El drama de ser turista en Arequipa

by the Colca Specialist

Elegir abordar un taxi hoy en Arequipa, es casi como aventurarse en un peligroso juego de azar. Una suerte de ruleta rusa en la que no se sabe si en una de tantas carreras podemos toparnos con un avezado delincuente disfrazado de chofer y ser sus víctimas ocasionales.

Los reportes policiales advierten que dentro de este sombrío panorama son los turistas las víctimas preferidas de estos delincuentes, disfrazados de falsos taxistas, quienes mantienen en sobresalto a nuestros visitantes sin distinción alguna.

Según el jefe de la división de turismo y protección del ambiente de la Policía Nacional en Arequipa, Marcos Ramos Acosta, el 80 % de los asaltos a turistas extranjeros ocurren en taxis, ya que existe un importante número de taxis informales, un promedio de 22 mil de los cuales cerca del 60% no han sido debidamente registrados y autorizados para brindar el servicio.

Para el sociólogo, Walter Salas Raa, dicha cifra no es más que el reflejo de la desorganización que existe entre las autoridades con respecto a la implementación y ejecución de planes de seguridad para una ciudad que ocupa el cuarto lugar de inseguridad a nivel nacional después de Lima, el Callao y Trujillo según datos del Consejo Nacional de Seguridad Ciudadana (CONASEC).

Cuarto puesto que amenaza en seguir escalando hasta el primero ante la fragmentación de esfuerzos de los comités de seguridad ciudadana presidido por el presidente regional de Arequipa, los alcaldes, Policía Nacional y juntas vecinales como representación de la sociedad organizada.

Salas Raa, subraya que mientras estemos divididos el crimen nos está sacando ventaja, porque la delincuencia sí trabaja unida, al extremo que ahora incluso los asaltos que se perpetran llegan a un alto nivel de planificación y violencia que a los delincuentes ya no les importa si el atraco se comete de día o de noche. Lo importante para ellos es aprovechar la falta de organización y comunicación de las autoridades para hacer de las calles el escenario perfecto para delinquir.

Cada vez con más frecuencia, las inmediaciones del Terminal Terrestre, el aeropuerto, las calles colindantes a hoteles y restaurantes, incluso dentro de estos locales, son inseguros. En todo el circuito turístico de Arequipa, Centro Histórico, zonas de la campiña y sus inmediaciones, reina la inseguridad. Basta con echarse a andar por la Plaza de Armas, San Lázaro, mercado San Camilo y otros para ver cómo el meretricio, la drogadicción y los ladrones están al acecho sin que nadie ponga solución al problema.

MALTRATOS A LOS TURISTAS EN AREQUIPA

El presidente de la Red Nacional de Protección al Turista del Ministerio de Comercio Exterior y Turismo, Santiago Vizcarra Valencia, sostiene que en su paso por nuestra ciudad durante los últimos cinco años, el nivel de inseguridad se ha incrementado en casi 50%. La población se siente expuesta al igual que los turistas.

El funcionario hizo un llamado a las autoridades y ciudadanía para sumar esfuerzos y cambiar esta situación, pues además de inseguridad los turistas deben soportar los malos tratos de agencias de viajes informales, hospedajes sin licencia e incluso de un sector de la misma población arequipeña que en lugar de brindarle buen trato intenta sacar provecho de los visitantes elevándoles el precio a los productos de panllevar, costo de pasajes y tarifa de alojamiento. Todo un drama y malos recuerdos de estancia cuando se viene de fuera.

CUESTIONAMIENTO

Pero, en medio de esta problemática, las soluciones parecen estar aún más lejos de lo esperado. El pasado fin de semana el presidente del Poder Judicial, Cesar San Martín, dijo a los medios de comunicación que el avance de la delincuencia se debe a que además de trabajo desorganizado, es mala investigación en materia criminal.
El titular del Poder Judicial, fue enfático al señalar que ni la Policía Nacional ni el Ministerio Público hacen buena labor de peritaje e investigación para reunir en el tiempo justo y plantear adecuadamente las pruebas suficientes que permitan castigar ejemplarmente a la delincuencia. De allí que la mala imagen de las autoridades y del país se generaliza tanto dentro como fuera del Perú.

