Saturday, August 14, 2004
Polls & Polls: The Miami Herald (second item) uses the Latinobarometro to report that "President Alejandro Toledo, mired in social and political crisis, is Latin America's least popular leader." The headline is even more caustic: "Poll: Toledo's Public Approval Grimly Low" and notes that he has "the support of only 8% of Peruvians polled, two percentage points less than last year." The Herald provides no context for the annual poll. Today's El Comercio also has a front page story on a new University of Lima poll which shows that Toledo's popularity doubled in the last month to 15.2%. SEE ALSO: For more information on the Latinobarometro, see 'Latin Democracy is Deeper' in August 12's Peruvia.
War of the Pacific, cont.: Xinhua News reports that "Chilean President Ricardo Lagos ruled out the possibility Saturday to discuss the sea-territorial demarcation dispute with Peru, saying the matter was already solved," in an interview with local radio station Radio Bio Bio. ALSO: Lagos said the country "knows that when it is necessary to talk hard, I do it; when steps have to be taken, I do so," and noted that "he had discussed with Peruvian President Alejandro Toledo about the issue."
Japan Wants More Fujimori Info: Radio Australia reports that the Japanese Ambassador in Peru, Yubun Yarita, "denies that Tokyo is delaying Lima's request to extradite former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori." He says "the request will be studied very seriously and he has asked for more information on the matter." Ronald Gamarra, the anti-corruption state prosecutor has said the request for more information "is a mockery and an attempt to delay Fujimori's prosecution." SEE ALSO: 'Japan Returns Fujimori Identity' in August 7's Peruvia.
Tragedy Near Cuzco, cont.: The Washington State Columbian has some original reporting on the bus accident near Cuzco and reports that four Vancouver residents vacationing in Peru were injured, including Yony Russell, her two teenage sons, Alex and Brandon; and the boys' friend, Mark Lisowski. "Russell is a native of Peru and her family often vacations there." ALSO: "Russell and Brandon, 13, are being treated at a Cuzco hospital for serious injuries. ... Alex also tended to his mother, who was transported to a hospital in the luggage compartment of another bus."
Trans Amazon Highway, cont.: China's People's Daily updates the story on the bridge that Toledo, Lula and Mesa inaugurated between Assis do Brasil and Inapari, Peru. NOTE: "The construction of a South American nation begins with the physical integration of the towns," Lula said at the ceremony. He called the border meeting as "historical unity" among the three South American nations.
Olympics: Xinhua Net notes Peruvian Marisol Espineira lost 2-4 in table tennis to Miao Miao in the women's singles second round. The Agence France Press reports that Espineira won the first two sets. Australia's The Age (where Miao is now a citizen) had the full score: 8-11 9-11 11-5 11-4 11-6 11-6. The Agence France Press reports that Peru's Lorena Blanco was defeated by five points in badminton to fifth seed Wang Chen from Hong Kong, a quarter-finalist at the world championships last year. Reuters shows a photograph of the Peruvian in the men's single sculls but doesn't name the athlete. The Manila Times notes Peruvian medalist Francisco Boza was among the top ten in the shooting competition. In an opinion column in Canadian Content about Latin American participation in the Olympics, Lauren Schmale singles out "Peruvian shooter and ’84 silver medalist Francisco Boza [who] will go for another Olympic medal, and his young teammate, Lorena Blanco, [who] hopes to do well in the badminton competition. " (Schmale is affiliated with COHA and the piece is also posted on their web site as a press release.)
MVLl in Scotland: The Scotsman reports that Mario Vargas Llosa opened the Edinburgh International Book Festival.
Peruvian Mourns After Hurricane: Knight Ridder runs a story on Hurricane Charley in Florida and notes that "Gov. Jeb Bush toured Punta Gorda's battered commercial strip around noon, offer[ing] sympathy in Spanish to a Peruvian restaurateur."
C. Iwao Uyeda Dies: The Nichi Bei Times offers an obituary of Clifford Iwao Uyeda who “is remembered by former Japanese Latin American internees for his steadfast support of our educational and redress efforts,” according to Grace Shimizu of El Cerrito, director of the Japanese Peruvian Oral History Project and a leading advocate for Japanese Latin American redress.
Alianza v. U: Soccer America notes that Alianza Lima plays Universitario at 3:30pm on Gol TV.
