Van der Sloot! Van der Sloot! Van der Sloot!Now that we’ve added our small grain of sand to the sensationalistic media firestorm over the murder of Stephany Flores, let’s check out two far more important stories involving Peru.
The 40th General Assembly of the Organization of American States (OAS) started yesterday in the capital city of Lima and several issues are expected to be discussed. One of the main topics for debate is the international recognition of Honduras, which has been a sensitive issue ever since the ouster of Manuel Zelaya from the presidency nearly a year ago. Countries such as Brazil and Venezuela are opposed to readmitting Honduras into the OAS since Zelaya was replaced for the remainder of his presidency by a de facto regime. On the other hand, the U.S. is in favor of Honduran recognition; "(Current Honduran president Porfirio) Lobo... has been very committed to pursuing a policy of reintegration," said Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Other vital topics for discussion at the OAS conference include immigration, relations with Iran, and drug trafficking. Clinton for her part will be in Lima for the meeting and will subsequently travel tomorrow to Ecuador and Colombia, then Barbados on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Peruvian indigenous activists continue their protests on the one-year anniversary of deadly clashes with police over controversial energy proposals. Their claims that the government was heavy-handed against indigenous demonstrators even reached the gates of the White House:
Actress Q'orianka Kilcher, who played the American Indian Pocahontas in the 2005 film "The New World" was arrested (last week) for tying herself to a White House fence.Image- EPA (OAS head José Miguel Insulza at the body’s General Assembly this week).
The U.S. Park Police identified the woman as the 20-year-old actress and said her 41-year-old mother, Saskia, poured a black substance over her.
The two told authorities they were protesting Tuesday's visit by president of Peru, Alan Garcia. Q'orianka Kilcher's father is a Peruvian Indian.
Online Sources- AFP, Voice of America, CNN, AP, Latin America News Dispatch, CBS News, The Latin Americanist
Friends recently showed me this video of a speech by Q'orianka http://www.economicrefugee.net/qorianka-kilcher-enviro-youth-leader-rock-star/
ReplyDeleteIt was the first time I've heard of her; what are your thoughts on her activism regarding Peru and its indigenous people? Is she famous in Peru? Or just here in the U.S.?