DATOS

* El 25 de abril llegaría a Arequipa la embajadora de Estados Unidos, quien se reuniría con la Policía de Turismo para entablar conversaciones sobre la seguridad para los visitantes extranjeros.
* Se estima que por cada turista mal atendido, dejan de venir un promedio de 10 a 15 visitantes, básicamente turistas extranjeros, aunque el desprestigio también es para el turismo interno.
* En Arequipa solo se cuenta con 22 efectivos para brindar labores de seguridad a los turistas, agentes que deben desplazarse en nueve puestos estratégicos de atractivo turístico para vigilar a un promedio de 10 a 30 turistas.

OPINAN LAS AUTORIDADES

Comandante PNP Marcos Ramos Acosta

Jefe de la Comisaría de Turismo de Arequipa

“Tenemos algunas limitaciones, pero estamos haciendo nuestros mejores esfuerzos para brindarle seguridad al turista. Existe un déficit de personal que estamos evaluando cómo resolver. En mi división somos 68 efectivos, pero solo 22 trabajan en protección al turista, el resto se encarga del tema ecológico”.

Rafael Cornejo

Presidente de la Asociación de Hoteles y Restaurantes (AHORA)

“El problema de la informalidad es un mal que debe atacarse de lleno. Pero poco se puede hacer mientras las autoridades no brinden el apoyo necesario. Una muestra clara del olvido del sector, es que pese al cambio y renovación de autoridades hasta ahora los planes de seguridad no se han hecho cumplir en la ciudad”.

Alfredo Venero La Torre

Gerente Regional de Comercio Exterior y Turismo

“El sector turismo es un muy importante en Arequipa, ahora que hemos conformado la red de protección al turista tengo la confianza que se va a trabajar mejor y organizadamente para brindar mejor seguridad y trato en la ciudad. Ya tenemos un plan de trabajo y se cumplirá todo este 2011”.

Walter Salas Raa

Sociólogo

Para analizar el sector turismo hay dos escenarios, el tema nacional y el tema regional. Y me parece que el segundo ha fallado más. Poco se ha hecho en buena promoción turística. No se ha tenido un trabajo sostenido sino esfuerzos aislados, por eso los resultados son casi nulos, turísticamente tenemos mucho que explotar”.

Jorge Padilla Juárez

Secretario Técnico del Comité de Seguridad Ciudadana

Durante la semana se trabajará coordinadamente con los efectivos policiales para garantizar la estadía de los turistas. Por el momento estamos siguiendo el programa de todas las actividades, pero hoy el jefe de la región, Coronel Mario Luque, debe aprobar el número de efectivos que resguardarán en el total de las actividades.

OPINA LA POBLACIÓN

Juan Gómez
(53)
Nosotros debemos brindarles seguridad siempre a todos, más tratándose de turistas porque ellos se llevan una mala imagen de nuestra ciudad y eso afecta a la imagen de todos los ciudadanos de Arequipa y el país en general. Los constantes robos deben terminar, los efectivos y autoridades deben poner mayor interés.

Ángel Arias
(34)
A la población en general nos causa temor andar por las calles a altas horas de la noche y hasta de día por las calles aisladas, pero esto debe cambiar. No puede ser que siendo una ciudad importante tengamos tantos índices de robos y de inseguridad total. Las autoridades todavía no cuentan con planes para erradicar la delincuencia.

Dalila de Vásquez
(54)
Las personas que vienen de fuera por primera vez, buscan seguridad y comodidad, es por ello, que el tema de seguridad ciudadana es sumamente importante. A los turistas nacionales y extranjeros debemos brindarles confianza para que se sientan seguros y puedan volver pronto con más amigos.

Melissa Toledo
(25)
La inseguridad es lo que ahuyenta a cualquier persona no solo a los turistas. Creo que con más unión entre autoridades Policía Nacional y población en general, podemos lograr quitar esa mala imagen de Arequipa. Creo que todos estamos en la posibilidad de colaborar dejando de lado las indiferencias con nuestro prójimo.

Liseth Flores
(16)
Nosotros podemos brindar seguridad a propios y extraños tratándolos bien, no abusando de su desconocimiento como lo hacen algunos comerciantes o taxistas que abusan de las personas cuando ven que no son del lugar. Aprovechan de su desconocimiento. Todos debemos trabajar para crear una buena imagen de Arequipa.