San Isidro and L-by-the Sea are Sisters: Florida's Sun-Sentinel reports that Lauderdale-by-the-Sea is now a sister-city with San Isidro, as part of the Sister Cities International program. Assistant Town Manager Laura Ward said, "We're excited. We're looking forward to a long-term relationship with this beautiful community." NOTE: "After partnering with San Isidro, Most said the association identified about 24 Peruvians living in Lauderdale-by-the-Sea." SEE ALSO: 'Cuzco and Madison are Sisters' in July 21's Peruvia.
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Friday, August 13, 2004
Tragedy Near Cuzco: The Belfast Telegraph (with a story from the Irish Independent) updates the Cuzco bus accident story with an interview of David O'Grady, "friend and fellow UCD student [of] David Scollard [who] was killed instantly after the bus they were travelling on missed a bridge and plunged to a river bed." NOTE: "There were no seat belts so everyone was hurled to the front." ALSO: "The bus was the best one we had been on. It looked structurally sound," O'Grady said. See Also: 'Tragedy Near Cuzco' in yesterday's Peruvia.
Telefonica Jobs: The Union Network International editorial states that "the dispute between Peru's Telecom Regulator and Telefonica Peru can only harm economic development and job prospects in the country and job security for telecom workers." See Also: 'Macro/Micro Economics' in yesterday's Peruvia.
Banking Regulations: Reuters reports that "a controversial bank tax is scaring clients away from Peru's biggest bank and could hurt the country's financial system in the long term," according to Raimundo Morales, Chief Operating Officer of Credicorp, Peru's largest financial holding. NOTE: "Credicorp, which owns leading bank Banco de Credito, said its income from banking services fell by 3% in the first half of this year from the second half of last year, despite expectations of growth. He expected the bank tax to take $2.5 million out of Credicorp's profits this year." ALSO: "Morales said he feared the tax was only creating a larger informal economy. Only half of Peru's eight million active individuals have a bank account, according to Credicorp. Conducting financial transactions through banks accounts for some 25%vof such operations in Peru's $60 billion economy, compared with 60 percent in Chile."
Coca Production Up: The Cato Institute offers an editorial on John Walters, the head of the USA's Office of National Drug Control Policy, recent declarations that "the $3.3 billion Plan Colombia, now in its fourth year, has failed to make a significant dent in the amount of cocaine flowing out of that country. Walters added hastily, however, that he expected to see substantial progress in the next year or so." NOTE: "Although the acreage devoted to coca cultivation may have declined in Colombia, the acreage in Peru and Bolivia had risen sharply. That reversed the trend of the mid- and late 1990s when U.S.-funded anti-drug measures led to a crackdown that reduced cultivation in Peru and Bolivia-only to see it explode in Colombia and spread to new locales such as Ecuador and Brazil." SEE ALSO: 'Coca Production Down/Up' in August 11's Peruvia.
Peru In the Olympics: The Washington Post has a television column on "a problem that faced [USA television network] NBC in covering the parade of nations [which] was finding enough time to introduce all 202 nations. ... NBC decided to have co-hosts Bob Costas and Katie Couric talk about 40 to 50 countries, and have the others introduced graphically."It would have been tidbit pingpong," Costas said of trying to comment on all 202 countries. "You take Pakistan, I'll take Peru." The Los Angeles Daily News offers this: "Katie Couric, who'll be again involved in the Opening Ceremony coverage, [will be] trying to make Peru sound like a country that has a chance." In the Dallas Morning News, Costas continues his Peru obsession declaring, ""Know this: Peru and Poland don't enter the stadium anywhere near each other."
Good Music: The San Bernardino Sun reviews musician Kevin Johansen's latest effort with his band, the Nada, "Sur o no Sur" with claims that his teenage Argentine band's record "even went gold in Peru." His latest single is #12 on this Peruvian list. UPDATE: Reader VR emails to say that Joahansen's earlier band was Instruccion Cívica and their Peruvian hit in the mid-1980s was 'Obediencia Debida'.
Mad Music?: Pitchfork reviews the new album by 'The Bruces' called 'The Shining Path,' "presumably named for the Peruvian communist movement, although he makes no mention of it."
