After a week of protests and virtual uprising in the south of Peru, the government has backed down on its plans to privatise the water and electricity in the region.
Late Tuesday Alejandro Toledo, president of Peru, declared a 30-day state of
emergency. This was the Peruvian government's response to
growing social tension in the country. A wave of strikes has been sweeping the
country over the past two weeks with more and more workers coming out.
Following on from yesterday's article, Fred Weston, updates the situation as it
is unfolding in Peru. At least one student has already been killed in clashes
with the security forces, and the movement does not look at all as if it is
prepared to back off.