An unprecedented show of support for Israel has come from a group of almost entirely non-Jewish European and American politicians, statesmen and women and theologians. Led by former Spanish prime minister José Maria Aznar, they have formed the Friends of Israel Initiative, to oppose the rising tide of criticism and delegitimisation that has questioned Israel's right to exist and act in self-defence. The FII launched its British branch in the House of Commons on Monday, hosted by the...

Amnesty International has urged the Peruvian authorities to drop unsubstantiated charges against a prominent Indigenous leader, who was detained on his return to the country this week after almost a year in Nicaragua. Segundo Alberto Pizango Chota is accused of being responsible for violence between Indigenous rights activists and police, in which 33 people were killed and at least 200 injured in Bagua, northern Peru, in June last year. However, at the time of the violence Alberto...

President Garcia told the press that he considers as “correct” the decision of the Army and the Ministry of Defense to purchase Chinese tanks, and stressed that such a decision "doesn't contradict our vocation against an arms race."He advanced that this acquisition is “almost a fact” and that the respective draft agreements with the Asian country have already been signed. Garcia Perez added that thanks to his Chinese counterpart Hu Jintao, "we got an...

Defense Minister Rafael Rey announced Thursday that South Korea donated eight used light attack aircrafts to Peru, which will be used for training air force pilots and conducting border surveillance and counter-narcotics operations. Rey told TV Peru the donation of the Cessna-built A-37 Dragonfly combat planes is valued at $66 million. South Korea also donated additional engines and spare parts that the Air Force will use to repair four other aircraft. “The donation of the eight planes...

It was a relief to get the news today of the unsuccessful appeal by Peru’s ex-president Alberto Fujimori to challenge the guilty verdict and 25-year sentence he received last April. This reaffirms the Fujimori trial as a landmark positive event for the global human rights movement, and a definite blow to Fujimori supporters and their aspirations to put Fujimori in power again (the 5 judges of the appeals court handed down a unanimous decision). The trial, as so often happens in cases...

LIMA - Peru's Congress Friday approved the executive branch's 2010 fiscal budget proposal worth about 82 billion soles ($29.2 billion) by a 51-26 vote. That compares with a budget of some PEN72 billion originally presented by the executive branch for 2009. The 2010 budget contains an 80% increase for defense forces, part of which will go to battling the illegal drug trade. The unicameral legislature also passed separate bills approving, among other things, public sector debt financing for...

The Peruvian Navy expressed interest in the acquisition of Argentine manufactured missiles currently under development, basically a version of the sea air Aspide, according to a Monday release from the Argentine Defence ministry. “We have an interest in the possibility of acquiring naval missiles manufactured by the Argentine defence industry”, said the commander of the Peruvian Navy Admiral Rolando Navarrete Salomón currently visiting Argentina. During a meeting with...

The Peruvian government's decision this month to revoke the broadcast license of a local radio station could have a chilling effect on community broadcasting in Peru, Human Rights Watch said today. The timing and circumstances of the revocation suggest that it may have been an act of censorship, or punishment, in response to coverage of anti-government protests on June 5, 2009. On June 8, the Ministry of Transport and Telecommunications revoked Radio La Voz de Bagua's broadcast license. Other...

Terrorist-sponsoring nation Iran is increasing its presence in Latin America, and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization it sponsors, is making inroads in drug trafficking in Colombia, according to Pentagon spokesperson Donna Miles in a press statement to the National Association of Chiefs of Police. During a recent congressional hearing, Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis told the House Armed Services Committee that he shares the concerns of Defense Secretary Robert Gates about Iranian activity...

WASHINGTON - Iran is increasing its presence in Latin America, and Hezbollah, a terrorist organization it sponsors, is making inroads in drug trafficking in Colombia, the commander of U.S. Southern Command told Congress today. Navy Adm. James G. Stavridis told the House Armed Services Committee he shares concerns expressed by Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates about Iranian activity in Central and South America. Iran has opened six embassies in the region during the past five years and is...