abusing Peruvians' in June 23's Peruvia.

Cuzco in Korea: The Korea Times reviews 'Cusco', "the first Peruvian restaurant that opened near Hapjong Subway Station." NOTE: Owner Lee Won-jong traveled to Peru in 1997 and found Peruvians "not very capitalistic, it is even different from other Latin American countries. And Cuzco is even so, with a big Indian population who don't even understand Spanish." ALSO: "You may not like the unique taste at first, but you will get addicted to it like kimchi." INCLUDED: Papa rellena, chicarron de marisos, and fried seafood matured in lemon juice. "There's a buffet course on the weekend priced at 20,000 won with beer included, which is greatly acclaimed by Peruvians in Seoul." CITED: Jaime Campana Leon, "a native of Cuzco who's now cooking at Cusco."

Peruvian At USA Air Force Academy: The USA Air Force Link reports that at least one Peruvian is among the students from 14 countries admitted into this years class at the USA Air Force Academy. SEE ALSO: 'Peruvian At USA Naval Academy' in Wednesday's Peruvia below.

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Thursday, July 01, 2004

Peru 1 - Argentina 2: The Associated Press reports on yesterday's friendly match at New Jersey's Giant Stadium where Peru lost to Argentina. Kily Gonzalez gave Argentina the lead in the 25th minute. The indomitable Nolberto Solano converted his penalty shot in minute 36. Argentina scored their second goal by Javier Saviola, "with a header in the 72nd minute." NOTE: "A slightly larger number of Argentine blue shirts could be seen in the crowd of 41,013." ALSO: "Argentina had more of the possession and better chances, but neither side dominated." The Associated Press and Reuters have photographs of Miguel Rebosio, Saviola's last minute goal, the collision between Javier Zanetti and Santiago Acasiete, and other shots of C-H-A-O-S. SEPARATELY: An Australian News agency says that "Argentina has been installed as favourite for this month's Copa America in Peru - by Brazilian national team coach Carlos Alberto Parreira."

LAN Peru Grounded? Reuters reports that Arequipa Judge Eloy Zamalloa Campero "has ordered flights of LanPeru to be grounded, saying it had violated several civil aviation norms including operating with irregular permits." NOTE: "The ruling responded to a legal suit brought by small Peruvian airline Aviandina." LanPeru CEO Vlamir Domic said his airline would not stop flying declaring that "only the civil aviation authority could revoke its permit, not a judge." The report stated that there was no comment from the General Direction of Civil Aviation. LanPeru is the official airline of the July 6-25 Copa America. CITED: Aviandina CEO Ricardo Hernandez. NOTE: "Though it has at times operated code-sharing agreements with Aviandina, an Aero Continente spokesman said it has no stake in the airline." However, this site says Aviandina is a "Subsidiary of AeroContinente" and this site says Aviandina is "Empresa 100% peruana, propiedad del Grupo Aerocontinente." IN SPANISH: See El Comercio's counterpart story.

June Econ Numbers: Bloomberg and Reuters report on June's consumer price index which "rose 0.56%, pushed up by higher food, beverage, fuel and rent prices," according to INEI. NOTE: "The June figure followed a 0.35% rise in the CPI in May and a 0.47% decline in June 2003." The article also offers a sector-by-sector breakdown of the consumer price index for June and for the first six months of 2004. IN SPANISH: See INEI's Informe de Precios.

Shell To Sell Some Peruvian Assets: Agence France Press, the Associated Press, Bloomberg and Reuters reports that Royal Dutch/Shell plans to sell assets in Peru and "will write down the value of some exploration assets." NOTE: "The world's third-biggest oil company said it planned to sell its Peruvian retail, commercial and marine business later this year." ALSO: "Shell has been struggling to revamp its image, damaged by the news in January that it had overbooked its oil and gas reserves by more than 20 percent." DETAILS: See the Shell press release which notes that though they will be selling their service station network, they will retain their "lubricants business in Peru, where plans include generating growth through the integration of the acquired Pennzoil-Quaker State business."

COPA Protests: Reuters offers several photographs of "unemployed workers, wearing Copa America soccer tournament t-shirts, yell[ing] slogans against the Peruvian government" during a CGTP march near Congress. The Associated Press also offers photographs of the protests today including this one which suggests that Copa America tournament organizers "have criticized the communist-led unions of trying to ruin the South American tournament and scare away tourists."

