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Thursday, November 04, 2004

AToledo in Rio: Bloomberg and Xinhua News report on the Latin American presidential summit that has 13 heads of state meeting for a ‘Group of Rio’ two-day summit to discuss "a larger peacekeeping force in Haiti and wondering how relations between the United States and the region will develop under U.S. President George W. Bush's second term." According to Xinhua, "Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo congratulated Bush on his re-election and the people of the United States for their participation in the elections which were marked by transparency. Toledo hoped the bilateral relations will develop 'based on the strengthening of democracy, the unrestricted respect for human rights, the combat against poverty, the combat against terrorism, drug trafficking and corruption, as well as the promotion of free trade.' Bloomberg reports that the South American countries "plan to create a group to discuss joint policy and strengthen ties as they prepare for talks on a free-trade agreement linking the continent with North America." Their next meeting will be December 7-9 in Cuzco, Peru to form the group, according to President Toledo. The Associated Press has a photo of Toledo with Mexican President Vicente Fox and another photo of First Lady Eliane Karp with her Mexican counterpart Marta Sahagun. Reuters has a photograph of the four together at a hotel on Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro.

AGuzmán in Prison: The Associated Press’ Monte Hayes updates the upcoming civilian retrial of "rebel leader" Abimael Guzmán and reports that "experts … are concerned about the state's lack of preparation … and warn it could lay the legal basis for hundreds of high-level guerrillas eventually being freed." NOTE: "His first of several trials begins Friday, on a charge of having used a university-prep institute to help finance his insurgency." CITED: Marcos Ibazeta Marino (a former anti-terrorism judge who "said it was a mistake that his first civilian trial be for a nonviolent crime."); retired Col. Benedicto Jimenez Bacca (who directed the anti-terrorism police unit that captured Guzmán who warned: "Guzmán is alive and kicking, more than ever.") Jimenez and Ibazeta spoke directly with foreign correspondents in Lima. Reuters offers a 1992 photo of Guzmán in pinstripes; a 1993 photograph when Guzmán was transferred to a cage; and a 2003 file photograph. The Associated Press offers a softer photo from last year; a 2004 photograph of Guzmán and cellmate/aide/lover Elena Iparraguirre at the Naval Base in Callao; and a separate Associated Press photo has Guzmán and Iparraguirre with Angelica Salas, Osman Morote, Martha Huatay, and Maria Pantoja, all leaders of Peru's Shining Path insurgency. See Also: ‘AGuzmán Strike Over’ in June 7’s Peruvia.

AFujimori in Exile: Xinhua News reports that ex-President Alberto Fujimori will "return to Peru prior to the general elections in 2006," according to an interview with former Agriculture Minister Absalon Vasquez Villanueva who said, "Without question Fujimori will be a candidate in the coming elections and will be back in Peru any time now." NOTE: Vasquez, founder of the political organization Cambio 1990, is one of Fujimori's followers who supported him to be elected as president in 1990.

Peru/Ecuador Connect: BNAmericas reports that "feasibility studies are underway to develop the Piura-Guayaquil highway that will link Peru and Ecuador," declared Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel Rodríguez. NOTE: "The 309km, US$40mn highway project is a key part of the US$3bn bi-national plan that aims to develop a number of different sectors in the frontier region of the two countries including highways, water, agriculture and energy. The European Union (EU) will provide highway financing." (See last item here.) ALSO: There will also be a new international bridge near the Ecuadorian city of Huaquillas, the reconstruction of bridges between Tumbes and Piura, "and the development of a new border installation to avoid bureaucracy during border crossings." In Spanish: See official document on Eje Vial N° 1.

Pasco Threatens: Gestion is reporting that Víctor Raúl Espinoza Soto, president of the Pasco region, "has warned that if the mining royalty bill is not approved and regulated within the next few days, his government will on 18 November 2004 organize a march to the Government's Palace to protest the delay and has not ruled out plans to call for a regional strike." NOTE: "Mr. Espinoza has also said that the 28 mayors in the region, social organizations and the presidents of the regions of Moquegua, Cristala Constantinide; and Huancavelica, Salvador Crisanto Espinoza Huarocc, will join the protests."

Cusqueña in the UK: The Manchester Evening News reports that Keiron Barton, of the Manchester-based Chilli Marketing who helped bring Cusqueña lager to the local northwest bar scene, "will be passing on tips for successful international trading at the Business Enterprise Xchange." See Also: Barton’s efforts were noted in ‘Cusqueña is Introduced’ in June 29’s Peruvia.