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Thursday, August 12, 2004
Ambassador Ferrero to NYT: The New York Times publishes Ambassador Eduardo Ferrero Costas' response to the paper's article last week which left "an impression of uncertainty and political instability in Peru. In our opinion, this is not true. Although our country has challenges, President Alejandro Toledo and his government are managing our country through development and democratic stability." Ferrero notes that "on the day your article appeared, gas from the Camisea project reached Lima; this energy project will increase Peru's gross domestic product by 1 percent every year for the next 30 years." SEE ALSO: April 5's Peruvia also noted that reporter Juan Forero was reporting the story in from Caracas.
Trans Amazon Highway: The Miami Herald (last item), the Voice of America and Xinhua Net recount yesterday's border bridge inauguration with Toledo, Lula and Mesa and the Herald quotes Lula in Assis do Brasil saying, "the construction of a South American nation begins with the physical integration of the towns. We unite our hands in favor of integration and march together toward that goal." Xinhua includes several AFP photographs including one which included the Acre governor Jorge Viana. See 'Trans Amazon Highway' in yesterday's Peruvia.
New Canadian Ambassador: Canada's Foreign Affairs Office notes that Minister of Foreign Affairs Pierre Pettigrew has named Geneviève des Rivières to become the new Ambassador to the Republic of Peru, with concurrent accreditation to the Republic of Bolivia. She is currently the Minister-Counsellor for Commercial & Economic Affairs in Mexico. SEE ALSO: The August edition of the American and Canadian Association of Peru's newsletter has an interview with Ambassador Hugues R. Rousseau who just finished a three-year term in Lima.
Navy Learns Water Survival: The Pensacola News Journal reports on the crew of the USS Crommelin (FFG-37) which recently conducted port calls in Salaverry and Callao as part of UNITAS 45-04. "While in port, members of the crew participated in community relations projects ... with the goal to enable U.S. Sailors to act as goodwill ambassadors in the hemisphere." ALSO: Peruvian Naval Officers visited Norfolk, Jacksonville, and Pensacola "to study water survival equipment and training procedures. The Peruvian navy is planning to build their own water survival school based on what they have learned from the U.S. Navy schools." SEE ALSO: 'UNITAS Recaps' in August 5's Peruvia.
Tragedy Near Cuzco: Several updates report on yesterday's fatal bus accident near Urcos (going toward Cuzco) that involved a double-decker tour bus and killed at least seven passangers. The Associated Press TV offers a one-minute video report. (Warning: it includes graphic content.) According to the Associated Press, the accident happenned "around 4:30 a.m. at a bridge crossing the Cachimayo River." In addition to many Peruvians, the passengers were from Bolivia, Canada, Enland, France, Germany, Ireland, and Israel. Several sources note on the death of Irish citizen David Scollard; the Scotsman interviews the Scollard family priest in Ballybricken. London's Daily Standard includes a Reuters photo and adds a few details (or speculation?): The accident “happened when a minibus overtook the coach on a sharp bend. The smaller vehicle swerved to avoid an oncoming car, forcing the coach off the road." It also includes "the emergency numbers for worried relatives have both been changed. The Foreign Office should be contacted on 020 7008 1500 and Inghams on 020 8780 6600." A selection of other stories: the Associated Press from Canada; the BBC; Xinhua Press; the Irish Examiner; an update from Irelands RTE; Britain's Telegraph; and the UPI. None of the English language newspapers note that Bolivian citizen, Dora Encinas Gonzales, also died in the accident, among five other Peruvians. IN SPANISH: Cusco Noticias has a list of passenger names as well as other details. The bus, from the ‘Pony’ busline, was and was going from Juliaca to Cusco and crashed upon arriving at the Puente Cachimayo in the Quispicanchi province in a place known as Muñapata. The bus was not authorized to travel that route nor had it paid its SOAT taxes. SEE ALSO: 'Tragedy Near Cuzco' in yesterday's Peruvia.
Macro/Micro Economics:
- Dow Jones reports that "Peru's electricity production totaled 1,804.41 gigawatt-hours in July, a 4.28% increase compared with the same month a year earlier," according to the Ministry of Energy and Mines. NOTE: "The ministry said some smaller electricity producers increased production in July. The largest producer in July was state-owned Electroperu, which produced 512.29 gigawatt-hours, a decrease of 19.47% from the same month last year."