Malecon Ecoturistico in Puno: The Associated Press reports from Puno on a new city project which "aims to solve a pollution problem plaguing Peru's main port on Lake Titicaca." NOTE: According to city projects adviser Victor Catacora, Puno's new Malecon Ecoturistico is a "930-foot-long (850-meter-long) causeway of flagstone, marble, and cement [which] will force the city to clean up the 50 acres (20 hectares) of Puno Bay it encloses." It is designed by students at Puno's University of the Altiplano. CITED: Puno Mayor Mariano Portugal Catacora, Juan Mamani (workman), Rosana Verolati (city water works director), Jaime Mezarines (university student), and Marco Revollar(Bi-National Lake Titicaca Project) who says the lagoon cleanup is "a superficial fix."

Asparagus Wars, cont.: The Seattle Times posts yesterday's on-line dialogue with reporter Alwyn Scott on their series on globalization with a strong focus on Peru's asparagus industry. Among the questions asked: "Is Peru banking too heavily on asparagus and other agriculture products?" "Is it possible to measure the cultural costs in Peru? How are communities handling the shift to factory work?" The last answer offered has Jose Chlimper's suggestions for saving the Washington State asparagus industry. SEE ALSO: Asparagus War's in yesterday's Peruvia.

Textile Workers Protest: Just Style reports that "textile workers staged a demonstration yesterday in front of the Congress in Lima to call on the government to keep high tariffs on cheap Chinese garment imports." But the Minister of Foreign Relations, Manuel Rodriguez, declared that "Peru will not renew temporary safeguard tariffs imposed on imported Chinese clothing last December." Reuters offers a photograph of the protestors and notes that "Peru hiked tariffs on 106 types of Chinese-made clothes last December to protect a textile industry from a flood of low-priced goods from the Communist nation that textile workers said had cost 40,000 jobs between June 2001 and June 2003."

Macro/Micro Econ:
-: Dow Jones reports that “the new version of a law that imposes royalties on mining projects in Peru may keep the Las Bambas copper project alive, due to be auctioned July 23,” according to Jose Miguel Morales (National Society for Mining, Energy and Petroleum). NOTE: “Congress' Energy and Mines Commission passed a revamped version of the law Wednesday that stipulates that mining projects will not be obligated to pay a double royalty,” and is now being debated by the full Congress.
- Hunton & Williams announced in a press release "the closing of a US$34 million purchase of subordinated certificates by the Netherlands Development Finance Company and Deutsche Investitions-und Entwicklungsgesellschaft,” with assistance from Banco de Credito del Peru. “The cash flows securitized in the transaction are future remittances of cash that are made through the international SWIFT electronic money transfer system to non-bank beneficiaries in Peru.”

Nazca Is A Model: Xinhua Net reports on the ongoing 28th session of World Heritage Committee in Suzhou and reports that the committee "urges the world to find balance between tourism and preservation of heritage sites such as the Nazca lines did." While it does not mention Machu Picchu, it does quote UNESCO Director-General Koichiro Matsuura saying, "Excessive tourism will bring disaster to heritage sites. It's crucial to establish balance between tourism and preservation." SEE ALSO: 'Too Many Tourists in MPicchu' in yesterday's Peruvia.

Ancient Torture: National Geographic's July issue has an article titled, Peruvian Temple of Doom on the Moche civilization's Huaca Cao Viejo, found north of Trujillo, and "one of history's most gruesome sacrificial rites." The article describes how scholars understand Moche ceremonies by studying their artwork, "like the frieze of naked prisoners discovered on Huaca Cao Viejo's plaza wall. Bones of sacrifice victims—incorporated into the frieze and buried under the plaza floor—show evidence of extreme torture before the grisly executions." Only an abbreviated version of the article is online but there are several photographs posted. SEE ALSO: Huaca Cao Viejo information can be seen at this IBM-funded research site and this research site affiliated with Northern Arizona University. In addition, see someone's personal photos of the site here.

MPicchu in Houston: The Houston Chronicle reviews on the new exhibit, Machu Picchu: Unveiling the Mystory of the Incas at the Houston Museum of Natural Science and says that "Ninety-seven years after the discovery of Machu Picchu in the Andes, the site continues to reveal its centuries-old secrets." The museum also offers an online tour of the exhibit, which is part of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. CITED: Curator of Anthropology Dirk Van Tuerenhout.

