Peru farmers block roads, Machu Picchu rail ( protesting Garcia's FTA with Bush)

[Judi Lynn]

Peru farmers block roads, Machu Picchu rail
Tue Jul 8, 2008 2:03pm EDT
By Dana Ford

LIMA, July 8 (Reuters) - Peruvian farmers angry at President Alan Garcia's free-trade policies began a two-day strike on Tuesday, snarling traffic in the country's interior and closing rail service to the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu.

The actions, the latest in a series of protests held to demand the government do more to spread the wealth from a six-year economic boom, came on the eve of a nationwide general strike called by Peru's largest labor confederation.

Farmers are frustrated by the rising cost of living, want debt relief and say a free-trade deal being implemented with the United States will flood local markets with imports of subsidized U.S. agricultural goods. They are also upset at a recent law that will make it easier for investors to buy land in Peru's interior.

"It's not just one law, but all the legislative decrees we are protesting against," said Antolin Huascar, head of a national farmers' group, referring to edicts Garcia has signed to bring Peru into compliance with the U.S. trade deal. Congress gave Garcia temporary powers to issue the decrees.

"The strike is a wake-up call to the government," Huascar said.

More:
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN0829697920080708?rpc=401&





Peru's dance-loving Presidente

[Judi Lynn]

1. Too good for you to miss, Peace Patriot's response to this article in LBN:

Bushites support "rule by decree" for the rich in Peru (also in Colombia), but "rule by decree" for the poor in Venezuela is tyranny!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x3386212#3386324

Take a moment to read it, as it gets DIRECTLY to the point, slashing right through the baloney.

It's well worth your time.

[Judi Lynn]

2. Peruvian workers, farmers rally against Garcia

Peruvian workers, farmers rally against Garcia

REUTERS

8:59 a.m. July 9, 2008

LIMA – Thousands of Peruvians protested Wednesday to denounce President Alan Garcia's free-market policies, which they say have failed to benefit the poor during six years of booming economic growth.

Protesters waving red banners put up road blocks on highways in the regions of Ica, Puno and Cuzco, snarling traffic and closing rail service to the Inca ruins at Machu Picchu, Peru's top tourist destination, police and local radio reported. The capital, Lima, where most of Peru's recent economic growth has been concentrated, saw fewer protests.

The rallies, which coincided with a two-day farmers' strike that started Tuesday, were the latest in a series of protests held to demand the government do more to spread the Andean country's new wealth to workers and the poor. The poverty rate has fallen since Garcia took office two years ago, but still remains a lofty 40 percent.

“This is a government of the rich and of multinational corporations,” Mario Huaman, the leader of Peru's largest labor confederation, told reporters.”

More:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/world/20080709-0859-peru-strike-.html