PERU: Some 2,000 teachers protest in Peru

Thousands of peaceful protesters gathered in Cusco, Peru on Thursday (July 19) to demand the repeal of a law mandating testing for teachers in public schools. Some 2,000 teachers halted air traffic in Cusco's airport on Thursday morning, leaving many passengers stranded before the strike was ended later in the day. Protesters threw smoke bombs to prevent airplanes from taking off as police attempted to disperse the teachers. "We arrived at the airport and got in the queue and they told us that flights are suspended until tomorrow. So imagine, we are without hotels, we are in trouble," said a Venezuelan tourist who was stranded in Cusco. Teachers were demanding the elimination of a public education law that would require mandatory testing, which they feared would result in job cuts. The nationwide strike, which began two weeks ago, was supported by the country's largest teachers' union. The teachers' strike came to an end later on Thursday, when union leaders agreed to negotiate with government officials. Peruvian Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo met with representatives of the teachers' union in Lima, where they agreed to put an end to the strike. The teachers are expected to return to work on Friday (July 20). "We have come to this dialogue table and have suspended the teachers' strike and tomorrow - to work. Thank you very much," he said. The strike was part of a wave of protests against the government of President Alan Garcia by groups claiming that he has not kept his promises to reduce poverty and improve education.

ITN Source | July 20, 2007

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