Bus Tragedy: Xinhua Net reports that "at least six people were killed and 17 wounded when a minibus fell into a chasm" near Ilimo, Lambayeque. The Reason: "The brakes failed."

SMulanovich in California: The Los Angeles Times reports on the upcoming 2004 Bank of the West Beach Games on July 26 which will include Sofia Mulanovich.

Miami Restaurant Review: The Miami Herald reviews La Flor de la Canela (previously El Chalan) a "pretty Peruvian restaurant in Miami with a "whopping 21 traditional Peruvian dishes, all less than $12 except for two." Included: Huancaina sauces, ocopa, and parihuela de pescado. ALSO: The owners of the restaurant have led the local 'Instituto de Cultura Peruana.'

EXTRA: Pennsylvania State University has just begun a summer course called, '"From Desert to Rainforest: A Field Study in the Biodiversity of Peru' with a full itinerary.

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Wednesday, June 30, 2004

Asparagus Wars, cont. - Talk With Reporter Today: On Sunday, The Seattle Times started a series subtitled "Pain and Gain in the Global Economy," and Peruvian asparagus crops have been a central focus of their reporting. Today, Seattle Times reporter Al Scott will be online taking questions about the series from noon to 1 pm. (click here for current time in Seattle). See the newspapers' June 27 story reported from Ica where they "toured Peru's exploding asparagus industry;" and their June 28 story where they "visit Washington farmers who had to walk away from empty fields."

Too Many Tourists in MPicchu, cont.: The Guardian and the Telegraph follow-up on yesterday's news about the possibility UNESCO would put Machu Picchu on the endangered list, thereby creating a conflict between the tourism industry and archeological/conservationist groups. Said a UNESCO spokesman, "Being placed on the list means there has been such a degradation of the site that the very qualities which make it a world heritage site are being damaged, perhaps irrevocably." The Numbers: The site brings in US$6 million (£3.3m) a year. ALSO: Last October Francesco Bandarin, the Unesco heritage director "criticised the unrestricted development nearby in Aguas Calientes, the town where visitors stay before ascending the mountain." CITED: Stuart Wittington (Explore Worldwide), and Luis Lumbreras (Peruvian National Institute of Culture).

Peruvian at US Naval Academy: The Baltimore Sun reviews the "17 young foreign nationals [who] join more than 1,200 freshmen" for the new academic year at the United States Naval Academy. At least one midshipman is from Peru. "Their presence at the academy represents one of the more obscure facts about U.S. diplomacy. Each year, the Department of Defense invites a handful of 'friendly' countries to nominate students to attend one of the country's three service academies."

Vladi Guilty, cont.: The Scotsman and the UPI reviews yesterday's news on Vladimiro Montesinos' sentencing to 15 years in prison.

COPA News: The Associated Press reports on the tensions between Peru and Argentina leading up to tonights friendly match outside of New York City. Said Peru Coach Paulo Autori de Mello, "Our objective is give the image that we are ready. Peru needs a title to solidify itself." HISTORY: Argentina "has won the Copa America 14 times, but none since 1993. Peru twice has won the continental title, the last in 1975." ALSO: "Both teams insist the result of Wednesday's match means less than the preparation for the Copa America, which begins July 6 in Lima." FIFA also previews Copa America and reports that Peru "has scaled nine places in the FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking for June 2004. Now 72nd, the Incaicos are enjoying their highest berth since November 2003, giving them good cause for optimism at the Copa America and in their ongoing campaign to qualify for Germany 2006. If they achieve their goal, it will end over two decades of abstinence from the FIFA World Cup feast, in which they last played back in 1982." NOTE: Peru is ranked 7th out of the 10 teams at Copa America. NOTED: Roberto Palacios, Santiago Acasiete, Jorge Soto, Nolberto Solano, Claudio Pizarro. Peru possesses "almost an embarrassment of attacking riches. It is at the back, however, that real room for improvement exists."

AMendoza Leaves Bruges: Reuters reports that Andres Mendoza "has freed himself from the final year of his contract with Belgian Cup winners Club Bruges." NOTE: "Mendoza, capped 41 times for Peru, informed the club by letter he was leaving, citing a 1978 Belgian labour law. ... A left-footed forward acquired from Sporting Cristal Lima in 1999, Mendoza played 129 games for Club Bruges scoring 54 goals."

