Peru farmers' protest leads to state of emergency
 

Lima - The authorities in Peru have declared a state of emergency in eight provinces following clashes between striking farmers and police, in which one person died. The farmers have blocked main roads and railways in protest against a free-trade agreement signed with the United States in December.

The farmers are demanding talks with the government. They are worried that Peru will be swamped by subsidised US agricultural produce as a result of the agreement.

Thousands of travellers were stranded by the protests, including hundreds of tourists bound for Peru's top tourist attraction, the Inca ruins of Machu Picchu. The Pan American highway was also blocked, north and the south of the capital Lima.

I rode through this mess, Tuesday, from Macara, Ecuador to Piura, Peru.

At the each barricade there was usually an angry mob of campensinos. Each time I stopped I was swarmed and had to explain myself. I often had 50 odd people seize hold of the bike and start trying the locks on the luggage. Normally there was a way around the barricade. Typically a very muddy steep dangerous way around. They liked to throw nails and tacks in the road as well.

In every crowd there was a hothead. I usually could persuade the folks in my immediate vicinity to let me through but then some fellow would scream out ¨Rich Gringo¨ or on one occasion a guy ran up and started making slashing movements across my front tire.

After working my way through 20 or so of these blockades I encountered a military convoy obviously en route to kick some ass and take names. Never have I been so happy to see jack booted thugs. Today´s paper indicates 4 dead.

That trade agrement looks help out Peru more than hurt it.

Dam do all the people hate gringos so much they cant think? So your beef farm wont rake in so much or your produce wont get you as much just plant another crop and realy piss the USA off by getting your government tax you and give me cheep food. $5.00 usd a tone for coffey and mangos oh man I feel the blood boiling in me now. Oh drive me nuts and import gold and oil under the going rate by taxing Peruvens more.
Dont they gaff tourist enof now? Hope the state department tells people its unsafe there and they lose billions in tourist $.