Carlos Vargas

(33)

La seguridad no sólo es un problema en Arequipa sino también en el Cañón del Colca el cual es el principal atractivo turístico de la Región Arequipa. Guías de turismo que violan a sus turistas, crímenes, accidentes de buses de turismo por exceso de velocidad, choferes en estado etílico,guías de turismo que se prostituyen,venta de drogas en discotecas turísticas,evasión tributaria, informalidad, etc, son algunos de los problemas que vienen afectando el turismo en este destino turístico . Como podemos darnos cuenta el principal problema que afecta el turismo en Arequipa es la "ausencia o la falta de CALIDAD HUMANA en los miembros de esta gran familia que es el turismo en Arequipa".

Es increíble ver a las autoridades del sector turismo especialmente a los sres de AUTOCOLCA en los distintos medios de comunicación hablando del crecimiento del sector turismo cuando la realidad es otra, no hacen nada por el desarrollo del turismo en el Cañón del Colca y esto lo podemos comprobar con las desastrosas carreteras que existen en la zona, dañando asi de esta manera no sólo la imagen del turismo en el Cañón del Colca sino también la imagen turística de Arequipa.No hace falta ser especialista en el ramo para darse cuenta de que estan dirigidas por una serie de incapaces de lo contrario el turismo sería otra cosa en Arequipa.Es una vergüenza que con la cantidad de atractivos turísticos que cuenta Arequipa tenga menos visitantes que la ciudad altiplánica de Puno. Realmente hay mucho por hacer por Arequipa.

¿Quién miente más Zacarías Ocsa o Rosario Ponce?

por the Colca Specialist

Zacarías Ocsa hizo "cholitos" a los medios de comunicación con el cuento del rescate en el Bomboya.

Lo cierto es que Zacarías Ocsa ,la nueva versión de Carlos Manrique del Colca esta vez quiere emular a Carlos Manrique y al mismo Alejandro Toledo haciendo “cholitos” a toda la comunidad limeña que ya se está sintiendo asqueada del “circo mediático” de Ciro Castillo Rojo que de Dios Goce el cual se está convirtiendo ahora en “el circo de los rescatistas”.

Rosario Ponce se encuentra sumida en sus problemas y sus contradicciones. Zacarías Ocsa se sube al coche de los rescatistas y presentándose como “Guía experto de montaña” “experto rescatista” entre otros calificativos otorgados, no sólo una, sino varias veces por los diarios chicha como lo son “el ojo” y “el trome” ,titulares que dejan entrever las verdaderas intenciones de este buitre de 51 años de edad quien pretende usar la trágica muerte de Ciro Castillo Rojo para promocionar sus servicios como “guía de montaña” gracias a la publicidad de los titulares de los diarios capitalinos a quienes poco les importa informar bien a la población sino que más bien les importa vender más sus gacetas de quinta sin importarles la veracidad de lo publicado en las mismas.

Según las investigaciones hechas en la Casa de Guías de Montaña de Arequipa y en la Escuela de Guías de Montaña de Huaraz este Sr ni siquiera pasó por la puerta de ninguna de estas escuelas ,nunca fue un rescatista acreditado, no tiene carnet de guía de montaña y se da el lujo de aparecer en los diarios con historias tan absurdas que ni el mismo se las cree.

Detrás del saquito de bayeta, se esconde un peligroso arribista y traidor capaz de vender a su propia familia con el objeto de promocionarse a si mismo y a sus libros sin importarle el daño que ocasiona a los demás, como es en este caso a la familia de Ciro Castillo Rojo a quien los hizo “cholitos” con el cuento del rescate.

El Dr Ciro critica abiertamente el libro de Rosario Ponce. Lo entendemos. Pero no puede ser posible que el Dr Ciro Castillo Rojo se preste a promocionar a falsos guías de montaña y rescatistas como Zacarías Ocsa y todavía se preste a dar su apoyo en la presentación de un libro en donde el falso guía de montaña da sus teorías sobre el deceso trágico de Ciro.

Seamos consecuentes Dr Ciro. de Papá Coraje pasa Ud a ser Papa Publicidad. Sería bueno que verifique a quien publicita para no meter las cuatro patas.Si su hijo estaría vivo no creo que le gustaría ver lo que están haciendo con su imagen.