- BNAmericas reports that Epsel, Lambayeque's water utility, "plans to award a 30-year operator concession at the end of 2005 to obtain fresh capital to develop and improve water and sewerage services in the region," according Segundo Ramos Burga, the company's Board Chairman.
- AFX, Dow Jones and Reuters report that Telefonica del Peru "could slash its investment by up to 60% in the next four years because of a government cap on the price of its telephone services," according to the company. AFX says that this action comes because "the Peruvian government is obliging Telefonica to reduce its tariffs by an annual 10% to 2008." NOTE: “Telefonica had planned to add some 500,000 new fixed telephone lines to suburban areas of Peruvian cities, but now expects to put down 150,000 lines.” CITED: Javier Nadal Airiño (Telefonica's President). As a result, NewRatings notes that analysts at Ibersecurities have "issued a "buy" rating on Telefonica Moviles. SEE ALSO: These pieces from Regulate Online and from Caretas both from June.
- Dow Jones reviews Peru's largest financial holding company, Credicorp Ltd, which reported "a rise in second quarter and six month net income. The improved results were mainly due to decreased merger costs and lower loan loss provisions, which helped offset lower financial and nonfinancial income." NOTE: "The company's 2003 results were hurt to some extent by the ongoing costs tied with the merger with Banco Santander Central Hispano-Peru and SolucionFinanciera de Credito." ALSO: "Credicorp said that total assets at June 30, 2004 were $8.5 billion."
- The Associated Press reports that PayLess Shoes will be selling or disposing of "all 32 Payless ShoeSource stores in Peru and Chile." The company's "profit fell 29 percent in the latest quarter, hurt by a restructuring charge." The companies' press release notes CEO Steven Douglass' comments: "As we have previously disclosed, operations in Chile and Peru were notperforming up to our company standards." SEE ALSO: March 29 2002's Peruvia noted that PayLess was "opening a store in the Lima Jockey Plaza."
- NewRatings reports that John Tumazos (Prudential Financial) issued an “overweight” rating on Phelps Dodge as a result of the “recent adjustment made by the Peruvian government to the mining royalty bill.” NOTE: “Prudential Financial includes a $0.01 per pound cost in order to reflect the Peruvian and Chilean royalties.”
Mining:
- Reuters reports that Yanacocha "has begun exploration at its rich Cerro Quillish deposit and production could begin as early as 2007, overcoming local resistance that delayed the plans by two years," according to an anonymous project manager. NOTE: "Exploration at the Quillish deposit, which has proven and provable reserves of 3.7 million ounces of gold, had been held up by local farmers near the site in northern Peru who feared a new mine would contaminate water supplies."
- Reuters reports that Brazilian miner CVRD "confirmed on Thursday it will participate in the auction for Peru's Las Bambas copper project, and said that will not clash with its plans to develop Brazilian copper reserves," according to Fabio Barbosa, the finance director of Companhia Vale do Rio Doce.
Latin Democracy is ‘Deeper’: The Economist offers a new Latinobarómetro poll, an annual measure of "political and social attitudes in 18 Latin American countries published exclusively by The Economist. Latinobarómetro, a Chilean organisation, has carried out similar surveys each year since the mid-1990s, so the poll captures shifts in opinion in the region.” The Economist wants to rebut the ‘punditry suggesting that the region risks a return to authoritarianism” yet their concluding paragraph seems weak at best: “For democrats, there are glimmers of hope.” This last year “has seen sharp falls in support for democracy in Peru. … Peruvians [are among] the least satisfied with the way their democracies work.” Note: Chart 5 is labelled 'Pained in Peru'. ALSO: “The poll suggests that the unpopularity of Alejandro Toledo has discredited Peru's restored democracy and may have generated nostalgia for the strongman rule of Alberto Fujimori.” SEE ALSO: ‘Latin Democracy is Deeper’ in August 2’s Peruvia which includes Brookings' Carol Graham’s take on the Latinobarómetro poll.
People:
- Montoya Walks the USA: Maryland's Laurel Leader and the Univ. of Maryland's Diamondback catch up Julio Montoya in his trek from Boston to Miami. SEE ALSO: 'Montoya Walks the USA' in July 28's Peruvia.
