Peru: PM Yehude Simon to Quit Following Bloody Protests

by Barbara McPherson | June 16, 2009 at 06:19 pm

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The Peruvian prime minister, Yehude Simon, has announced that he will be resigning his post following bloody protests that saw at least 34 people killed in fighting. Simon went on to apologize to the indigenous people, acknowledging that the government had not properly consulted with the people before passing ten controversial laws. These laws were designed to ease foreign companies in the exploration of the Amazon for oil, gas and lumber. He further stated that he would work to persuade the Peruvian congress to repeal the hated laws.
Peru also has a president, Alan Garcia, who remains in power, may use his special powers to ignore the indigenous people.

Alan Garcia, the Peruvian president, whose approval rating currently at 30 per cent, had issued a series of decrees last year using special powers congress gave him to implement a free-trade agreement with the US.

Peru's indigenous leaders launched strikes in April, saying that Garcia's government did not consult them in good faith before signing contracts that could affect at least 30,000 of them across six of the nation's provinces.

There were reports that the strikes were easing in the roads and riverways of north-eastern Peru on Tuesday, while and an important east-west highway was reopened on Monday.

Fallout from these incidents has meant the resignation of cabinet ministers, a protest leader fleeing to Nicaragua and a state of emergency declared in Amazonas State.
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