Macro Econ: Reuters reports that Peru's October tax revenues "rose 7.3% to 1.93 billion soles ($581 million) in inflation-adjusted terms compared with the same period last year, lower than the 2.05 billion soles generated in September," according to SUNAT. NOTE: "A 5.4% rise in sales tax collection and a 15.4% jump in income tax revenues helped boost collection in October, compared with the same month last year."

Micro Econ: Transportation Logistics International announced in a press release that its Advanced Medical Diagnostics "has received a commitment for 1 million HIV (1+2) Rapid Test Kits from their Peruvian distributor, Advance Products S.A.C. [which] is committed to order the one million HIV (1+2) Rapid Test Kits from AMD over the next 12 months." NOTE: "Michael Gilbert, AMD's President made this statement: "If a small country like Peru can utilize one million kits in a year, the worldwide potential is incalculable. We expect this $4.5 million order to be just the beginning of major sales for AMD."

MINING:

TRAVEL:

PEOPLE:


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Tuesday, November 02, 2004

UPDATE LATER TODAY: Orchid Thief, Deported Nun, and Bobby Fisher's Peruvian Friend

Travel To Peru: The Washington Post online-travel discussion has this: Rockville, Md.: "Crew -- just a word of thanks. For months you have been praising the virtues of travel to Peru, and your articles and answers to my on-line questions persuaded me to go. We got back a week ago, and Peru turned out to be a tremendous experience. My wife and I have traveled throughout the world, and we both agreed that our trip to Peru was one of the best we have ever taken. Thanks again for your informative guidance." John Deiner: "Our pleasure, Rock. Glad you enjoyed your time there."

LHorna Loses: Reuters reports that Luis Horna lost in the first round of the Paris Masters Series ATP tournament to Cyril Saulnier (France) 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-0).

Pan American Silver Up: Mineweb and Reuters report that Pan American Silver Corp. "swung back into profit in the third quarter, results showed on Monday, as the Canadian-based miner benefited from record quarterly output and strong metal prices."

How Odd to Die in Peru: The Independent has an appreciation piece on John Peel who died last week in Peru and includes this: "Peru seemed an oddly exotic location for such an exceptionally ordinary man to meet his end."


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Monday, November 01, 2004

UPDATED

Disco Inferno in Juliaca: The Associated Press (and included as the last item in this Miami Herald piece) reports that in Juliaca, "a mob looted and burned five nightclubs in a southern mountain town after the death of a man who fought with a club guard," according to police. NOTE: "About 200 officers, including reinforcements from the nearby city of Puno, attempted to restore order by firing tear gas at the rioters, but their efforts to break up the crowd were unsuccessful." ALSO: "Less than a month ago, nearly 1,000 villagers in a nearby town killed an accused thief by dousing him with gasoline and setting him ablaze. Alejandro Noalca Mamani, 54, was caught stealing a propane gas tank used for home cooking in Azangaro, about 37 miles north of Juliaca." See Also: Reuters and La Republica on Noalca's death.

Mulanovich Profiled: The Miami Herald's Tyler Bridges reports from Punta Hermosa with a profile of Sofia Mulanovich, the "20-year-old Peruvian is on course to become the first female world champion surfer from Latin America." CITED: Rabbit Bartholomew (president of the Association of Surf Professionals); Felipe Pomar (1965 World Champion); Carlos Meza (coach of the Peruvian national team); Juan Jose Schiaffino (Quiksilver/Roxy's sales representative in Peru); Fernando Aguerre (co-owner of Reef footwear and surfing apparel and a Mulanovich sponsor); and the place where Mulanovich learned how to surf called Cerro Azul, "which was immortalized in a Beach Boys song, Surfin' Safari." The article also offers the obligatory historical note about Carlos Dogny, the 1930's playboy jet-setter who brought surfing to Peru and was a founder of Club Waikiki where Mulanovich's father and grandfather were members. "This year, Mulanovich won three consecutive tour tournaments, in France, Tahiti and Fiji, before losing in the quarterfinals in the last tournament, at Malibu Beach. She remains the points leader on the tour. ... With two tournaments remaining, Mulanovich has a healthy lead in the points race. Mulanovich said, ''I'm stoked. I've been preparing myself my whole life for this moment'.'' See Also: 'SMulanovich Advances to QFinals' in October 3's Peruvia.