- JThomas Wins Fulbright: The Nashville CityPaper reports that John Thomas III, a graduate of Morehouse College in Atlanta, won a Fulbright Scholarship to "study how minorities in Lima, where a significant amount of racial disparity still exists, relate to the Peruvian government."
- De Soto Questioned: The Filipino ABS/CBN network runs an op-ed questioning the President's unofficial adviser, Hernando de Soto and ends the article like this: "Was GMA listening to his Peruvian economic guru? What is his take on the text tax? A ver."
- DFlores Ascension: The Maryland Gazette profiles Dino Flores, a second generation Peruvian American who is the new vice chairman of the Frederick County Republican Central Committee.
Michigan Class to Peru: Michigan's Grand Rapids Press reports that a local Board of Education has approved a local high schools’ trip to Peru in June 2005. Teacher Tracy Wallace "said the trip is designed to immerse students in a different culture. In addition to exploring the rain forests, students will have an opportunity to complete a service project in Iquitos,” according toWallace. NOTE: Cost per student is estimated at $2,000 to $2,900.
Deepest, Darkest Peru …: The Orlando Sentinel (registration: peruvia/peruvia) includes this line in an article about advertising in the Athens Olympics: "The fear is "ambush advertising," where companies who didn't feel like ponying up $60 million to be official sponsors could sneak in an advertising message. That could mean somebody watching a women's lacrosse match on TV in Peru will see a spectator in Athens wearing a Burger King T-shirt, and will realize McDonald's hasn't used actual beef in its products since 1965."
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Wednesday, August 11, 2004
Trans Amazon HiWay: The Inter Press Service reports (from Rio de Janeiro) on Presidents Toledo, Lula and Mesa inaugurating the Cobija/Brasileia bridge this morning but spends most of the story on reviewing the economic/ecological impact of the bridge between Iñapari and Assis do Brasil where the presidents were this afternoon where they laid "the first stone of the Integration Bridge." According to Irving Foster Brown at the Federal University of Acre, "the bridge between Brazil and Peru will have strong repercussions on the Amazon jungle, because it will pave the way for roads connecting the western Brazilian state of Acre and Peru's Pacific coast." NOTE: "A route to Peru's Pacific coast would turn southwestern Amazonia into a passage for the enormous production of soybeans and grains in west-central Brazil." Also Cited: Michael Schmidlehner (Amazonlink) and the Madre de Dios-Acre-Pando (MAP) initiative. The MAP initiative seeks "access to relevant information, and the right to participate in collective decisions." The fifth MAP Forum will take place Sep. 16-19 in Puerto Maldonado, Peru. SEE ALSO: Xinhua Press story from last week; stories in Spanish by Agence France Press and Associated Press which note that both bridges are part of the IIRSA project (Integración de la Infraestructura Regional de Sudamérica) which intends to bring the Pacific and Atlantic together infrastructurally by 2010; this 2003 Caretas story; and Prof. Brown's 2002 paper on the road between Acre and the Pacific. For photos of the bridge and the presidents see 'Toledo, Lula, and Mesa' below.
Gas Production Up: Dow Jones reports that "Peru has proven, probable and possible natural gas reserves that could total about 41 trillion cubic feet," according to Vice Minister of Mines and Energy Juan Miguel Cayo Mata. NOTE: "Of that total, 20.7 trillion cubic feet are in the southern jungle region, which include the Camisea project's Block 88. That region also include Block 56, which the government and private sector companies have earmarked as a source of gas aimed at export." SEE ALSO: 'Block 64 Drilled' in yesterday's Peruvia.
Coca Production Down/Up: The BBC reports on US "drugs czar" John Walters who said "the production of coca, the raw material for cocaine, has declined in Colombia by 30% in the past two years." However, the article ends with this: "Production has notably risen in Peru, the world's next biggest producer of cocaine after Colombia." UPDATE: The transcript of Walters' press briefing yesterday afternoon notes that he stated that "there have basically been static rates of cultivation in Peru and Bolivia" as well as some "poppy cultiviation." (You can listen to that briefing here)
Elections in Venezuela: Venezuela News reports that "international electoral organizations, such as chambers, courts, tribunals, parliaments and electoral councils across Latin America, have confirmed their presence during the presidential referendum to take place in Venezuela next Sunday." Among the Peruvians noted as electoral observers : Fernando Tuesta Soldevilla (Peruvian National Electoral Processes Office; ONPE) and Congressman Cruz Gerardo Saavedra Mesones (Pais Posible; Lambayeque). Saavedra is also the Vice President of the Parlamento Amazónico. IN SPANISH: The ONPE released their own press release today on Tuesta's participation.
