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Weekly Report - 18 June 2009 (WR-09-24)

PERU: Big U-turn as Simon reveals he will resign

The prime minister, Yehude Simon, has announced his intention to resign over the violence in the department of Amazonas which claimed at least 33 lives earlier this month. This is a dramatic change of tack. In the immediate wake of the bloody clashes between the police and indigenous protesters Simon said he had no intention of resigning. He also took a very tough line with the protesters who he accused of ambushing and murdering 24 police officers. After holding talks with the leaders, or apus, of indigenous communities this week, he suddenly took a much softer line. He said congress would vote on a bill on 18 June to repeal two controversial presidential decrees opening up the Amazon to private investment.

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