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Tuesday, June 29, 2004

Vladi Guilty: The Associated Press, the BBC, Bloomberg, and Xinhua Net report that Vladimiro Montesinos has been sentenced to 15 years in jail for embezzlement, conspiracy and corruption. ... He is already serving a nine-year sentence and faces a series of trials." This is his fifth guilty verdict. According to Bloomberg, "Judge Maria Zavala ruled that Montesinos was guilty of corruption, bribery and illegal criminal association. Montesinos's sentence includes a 50 million-soles ($14.4 million) in civil reparations. Xinhua reminds that "Montesinos [still] faces charges of masterminding the 1999 delivery of 10,000 assault rifles to the FARC. Prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence in that trial, which opened in January." ALSO: Television owners Samuel and Mendel Winter were also sentenced to two years in prison." NOTE: "Prison terms aren't cumulative in Peru so Montesinos, jailed since June of 2001, would only have to serve the longest 15-year jail term. Agence France Press offers an archived photograph of a beleaguered Montesinos.

Too Many Tourists in Machu Picchu: The Associated Press and the CBC report that "United Nation's monument evaluators recommended that the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization to place Machu Picchu on its endangered list during a meeting this week in Suzhou, China, to evaluate world heritage sites." The recommendation by the International Council on Monuments and Sites, confirmed Monday by Peru's National Institute of Culture, declared that "heavy tourism and nearby sprawl have endangered the 'Lost City of the Incas'." NOTE: During an October visit to Peru, UNESCO's heritage chief Francesco Bandarin had issued a warning. The Associated Press also offers an archived photo of the site. SEE ALSO: 'Machu Picchu Endangered?' in June 22's Peruvia.

Too Much Snow in Cuzco: Reuters reports that "the first snow in about 20 years in Cuzco has left thousands of tourists stranded as road, rail and air routes were closed by the bad weather." The Cuzco airport has been closed since Sunday and "more snow was expected at high altitudes in the next three days," according to the National Meteorological Service (SENAMHI).

Camisea Spigot Turned On, cont.: BNAmericas reports that Peru will "stop importing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from August onwards as it taps into Camisea LPG production, paving the way toward exporting the fuel in the near future," according to Gustavo Navarro Valdivia (Ministry of Energy and Mines). SEE ALSO: 'Camisea Spigot Turned On' in June 18's Peruvia.

MINING NEWS:
- Reuters reports that South Korea's only copper producer, LG Nikko Copper Inc, "aims to sign an agreement by August 10 to jointly develop a mine in Peru and improve its supply of scarce raw materials," according to Gook-ho Lee, executive vice-president at LG Nikko Copper. NOTE: This a joint effort with Canadian miner Chariot Resources Ltd. ALSO: Chariot was in "the final stages of acquiring the project from subsidiaries of Rio Tinto and Shougang Hierro Peru."

- Pan American Silver announced in a press release that they have "finalized the sale of gold properties and mineral rights near its mine in Peru to a unit of Barrick Gold Corp." for nearly US$3.7 million." NOTE: "The package includes lands surplus to the needs of the Quiruvilca mine and does not effect the mine's operation."

War On Shining Path Should Be A Model: The United Press International suggests that "a war against terrorism can be won if a government is sufficiently committed" as Peru was against the Shining Path. The article profiles Rosa Calderon Lara, alias "Comrade Gaviota" (Seagull) who "was working as a teacher at a school in the densely populated Ate Vitarte district" and was "a member of the assassination unit of the Shining Path's regional metropolitan committee." NOTE: "More than 69,000 people would be killed before the government's harsh tactics prevailed over the Maoist guerrillas."
Separately, an opinion piece in the Scotsman by Fraser Nelson reviews the ideas and techniques that Hernando de Soto "used to save Peru from insurgency and civil war." NOTE: "This is the bottom-up approach that saw support for Shining Path, the Peruvian terrorists, evaporate. This is what is needed in Iraq - where market traders thrive using Arab rules for Arab customs."

Missionaries in Abancay: Nebraska's Omaha World-Herald interviews Allen George, a Protestant medical missionary in Abancay who partners with several denominations includeing the Assemblies of God, Presbyterian, Pentecostal, Baptist and Evangelical Church of Peru. NOTE: "The favorite Peruvian dish is guinea pig. Although a guinea pig is worth a day's wages, my patients will cook one up for me because I'm a special guest."