Tragedy in Cuzco: Ireland's RTE and Reuters reports that "a bus carrying Peruvians and foreign tourists has plunged into a gorge near Cuzco, killing five Peruvians and an Irish tourist and injuring 43 people including tourists from Britain, France and Israel," according to the police. The bus was travelling to the tourist city of Cuzco from near the Bolivian border, "when the driver lost control of the vehicle on a bridge in a steep river valley." The RTE notes that there is no Irish Embassy in Peru and the Department of Foreign Affairs says "it is offering consular assistance through the Irish Embassy in Mexico and the Honorary Consul in Peru."
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CIA, Chavez, & Toledo: Pravda and the UPI wire repeat a front-page story in Monday's El Mundo from Spain (see the sixth headline here; see modified versions of the story here and here) that because Chavez' "revolutionary movement is likely to seize Peru and Ecuador, ... the CIA, is preparing a plan to overthrow the Venezuelan president." NOTE: "The CIA's undersecretary for southern hemispherical affairs, William Spencer, is in Santiago, Chile, to brainstorm the 'Venezuelan situation' with CIA country directors from Colombia, Ecuador, Brazil and Peru. " Says the UPI: "Charges of CIA meddling into other country's affairs has always been a sensitive issue, especially when it comes to Latin America where the agency has a history - and not always a good one at that."
Bond Auctions:
- Public Bond: Dow Jones reports that the Ministry of Economics and Finance has "placed three series of local treasury bonds worth 100 million soles on the local market this week. The ministry reopened its July 2008 bond, placing PEN30 million at an average annual yield of 8.99%."
- Private Bond: BNAmericas reports that Aguaytía Energy "is selling US$17.9 million in bonds in a Dutch auction on the local market from August 11-13," according to Reuters. NOTE: "They will be sold for US$1,000 each." SEE ALSO: This similar press release, with more details, from February 2004.
Mining:
- BNAmericas reports that Latin American mining associations "are satisfied by the World Bank's decision to continue supporting mining investment." The piece cites Guillermo Albareda, legal affairs manager for Peru's national mining, oil and energy association (Sociedad Nacional de Minería, Petróleo y Energía) who approves of the Bank's decision because "our countries need to develop their natural resources, we depend on them ... our economies depend on larger contributions and development from these activities."
- BNAmericas reports that Chariot Resources "has agreed to pay from US$33.5mn-43.5mn for the Marcona copper project in Ica." Monday's Peruvia included Chariot's press release.
Air War: Reuters reports that Chilean LAN "reported on Tuesday its July passenger traffic grew 22.3% compared with July 2003, consolidating growth seen in the first half of the year due to adding new routes and stronger demand for travel."
Dev't with Gender in Mind: Inter Press Service includes 'Enterprising Women in Peru' in an article titled, 'Gender Perspective Essential to Fighting Poverty' and is based on new reports by the 'Gender, Poverty and Employment' programme in coordination with the U.N. Development Programme and International Labour Organisation's GenProm which conclude that "the incorporation of a gender perspective in projects aimed at generating employment and fighting poverty in Latin America. NOTE: "There are more women than men in the social sectors most vulnerable to poverty in the region, and women are heads of a significant proportion of households, while less than half of working-age women have jobs and women live in poverty for different reasons than men."
Peruvian Judo: Barbados' Daily Nation includes Peruvian Stephano Iglesias in their coverage of the 2004 Junior US Open Judo Championships in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
JLozano Dies: The Bakersfield Californian (registration: peruvia/peruvia) notes that Joel Crithian-HiDalgo Lozano, 35, died on August 6. His funeral will be in California today; "interment to be held in Junin."
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Tuesday, August 10, 2004
Nuke Devices Stolen, cont.: The Houston Chronicle and the Washington Post summarize yesterday's Associated Press story on the stolen nuclear devices.