Ex-Nun Denied Green Card: The Seattle Times profiles Rubi Dobrenz, a Peruvian national, whose husband committed suicide four years ago which “has left her in a kind of immigration black hole — and in a small fraternity of foreign nationals whose claim to permanent residency in the U.S. died when their U.S.-born spouses did.” NOTE: “Had the Dobrenzes been married at least two years at the time he died, she would have been eligible to self-petition for a green card.” ALSO: “It's been said that in this country when it comes to immigration, if you follow the rules you will be given a chance,” said Brent Renison, an immigration attorney in Portland. CITED: Rubi Dobrenz's Seattle attorney, Bart Stroupe. “What makes Dobrenz's case even more compelling is that she's a former nun who spent 20 years — nearly half her life — in a cloistered convent run by the Carmelite Order. … She came to the U.S. in 1997 on a visa the government grants religious workers.”

ALSO TODAY: The Miami Herald editorializes on the danger of losing the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights.

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Sunday, October 31, 2004

Sánchez Is New Mining Minister: Reuters reports that President Alejandro Toledo made Pasco Congressman Glodomiro Sánchez Mejía his new Minister of Energy and Mines replacing Jaime Quijandria who will take on a two-year post on the board at the World Bank. (See 'Quijandria To Leave Cabinet' in Sept. 28's Peruvia.) NOTE: "Sanchez, 52, is an experienced mining and energy expert who has promoted more than 50 laws on environmental and mining issues. He also worked on developing Peru's $1.6 billion gas Camisea project, which began pumping in August." CITED: Jose Miguel Morales, president of the National Society of Mining, Petroleum and Energy, which represents mining companies operating in Peru, called Sanchez "a magnificent choice." ALSO: Sanchez' first challenge will be averting a strike set for Wednesday at Southern Peru Copper Corp. SEE ALSO: Sánchez Mejía's curriculum vitae.

Strike at Southern? Reuters reports that Southern Peru Copper Corp. "offered to go to arbitration to resolve the case of a fired worker who unions demand be reinstated, hoping to avert a strike at Peru's top copper producer on Nov. 3," according to Alberto Giles, director of human resources at Southern Peru. NOTE: "The company had also offered to pay workers a one-time, 3,600 soles ($1,084) bonus to avoid the strike."

ReTrying AGuzman: Reuters reports that Shining Path leader Abimael Guzman faces "a retrial 12 years after his conviction as the mastermind of a bloody rebel war [and] remains unrepentant and has shown no signs he expects to be freed in the case to begin next week." The new, civilian, trial, which begins Friday, "was made necessary by the repeal of draconian anti-terror laws under which Guzman was convicted by a hooded military tribunal operating in secret." NOTE: "It will also put 17 other top Shining Path leaders in the dock, including Guzman's longtime lover, Elena Iparraguirre, and Oscar Ramirez, dubbed Feliciano." ALSO: "A few hundred rebel die-hards remain at large and Washington still considers Shining Path a terror group. Rebels have killed several soldiers on patrol in the Andes this year and are believed to be taxing drug trafficking and illegal logging. They killed 10 in a car bomb in Lima in 2002 and briefly kidnapped 71 gas pipeline workers last year." CITED: Nelson Manrique, a consultant to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and who took part in 15 interviews with Guzman, says that "he recognizes there were excesses, but he does not repent; he sees the dead as a necessary cost." The article finishes abruptly with "Ruben Corrilla, 42, who was forced to flee his Andean village of Canchocerca after refusing to join Shining Path and being put on a rebel blacklist."

New JDFlórez Reviewed: The Guardian's Anthony Holden proffers a brief review of Juan Diego Flórez' new album, 'Great Tenor Arias' with the Orchestra Sinfonica di Milano. "After two mainstream bel canto discs, the Peruvian tenor Juan Diego Flórez braves pastures new with French and Italian repertoire from Gluck to Puccini. Such standards as 'La donna e mobile' and 'Che faro senza Euridice' mingle with less familiar items from Halevy's La Juive and Cimarosa's Il Matrimonio Segreto, plus rareties from Donizetti's Figlia del Reggimento and Lucrezia Borgia. All are thrillingly sung."

Tragedy in Apurímac: The Los Angeles Times has a wire piece (likely from the Associated Press) about a passenger bus that "plunged more than 650 feet off an isolated mountain highway in the Andes, killing at least 28 people and injuring 28 others" late Friday near the town of Chuquibambilla. Cited: Dr. Jose Altamirano Rojas and Radioprogramas radio. NOTE: The article adds that "Authorities said no foreign tourists were on the vehicle." The Washington Post has a shorter summary. Reuters reports that "at least 23 people were killed and 27 injured when a bus hurtled into a deep gorge ... The bus was carrying local farmers and traders along a winding, potholed road."

The Miami Herald includes this on books: "Peruvian bad-boy novelist Jaime Bayly, a fair favorite, returns with his new novel, El huracán lleva tu nombre (The Hurricane Carries Your Name, Planeta), at 11 a.m. Nov. 14 in Room 3208-09."

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