Cusqueña is Introduced: The Huddersfield Daily Examiner reports on the "selling Peruvian beer made from Andes mountain water" in Huddersfield, Queensgate in the United Kingdom. Interpretation: Two young entreprenuers have introduced Cusqueña to the local bars and clubs after discovering it "during a holiday in South America" and are now "targeting venues in Leeds and Manchester as part of a campaign which could eventually covering the UK." NOTE: "The premium lager ... is the leading brand in South America."

Locating Vehicles in Peru: Datumcom and its Peruvian affiliate COMSATEL PERU, announced in a press release that they have "successfully deployed two of the largest Automatic Vehicle Location Systems in Peru." This will allow commercial trucks "to receive load assignments and send real-time location status updates."

Peru vs. Argentina Tomorrow: The New York Daily News and the New York Times (second to last item) report that "grass was installed over the Fieldturf surface yesterday at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., for tomorrow night's exhibition [match]." Many football games in the USA are not played on natural grass.

Copa America in the USA: USA television broadcaster Univision announced in a press release that their Univision and TeleFutura networks "will air the 41st edition of the world's longest running national teams soccer tournament "Copa America" live from Peru. The competition's 26 matches can be seen July 6-25 with host Fernando Fiore and play-by-play commentary by sportscasters Pablo Ramirez and Ricardo Mayorga." ALSO: The final match on Sunday, July 25, which will air exclusively on the Univision Network live at 3:30pm EST. NOTE: "The winner of this top-rated tournament represents CONMEBOL in the FIFA Confederations Cup in Germany next June 2005." The press release also offers a complete schedule of the games.

Orchid Thieves, cont.: Texas' Courier reports that George Norris, the owner of owner and operator of Spring Orchid Specialties, "pleaded guilty in Miami federal District Court June 18 to conspiracy to smuggle endangered orchid species into the United States. He and co-defendant Manuel Arias Silva were found to have made several shipments of orchids between January 1999 and October 2003. According to the indictment and statements in court, among these typical orchid shipments were hidden a species of protected Peruvian orchid known as Phragmipedium, commonly called Tropical Lady's Slipper." SEE ALSO: 'Orchid Thief: Guilty' in June 6's Peruvia.

Peruvians in Florida: The Los Angeles Times focuses on Florida's "Spanish-speaking heritage of the state [which] now reflects all of Latin America, not just Cuba. From politics to parks, the shift is profound." According to Fernando Larrea is "a Peruvian who moved to Florida 15 years ago and manages an Argentine-style restaurant in the Orlando suburb of Casselberry who states, "We leave the country, but we do not close the door."

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Monday, June 28, 2004

UPDATED: CGTP, AGarcía, and a Scottish Ship Bound for Iquitos

CGTP Gets Int'l Support: The Union Network International announced in a press release a letter "protest[ing] to Peruvian president Toledo over [the] worsening socio-political, economic and trade union situation," in Peru. (See the .pdf version of the letter here.) NOTE: "We have been informed by the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions (ICFTU), also a member of Global Unions, that its affiliate, the Central Unitaria de Trabajadores (CUT), and the Confederación General de Trabajadores del Perú (CGTP) have decided to call a "National Civic and Popular Strike" for 24 hours on 14 July 2004 as a result of the serious socio-political and economic crisis and the many ongoing trade union disputes in the country. This national strike enjoys the unanimous support of the country's trade union organisations, so we are offering our solidarity to the workers and people of Peru and our support for their legitimate demands."

Telefonica Gets AGarcía Support: According to New Ratings, "analysts mention that Alan García, is supporting Telefonica's stand on extending the concession license. The Peruvian Congress recently requested the government to not extend Telefonica’s concession license beyond 2019, according to Ibersecurities." SEE ALSO: 'Peru to Telefonica: No Deal' in June 10's Peruvia.

