Peru police briefly arrest 3 NY college students

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Associated Press

Peru police briefly arrest 3 NY college students
7/11/2008, 9:48 p.m. EDT
By VICTORIA BEKIEMPIS
The Associated Press

LIMA, Peru (AP) — Three students from a college near New York City were briefly arrested in Peru for allegedly participating in an anti-government protest, police said Friday.

The students from Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, N.Y., were detained Thursday morning in the city of Puno, officer Oscar Muchai Pina told The Associated Press. They were released later the same day.

The students were identified as Hans Kulla-Mader, 19, Heather Meyer, 19, and Amelia Woodside, 21. They allegedly attended a march the previous day that was part of a national strike called by Peru's largest labor union.

Muchai Pina said Meyer and Woodside were carrying a sign that read "Down with (President) Alan Garcia, you rat."

After local media published photos of the students marching alongside union workers, police arrested them at their hotel and confiscated signs and banners.



Read more: http://www.silive.com/newsflash/metro/index.ssf?/base/news-35/1215827657213290.xml&storylist=simetro

[otherlander]

1. Most yuppie names *ever*.

But good for them, working with the unions.

[mitchtv]

2. I was briefly detained in Peru' myself

They put us in some old dungeon built by the Spanish, but I was with some infuential people so they checked my cash , and let me go.

[sasquatch]

4. What happened?

[mitchtv]

5. I wasin a coffee house, listening to classical guitar

In a very nice section of town, Barrancos , if I remember correctly, suddenly the lights went on the secret pol;ice all over the palce, "hands on the table" They went through everyone there. They claimed to have found a joint under my/our table. I was searched, being the long haired gringo , and they nabbed me with a pack of American flag rolling papers. Their questioning led nowhere, and one said something about hippie bums with no money, ehrn I pulled out a large note from my Frye boots,and since I was with the son of a general and two aristoratic girls, their attitude changed. I was taken to my hotel, my funds were checked,as well as my ticket out of Peru' I said "fine" I'll leave now, but the attitude had become Welcome to peru, don't leave, you must visit Mach Picchu. As General Rene Schneider had just been murdered in a CIA kidnap attempt, I changed my itinerary, and followed their suggestion

[LuckyLib]

3. I've always cautioned students that the rules don't apply in most other places.

Rules being right to free speech, freedom of assembly, etc. Hell, they don't apply here anymore either.

Many a sad gringo youth has found himself/herself in a Latin American jail for gettin' with the folks in a strike or political activity (not to mention drugs and having no money to pay bribes). Not a smart idea if you value your freedom.

[High Plains]

6. The rules do apply; they're just different rules.

I'm not sure how many Latin American countries forbid foreigners from messing in domestic political matters, but several do.

Mexico will throw your ass out in a hurry, so, apparently, will Peru.