Nos preguntamos cuánto ha pagado el Dr. Ciro a este facineroso estafador quien no sólo ha hecho cholitos a los Castillo Rojo Garcia Caballero sino que también les ha metido el dedo a la boca a la Policia Nacional, al Rector de la Universidad San Agustín,a la Fiscalía de la Nación, a los directores del Diario “El Ojo” y “el Trome” haciéndoles creer a todos que es un “experto guía de montaña” cuando ni siquiera tiene el carnet de guía de montaña egresado ni tiene carnet de rescatista acreditado ni certificados que lo acrediten haber participado en rescates anteriores. El más bobalicón de bobalicones fue Carlos Carlín quien lo presentó en televisión . Qué vergüenza!

No nos olvidemos de los alcaldes de Espinar, Cusco a los que los hizó creer no sólo en sus pociones mágicas capaces de promocionar tres Cañones y Espinar al tiro, sino que también los hizó creer en sus habilidades como promotor turístico y guía de montaña cuando no tiene ni un documento que lo acredite como tal.

A sus 51 años este abuelito nos quiere hacer creer que bajo los precipicios del Bomboya cuando como todos sabemos ya no puede ni subirse a su camarote y con eso les decimos todo. Lo más cómico de todo es que se presenta en los distintos medios de comunicación exigiendo a Rosario Ponce que diga la verdad cuándo este guía de montaña con titulo del Jirón Azángaro es una mentira ambulante. ¿Qué hace el abogado de Rosario Ponce que no exige que se investigue a este “buitre” y falso guía de montaña y rescatista?

¿Qué ha hecho al respecto el Arq. Luis Venero la Torre de la Gerencia de Comercio Exterior y Turismo de Arequipa? ¿Dónde está la Fiscalía de la Nación que no investiga a estos falsos rescatistas buitres? ¿Qué dirá al respecto su padrino José Luis Talavera Suárez ex gerente de Autocolca? Autocolca acaso se ha dedicado a promocionar “guías falsos de montaña “?

Me pregunto ¿Qué espera la USAM para investigar a estos falsos rescatistas del Bomboya?

Incluyendo al falso guía de montaña Zacarías Ocsa todos le cobraron al Papa De Ciro "haciendo leña del árbol caído".

¿Qué dirá su otro padrino Dr Juan Manuel Guillén Benavides, presidente del Gobierno Regional de Arequipa? Se volverá a sacar fotitos con Zacarías Ocsa, el falso guía de montaña de Caylloma? Eso no lo sabemos.

Todavía el sinvergüenza se pone trajecito de bayeta para parecer más auténtico, más identificado con su gente cuando este debería estar vestido pero con un traje blanco y a rayas por engañar a la gente y a los alcaldes con el cuento de los rescates, la promoción turística, las páginas webs sin visitantes, los videos de youtube entre otros cuentos que ni el mismo se los cree.

Si el quiere realmente trabajar por la provincia de Caylloma lo primero que debe de hacer es DEJAR DE ESTAFAR A LOS TURISTAS Y A LA POBLACIÓN CAYLLOMINA CON EL CUENTO DEL GUIA DE MONTAÑA Y DE LA PROMOCIÓN TURÍSTICA.

¿Qué dice al respecto el Alcalde de la provincia de Caylloma Elmer Cáceres Llica?

¿Hablará y pondrá las cosas en claro o se quedará calladito como alma en pena? Caylloma está aburrida de este show de falsos rescatistas y falsos guías de montaña y falsos rescatistas como el farsante de Zacarías Ocsa quien dice escuchar a Ciro penando en el Cañón del Colca.

¿Dónde están los presidentes de las asociaciones de guías de turismo de Arequipa? ¿Qué pasó con los fiscalizadores de informales de ASGUIPA,ADEGOPA Y AGOTUR asiduos lectores del guía de montaña bamba Zacarías Ocsa? Los dejó a todos chupándose el dedo.

Parece que chuparse el dedo se les ha vuelto un hábito especialmente en los últimos años cuando ni siquiera han tenido el valor de moralizar a sus propias asociaciones convertidas en refugio de guías de turismo corruptos cuya imagen es sinónimo de decadencia a los que no tienen ni el valor ni la suficiente testosterona para erradicarlos como es el caso del peor guía de turismo de Arequipa y enemigo de Caylloma Jimmy Lorenzo Arturo Escalante Vargas quien será sentenciado a la vergüenza eterna al que ni el evangelio salvará de sus errores ni de la factura que le pasará la provincia de Caylloma .