Asparagus Wars, cont.: The Seattle Times follows up on yesterday's long, investigative piece on the asparagus industry in Ica. Though today's story is datelined from Washington State, Peru gets in early. Local sellers can't sell to Del Monte because the company has "contracted with a cannery in Peru, where asparagus is grown yearround, an acre yields three times as many spears and workers earn a tenth of what" Washingtonians do. Though the article tries to suggest there is not a one-to-one correlation, it includes comparisons like this one: "Since 1991, when a trade agreement opened U.S. markets to Peru's farm exports, more than half of Washington's asparagus fields have been plowed under." Jose "Pepe" Chlimper Ackerman (Agrokasa) and his visit to Seattle is promiently included. "This dynamo is Peru's newest grower — and its largest exporter of fresh asparagus. His farm, Agrokasa, now raises more asparagus than Washington state's entire fresh crop last year." But it turns out "asparagus isn't why Chlimper is here. He has come to make a deal on grapes." (See Also: 'Peru-China Trade Evolution' in June 26's Peruvia.) Chlimper believes that the Washington State asparagus farmers were too focused on canning asparagus rather than selling fresh asparagus. Carlos Ynca and his daughter, Kelly are photographed "in their one-room adobe hut in San Jose, Peru." He is a crew supervisor with CampoSol, one of Peru's largest asparagus growers and is "pleased his employer recently built a latrine at his daughter's school. Before, the children relieved themselves in the schoolyard."

MINING NEWS:
-: The Financial Times runs a column on Latin America and reports that "new government proposals that could have an important bearing" including the Peruvian Congress which "is being asked to reconsider recently approved royalties on sales of copper and other minerals following the withdrawal of bids by six companies for the Las Bambas copper deposit in Apurimac department.
- Gold Hawk Reources announced in a press release that they have "commenced diamond drilling at its Machacala gold-silver property."
- Inca Pacific Resources announced in a press release that it "has negotiated a non-brokered private placement of 16,000,000 units at a price of $0.125 per unit. ... Proceeds from the private placement totaling $2,000,000 will be used for working capital purposes and to fund further exploration on the Company's Magistral and Antoro Sur Properties in Peru."

Peruvian Film Honoured in Spain: Variety (see free version here) reports that the film "El destino no tiene favoritos," by Peruvian director Alvaro Velarde "took the audience award at the 1st Madrid-Mostoles International Comedy Film Festival. " NOTE: "An ensemble comedy, "Destino" is set in the grounds of a mansion whose owners rent its garden for a telenovela shoot."

Destabilization Redux: Newsweek's Latin American edition runs a cover story which suggests that the continent is heading for "Another Lost Decade," even as the region grows 4% this year, "only this time, the inevitable popular revolt is targeting democracies." The article includes Ilave only in comparison to Bolivia ("a similar killing took place in Peru the month before.") Guillermo Perry (World Bank's chief Latin American economist) says, "I am not surprised that there is this feeling after five years of very bad growth. It's no surprise that social tensions have increased, that the conflict with globalization has increased." Mark Weisbrot (Center for Economic and Policy Research) says, "This is the biggest slowdown in Latin America in the last 100 years," and is quoted as "one of many analysts who now warn that Latin America is heading for another 'lost decade'." The UNDP report on 'Democracy in Latin America' is also quoted: "53% of Latin Americans said they would prefer an 'autocratic' government if it improved the economy." NOTE: Newsweek states that "most Latin American nations now harbor only a parody of the private sector as a wisely regulated space in which business can flourish and compete."

Scottish Ship Bound for Iquitos: Scotland's Northwest Evening Mail reports on yard workers at Barrow shipyard that "are to refit a mercy boat bound for the Amazon." NOTE: "The former Royal Navy diving tender Ixworth ... will be converted into a floating clinic with doctors’ and dental surgeries ... [and] will be renamed and sail for the Amazon basin in Peru, where volunteer medical staff will help rainforest villagers and poor people from the remote city of Iquitos."

Peru vs. Argentina: Tickets are still available for the friendly match on Wednesday, June 30 at Giants Stadium near New York City.

Preaching in the Callejon: The website OpinionEditorials runs a piece by Gregory Rummo who writes about travelling with his son from New York City to the Callejon de Huaylas where they will "embark on a week-long trek through the Cordillera Negra with 28 other Americans, three Quechua evangelists, our guides and their burros and over ten thousand copies of various portions of the Bible ... [and showing the] DVD version of “The Jesus Film” in Dolby Surround Sound on a large, portable screen. It’s all run from a small, gas-powered generator. This always draws a crowd of several hundred curious Quechua families, most of whom have never seen a movie in their lives."

