Peru: Government Attempts to Halt Protests in the North

The news media has started to provide more coverage of the protests taking place in Northern Peru. The newspaper La República writes that the commission headed up by Environmental Minister Antonio Brack did not accomplish much. More and more indigenous groups are joining the cause and guarding important state petroleum and hydroelectric companies. In addition, the federal government declared a state of emergency in the area, which calls for an imposition of order. However, the protests continue. Very few bloggers from the capital city of Lima have been commenting on the matter, and as the blogger Desde el Tercer Piso [es] writes, “For those of us who live in Lima, it is difficult to understand why such a serious social conflict is taking place in our country's jungle.” He points to the Treaty signed by Peru years ago that... [read full story]