Peru’s President Ollanta Humala announces a deal with the Camisea consortium to assure that Block 88 gas will be used for domestic consumption—even as the consortium began fulfilling its long-delayed export contracts.
Retired Peruvian Gen. Jorge Aquiles Carcovich Cortelezzi is being investigated by the human rights prosecutor for Ayacucho region for his involvement in the massacre of 25 schoolchildren.
A day of pitched street-fighting left three dead, some 35 wounded and 60 detained in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, as small-scale gold miners continued their civil strike.
Colombia’s ambassador to Peru, Jorge Visbal Martelo Hannibal, resigned after the Prosecutor General’s Office ordered his arrest for alleged ties to paramilitary groups.
Thousands of demonstrators, led by Paúl Carrasco, prefect of Azuay province, filled the streets of Cuenca, Ecuador, to oppose President Rafael Correa’s plans to massively expand the mineral sector.
Small-scale independent gold miners led strikes and protests across several regions of Peru to demand abrogation of new decrees that outlaw their activities.
Weeks after notorious Shining Path leader “Comrade Artemio” was caputured, Peruvian authorities announced the apprehension of his sucessor “Comrade Freddy.”
US Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano defended the US-backed war on the drug cartels, despite growing violence in Mexico and Central America—while Costa Rican President Laura Chinchilla called for a regional debate on legalization.
In an official report, Paraguay’s Department of Indigenous Affairs confirmed that an uncontacted tribe is living on lands in the northern Chaco region owned by the Brazilian ranching company River Plate, which is accused of wanton deforestation.
The UN representative to Colombia, Todd Howland, said that the country’s victims law has “holes” because threats and violence against displaced campesinos seeking to reclaim their usurped lands are impeding successful implementation.
Colombia’s FARC rebels announced they will release all 10 captive members of the security forces, and abandon kidnapping of civilians for extortion purposes. President Juan Manuel Santos said the move was “not enough” to renew peace talks.
Millions of workers walked off their jobs across India, with the telecoms, transport sector and postal service most affected. The “all-India” general strike was most universally observed in the southern state of Kerala, which remains virtually paralyzed.