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Sunday, June 27, 2004

Mayor Lynched, cont.: It's the Miami Herald's (registration: peruvia@peruvia.com/peruvia) turn to report from Ilave. Instead of detecting a continent wide rift (like last Thursday's NYTimes), reporters Tyler Bridges and Carla D'nan Bass see indigenous groups in Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia "experiencing a political awakening that could have profound repercussions for each country's democracy." (Ms. Bass is the Herald's stringer in Quito) NOTE: "Lost in the headlines of that brutal act in Ilave was the rare Aymara protest, the latest sign of the growing activism by the large indigenous populations in the Andean nations of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia." ALSO: "It was Aymaras and Quechuas in Bolivia who fueled the popular revolt last year that forced the resignation of pro-U.S. President Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada" and "indigenous groups in Ecuador helped overthrow President Jamil Mahuad in 2000 and elect one of the revolt's leaders, former army Col. Lucio Gutiérrez, as president in 2002." Common Factor: "In each of the three nations, Indians tend to be overwhelmingly poor, underrepresented in the legislatures and opponents of U.S. and Wall Street-backed free-market policies." CITED: Juan Ignacio Siles del Valle (Bolivian Foreign Minister), Ricardo Calla Ortega (Bolivian Minister of Indian Affairs), Eduardo Gamarra (Florida International University), Alvaro García Linera (Bolivian sociologist), Kintto Lucas (Ecuadorean author and editor of Tintaji). BACKGROUND: See April 27's Peruvia for how the foreign press began to report on Ilave. Of the major USA dailies, the Los Angeles Times was the first to report from Ilave (see May 24's Peruvia) and the New York Times followed up a full month later (see June 24's Peruvia). While the Miami Herald was the first to report on the April 24 incident, today's article is the first time they had their reporters on the scene.

Truth Commission in Photos: The New York Times (registration: peruvia/peruvia) reviews Yuyanapaq, the photo exhibit at Casa Riva Agüero (Malecón Grau 477, Chorrillos), where there are "raw photographs intended to recall the horrors of a 20-year terror war." NOTE: "What began as a temporary photo exhibit - commissioned by the government's Truth Commission has become a critically acclaimed and popular museum. Its future financing is uncertain, but the museum has fulfilled the hopes of its creators by becoming a testament to 70,000 Peruvians who perished in the country's long [civil] conflict." CITED: Pedro Meyer (photographer from Mexico), Salomón Lerner (La Catolica University and Truth Commission president), Mayu Mohanna (chief curator), Nancy Chappell (curator). ALSO: "The exhibition has traveled to Germany and to New York. In June, it will be seen in Barcelona." These are the three photographs that the newspaper offered: one, two, and three. SEE ALSO: The Truth Commission's web site has a review of the exhibit. IN SPANISH: See El Comercio's coverage of the exhibit from November 2003.

Peruvians Abusing Peruvians, cont.: The New York Times finally takes note of the nearly 70 Peruvians who were held in semi-slavery in Long Island not in their news pages but rather in a local edition's opinion section. "As long as the demand for cheap labor remains limitless, Long Island's pull will be strong. So will the dangers to immigrants who respond. Last week federal officials raided homes in Amityville, Brentwood and Coram that they said had housed nearly 70 people who were smuggled here from Peru, then held in squalor and indentured servitude." SEE ALSO: 'Peruvian Abusing Peruvians' in June 23's Peruvia.

