Something big is happening in Peru

Thu, 06/25/2009 - 1:06pm

During the ongoing political crisis in Iran, another less noticed "revolution" has been going on in Peru with relatively little international attention, but potentially with lasting consequences for both the country and its role in the global economy.

Over the past two weeks, indigenous protesters have successfully forced the Peruvian protesters have successfully forced the government to reverse planned land reforms that would have opened their traditional land to investment and exploration by international energy companies. 

The demonstrations against the reform turned violent earlier this month in a confrontation that left 50 dead, including 23 police officers. Peru's prime minister offered to resign over the controversy after the government caved to the Indians demands. The leader of the protest movement has fled into exile in Nicaragua after being charged with inciting the violence. 

President Alan Garcia has come under fire for his insensitivity to the violence and for comparing the protesters to "garden watchdogs" protecting their food. Garcia had framed the new development as both an economic opportunity for the region, a way of clamping down on illegal logging, and a way to combat drug trafficking by increasing government presence. 

Granted, the news has been dominated by Iran this month for good reason, but protests leading to the killing of 23 police officers, the reversal of a major government decisions affecting multinational corporations, and the resignation of a head of government, seems like a pretty big deal. I think it's safe to say that if this had happened in Asia or the Middle East it would have been front page news in the United States.

Consider how intertwined it is with U.S. foreign policy, it's always surprising how little discussion Latin American affairs (unless Hugo or Fidel are talking) merits in the United States. Peru's largely ignored situation is a perect example. Since when are race, money, violence, and drugs not interesting topics? 

AFP/Getty Images 

Joshua Keating | Permalink | | Comments? Login or register
( filed under: )


Advertisement

 

Good question.

by Aparicio on Fri, 06/26/2009 - 5:45am

Completely true. Latin America is neither important enough or danger enough to be a tru priority of US´s FP (or media´s FP). Everybody is concern with Iran, because is mentally related to yihad, terrorism, Israel, etc. However, people know that you would not have a Indigineous Peruvian exploting a plane next week. No matter what happens down there, it will not affect major US interests as well, since mayor oil American investments are in the Middle East and East Europe.

Because we are Tired

by AllanGreen on Fri, 06/26/2009 - 6:47am

Because on the one hand - the left hates America for wanting to be active in the world. On the other - everytime we aren't interested in someone's supposed suffering, the left wants us to hyperventilate superficial empathy.

It's a hate/hate situation. The left hates America, no matter what. And all "interest" and "care" is merely a political attack on us. Even first generation immigrants from Latin America, don't give a damn about it. They are too busy, living their lives.

We are tired, as Americans of this kind of abuse. America's priority is American security. Other threats, we can't deal with.

It's time the world tried to do some problem solving on its own. Americans of all origins, are quite happy to be preoccupied with making our country a home.