On May 31, 26 peasants were ambushed and murdered in the southern Mexico state of Oaxaca. They belonged to the community of Santiago Xochiltepec, and the authorities initially blamed the massacre on intercommunity conflicts. However there have been allegations concerning the role of logging companies that operate illegally in the area and receive protection from state and paramilitary forces.
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.