Asparagus Wars, cont.: The Seattle Times begins a series on globalization and its effects on their local economy. The series is introduced with an opinion column by their executive editor titled: 'Asparagus first course on global-economy menu.' Following a melodramatic introduction, ("The globalization of the economy is having dramatic consequences. Nowhere is the impact greater than in Washington, the most trade-dependent state in America."), it notes the problem: Washington State has had "nearly 17,000 acres of asparagus fields, 60%, have been plowed under since 1991, when the U.S. signed a trade agreement that dropped tariffs on farm imports from Peru and other Andean countries." NOTE: Jacqui Banaszynski, is the editor "who is overseeing a Seattle Times special report on how globalization is fundamentally changing the economy here" in a series that begins with a story on "the shifting production of asparagus overseas." The first article of the series is from Chincha Alta, Ica and begins with Tomasa Magallanes "stuffing asparagus into cans ... for Del Monte, one of the largest U.S. vegetable packers, who moved its entire asparagus operation here last year." THESIS: "Pull back, and the global economy can be seen as more than a job-for-job tally of winners and losers." NOTE: "During the 1990s, as the U.S. economy soared, Peru's exports doubled. That poured billions of dollars into Peru's economy, helping provide schools and medical care for impoverished families." CITED: Charles Brown (Washington asparagus lobbyist); and First Lady Elaine Karp (whose remark two years ago in Seattle, 'By the way, we know how to make dehydrated potatoes in Peru as well' is taken as a threatening remark); Carlos Arrese (Agrokasa, Peru's largest exporter of fresh asparagus); Larry Fuell (former agricultural attaché to the U.S. Embassy in Lima); Miguel Nicolini (Sociedad Agricola Viru); Jorge Fernandini (Peruvian Institute for Asparagus and Vegetables); and Agro Industrias Backus. ALSO: "How asparagus shifted to Peru is a quirky tale, but typical of the way trade agreements can suddenly shift an industry offshore." NOTE: "Chavimochic, a $1 billion, 110-mile concrete canal that carries glacial water from the Andes to irrigate a vast coastal desert." The article is accompanied by several photographs including picking asparagus at Agricola Viru and at Agrokasa; the asparagus processing plant at Agricola Viru; the Backus Asparagus factory; Tomasa Magallanes and her family; and the new town of San Jose, Ica. Irene Keliher and Meylin Zink Yi are credited as "Spanish interpreters in Peru."

JSilva Ruete – ‘Better Days Ahead’: Reuters interviews Central Bank president Javier Silva Ruete at the annual meeting of Central Bankers in Basel. "Peru's economy should grow by nearer to 5% than an official 4% target this year, while inflation should stay within its 1.5% to 3.5% fluctuation band," said Silva Ruete. ALSO: "Peru is about to start pumping its own natural gas, [and it will have the] impact of better road transport links with Brazil should boost Latin America's seventh-biggest economy." NOTE: Silva Ruete said "There is great fear about higher [U.S.] interest rates." Silva Ruete was also quoted in a separate Reuters story declaring, "World economic health is much better."

LHorna Reviewed: The New York Times Magazine runs a profile on professional tennis scout Brad Gilbert, "one of the most active 'scouters' in tennis." Says the reporter, "In Houston, I sat with [Gilbert] as he scouted the match between Todd Martin, an American, and Luis Horna, a Peruvian. 'I've seen Todd play plenty, I've played against him, but I've never seen Horna,' Gilbert told me. After watching a few games, Gilbert was impressed. 'Andy told me that he thought Todd would pull the match out, but I don't know,' he said. 'Horna's got a good return, and that's important against Andy. And for a little guy, Horna can pop a serve.'"

SBaca in Concert, cont.: The Independent reviews Susana Baca's concert (wth Yusa and Lila Downs) at London's Royal Festival Hall. Baca's band "was deftly accomplished, but its volume was held in check to allow her to set up sweet confidentiality with the audience. With the aid of her Instituto Negrocontinuo, she campaigns tirelessly on behalf of the music she grew up singing, to her father's accompaniment, in her Peruvian village." SEE ALSO: 'SBaca in Concert' at the end of June 20's Peruvia.

Californians Travel to Peru:
- The Los Angeles Times runs a travel piece on "a weeklong digital photography workshop in which participants work with local children" in Ollantaytambo.
- The San Jose Mercury News runs a (very) short travel piece on the Cordillera Azul National Park.
- The Sacramento Bee notes a local trip that will go to Pisco, Pachacamac, Islas Ballestas, Arequipa Monastery, Chivay and Machu Picchu.

Farfán Joins PSV, cont.: The Miami Herald misses the scoop and reports that "Alianza Lima forward Jefferson Farfán, 19, might be headed to Dutch club PSV Eindhoven. He had talks with English club Chelsea and was recently named to Peru's Copa America squad." DETAILS: See yesterday's Peruvia for the details of PSV picking up Farfán.

Medical Team to Las Brisas, Lima: Florida's Jupiter Courier reports on a local medical group that "traveled to Las Brisas, a poverty-stricken neighborhood outside Lima to provide medical services to indigent residents there." NOTE: Dr. Jimmy McDowell said, "You know right away, it smells like a Third World country." ALSO: "Upon their arrival, they were put up at a hotel that was primitive, at best, McDowell said. 'A bed and shower, no hot water, just protection from the outside. And we never saw the sun shine once. Very colorless.' " The article comes accompanied by several photographs of the trip, including one of Dr. McDowell.

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