War of the Pacific, cont.: MercoPress reports that Prime Minister Carlos Ferrero described relations with Chile as 'good' declaring that, "Our enemy is poverty, not Chile" and noted that "there has been a complete political misinterpretation of statements", regarding the maritime border review Peru wants. ALSO CITED: Chilean Home Secretary Jose Miguel Insulza and Peruvian Minister of Foreign Relations Manuel Rodriguez Cuadros who each "requested political actors to refrain from further comments." Nevertheless Lourdes Flores Nano squeezed in one more comment: "Peru should not discard the International Court of the Hague as a possible arbitrator for the maritime border review demanded from Chile."
American Airlines Web Changes: American Airlines announced in a press release that "customers living in [Peru and in] select Latin American countries and the Caribbean can reserve and purchase tickets at AA.com with a locally issued credit card, instead of having to call American or go to a ticket office."
More Mining: Inca Pacific Resources announces in a press release that "holes PM-87 through PM 91, the third set of results from the 2004 diamond drill campaign. PM 87 to 91 are all located in the San Ernesto part of the Magistral intrusive complex within well mineralized skarn and porphyry."
Another Int'l Football Tournament: Sports Features (fifth item) reports that "the U.S. Under-16 Men’s National Team arrived in Peru to participate in the Peru International Friendly Tournament from Aug. 10-14." Competition will be between Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and the USA and matches will be held in Piura, Chiclayo, and Trujillo. NOTE: "Each of the three tournament venues were used for this year’s Copa America."
Naval Excercises: The USA Navy Newstand reports on Peru's participation in PANAMAX, a maritime exercise in which eight nations "plan and coordinate a coalition response to a security threat against the Panama Canal." NOTE: "The forces operating in the Pacific will be led by Chilean Capt. Francisco Alvayay, and include the Peruvian ships BAP Mariategui and BAP Herrera, the Chilean ships BACH Zenteno and BACH Macalbi. ALSO: "The participants organized into Task Force 138 will conduct the week-long exercise, which includes operations on the high seas, coast and land."
Church Group Returns: Scotland's Kirkintilloch Today reports on Kevin Keogh who "was inspired to go to [Peru] after hearing a talk by the Reverend Bryce Calder from St David's Memorial Park Church, who visited the country earlier this year. Keogh is a bricklayer and "just returned from two weeks in Peru, building a home for deprived kids ... in Puerto Belem, a slum town in the jungle on the banks of the Amazon." NOTE: "Keogh went to Peru with the Vine Trust - a Scottish Charity which works with street children to try and give them a better life. He was part of a 21-strong work party which meant he was helping to build a hostel for the kids."
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Monday, August 09, 2004
War of the Pacific, cont.: MercoPress notes that former Presidents Alan García and Valentin Paniagua have "joined the maritime border controversy [with Chile] which is increasingly straining bilateral relations." They each declared that "Peru must stand strong and insist in demanding negotiations with Chile to find a solution to the issue." NOTE: "Peru insists in opening the issue since it was never 'discussed bilaterally' and Chile argues the maritime frontier zones differences were sealed by the 1952 accord that included Ecuador." And A Poll: "67% of Lima residents support their government’s position regarding the issue and the dispute with Chile." ALSO: "In a strong reply to Chilean President Ricardo Lagos who said the Peruvian government was playing the foreign affairs 'comics' card to shadow internal disputes, second Peruvian vice-president David Waisman replied 'Peruvians are not Mickey Mouse and I believe the Chilean president is looking at the wrong movie from the wrong seat'."
Camisea Spigot Turned On, cont.: Dow Jones reports that "Peru could start exporting natural gas liquids from the Camisea project as early as this week," according to the Minister of Energy and Mines Jaime Quijandria who declared, "We will likely be exporting propane and butane as of next week." NOTE: "Initially the key markets for the butane and propane will be Chile and Ecuador." CITED: Alberto Moons (Pluspetrol Corp.) and Minister of Trade and Tourism Alfredo Ferrero.
Peruvian Olympian Swimmers: The official Athens Olympic site reports on the two members of the Peruvian Olympic swim team. Valeria Silva will compete in the Women's 100m breaststroke while Juan Pablo Valdivieso will compete in the 100m and 200m Butterfly events. Both are coached by Australians. NOTE: "The swimming competition at the 2004 Games begins on Saturday, 14 August."
More Mining: Chariot Resources announced in a press release that they "formally executed sale and purchase agreements with Rio Tinto Mining & Exploration Sucursal del Peru, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto PLC, and with Shougang Hierro Peru SAA, as of Aug. 6, 2004, to acquire a 100% undivided working interest in the Marcona copper project located in Peru."
USA Returns Montesinos' Millions: Bloomberg reports on the Associated Press story from over the weekend about the USA returning Peru $20 million in Montesinos monies. SEE ALSO: 'USA Returns Montesinos' Millions' in yesterday's Peruvia.
Win A Trip to Peru! The Times of London offers a trip to Peru as a prize for their new Responsible Tourism Awards (with Responsible Travel) which "celebrate tourism organisations and their staff — wherever they are in the world — that work to benefit local people and to be eco-friendly." The contest is open only to UK residents (see more information here).
Peruvia Editorial on Laura Bozzo Interview: Last night, the NBC program Dateline broadcast a 12-minute interview with Laura Bozzo at her residence in Lima where she is still in house arrest. (We were unable to find an English link of the program but this morning's Correo ran a short summary.) The program was embarrassing primarily for the main protagonist but the Peruvian state also came off poorly particularly for its lack of due process. What NBC journalist Victoria Corderi missed, however, was any thoughtful questioning of the USA government's support of the Fujimori government which facilitated and perhaps even financed Laura Bozzo's evolution. While this is only a conjecture at this point, 'The Imperfect Spy,' Sally Bowen and Jane Holligan's magnificent look at Vladimiro Montesinos, documents the CIA passing along US$10 million to him during the 1990s to spread around as he saw fit. ALSO: The main source on-camera who responded to Bozzo's claims was Caretas publisher Enrique Zileri Gibson. Here also the self-decribed 'Hispanic' Corderi came up short. While she sought to impress her audience with her Spanish diction, she referred several times to a certain Mr. Gibson. SEE ALSO: This 2003 BBC piece on Bozzo whose show is still broadcast every weekday on the Telemundo network.
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Sunday, August 08, 2004
US Returns Montesinos' Millions, cont.: The Miami Herald runs a summary of yesterday's Associated Press story on the $20 million in embezzled government funds the USA returned to Peru.
RAN and the Amazon: The Los Angeles Times Magazine cover story on Rainforest Action Network includes how they pushed Citigroup out of a project in Peru.
Dancing in Peru: The Washington Post profiles choreographer Dana Tai Soon Burgess who "created a new work for the National Ballet of Peru, and taught a full roster of master classes" in Lima this summer. His trip to Peru was made possible by the State Department's American Cultural Specialists program. In addition, "George Washington University, where Burgess is on faculty, provided a fellowship that enabled him to teach at the University of Lima and in private studios." CITED: Olga Shimazaki (Artistic Director, National Ballet of Peru); Chris Teal (Asst. Cultural Affairs officer, U.S. Embassy in Peru).
Time for Love? The Guardian offers an article on the charitable utility of soap operas and includes this: "The soap genre can clearly be used to convey an infinite variety of messages but it is currently popular with HIV/Aids charities wanting to reach young people. In Peru USAID (the American equivalent of DfID) funded 'Time For Love' with the aim of empowering young women to say no to sexual advances." SEE ALSO: The last item in this article about 'Time for Love.'
Keeping Kid in School: California's San Jose Mercury News immigration column tries to answer this question: "My 13-year-old daughter came from Peru to the United States and has since enrolled in school, but her tourist visa is about to expire. Can we request an extension? What are the chances she can get a student visa? I am not yet a legal resident, and my daughter's mother, who brought her here, holds a visitor's visa."
Artist on Puno: Florida's Sun-Sentinel profiles Boca Raton artist Patricia Boldizar who recently received 'Best of Show' at an exhibit in Delray Beach "for her creation, Los Turistas, a watercolor of people browsing in the Puno Market in Peru."
Recalling the Witch Doctors: The Los Angeles Times leads an article about the USA Women's Olympic soccer team with a reminder of the witch doctors present at the start of the Copa America.
Endorsing a Judge: The Miami Herald reports that the Peruvian American Chamber of Commerce is among the sponsors at at a judicial forum on Thursday in which "candidates in all six judicial races in Miami-Dade have been invited."
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