Zacarías Ocsa y sus declaraciones dejan muy mal parada la imagen de los guías de turismo de la provincia de Caylloma y por ende de AREQUIPA. Si ese es un guía de montaña como será el resto. Gracias a Dios no apellidamos OCSA.

Es una vergüenza que las asociaciones de guías de turismo de Arequipa se metan la lengua al bolsillo y no protesten contra los informales como es el caso de este “falso guía de montaña” que padece de delirio senil y Alzheimer juntos.

Respecto a la Casa de Guías de Montaña de Arequipa me parece que están peor organizados que las demás asociaciones en donde muchos de sus miembros están con Dios y con el diablo al mismo tiempo y sus representantes son tan útiles como los mates de manzanilla usados como antídoto contra la caída del cabello.

ASGUIP TUCAY ES LA UNICA ASOCIACION DE GUIAS DE TURISMO QUE PUSO LAS TILDES SOBRE LAS IES A DIFERENCIA DE LAS OTRAS SEUDO ASOCIACIONES CARACTERIZADAS POR TENER PRESIDENTES FRANELEROS Y CHUPAMEDIAS DE LAS AGENCIAS DE VIAJES Y TURISMO DE AREQUIPA.

Qué medidas tomará AUTOCOLCA cuyo promotor turístico se ha metido la lengua a la sombra de sus bolsillos ante las declaraciones de Zacarías Ocsa? ¿Qué medidas tomará Miguel Condori gerente de AUTOCOLCA y compañero de negocios y de aventuras de Zacarías Ocsa? Las investigaciones continúan.

Las investigaciones continúan y el hacha de los verdugos y fiscales esta lista para poner en un plato la cabeza de los corruptos y farsantes como Zacarías Ocsa.
Ciro Castillo descansa en paz . Dios perdona el pecado pero no los escándalos de los figurettis como Zacarías Ocsa. Ojalas desde el cielo protegas a todos los jóvenes turistas para que no vayan a su casa de guías y lo contraten como guía de montaña porque asi habrían más estudiantes perdidos como tú y eso no sería justo. Gracias por escuchar nuestra plegaría. Amen.

Cesar Hildebrandt: 'La muerte de Rosario Ponce'
Buscando en Google, Rebeca Diz, encontró algo sorprendente: si en la barra se escribe la frase “Rosario Ponce asesina”, aparecen 838.000 entradas; si se acude a la frase “Rosario Ponce culpable”, aparecen 428.000 posibilidades. Y para el código “Rosario Ponce ninfómana”, los posibles ingresos llegan a 4.930. Nada desdeñable. Se trata de toda una obra maestra del chisme porno, el asesinato simbólico, la cobardía del cargamontón.

Me quito el sombrero. En este país donde los juicios pueden durar años, el linchamiento de la chusma es de vértigo. Una por otra.Todo en este asunto fue novelescamente repulsivo. Una reportera de la tele, por ejemplo, “descubrió” que Rosario Ponce estuvo en un cuarto con televisión en la clínica privada donde debió internarse tras el regreso del Colca. “Aparentemente tranquila y con unos kilos demás, apareció Rosario Ponce en la gobernación de La Molina”, dijo la periodista de ATV al presentar un informe cargado de tarada malicia. Y luego la misma damisela le pregunta a los padres de la chica: “¿Tres meses se va de viaje su hija y deja al pequeño sólo con ustedes?” La insinuación es clara: mala madre, mala hija, mala amante: asesina en potencia. Es como hacer una sinfonía con una corchea. Es como hacer una mirada valiéndose de una legaña. Aquel informe tenía música a todo volumen y terminaba con esta frase: “¿Qué otros enigmas y misterios existen?” La verdad es que el único enigma era saber si la presentadora tenía 75 y 79 de coeficiente intelectual.

Y el noticiero de ATV no fue el único. Un día, “Buenos días Perú” ( que bien podría llamarse “ Buenas tardes Suiza”) puso el siguiente anzuelo pantalludo: “¿Mataron a Ciro?” El “informe” no tenía nada: ni pistas, ni revelaciones, ni entrevistas. Era un monumento virtual a la nada, a la huelga general del pensar. Una paisana del Colca solía decir: “Vinieron unos gringos y me pidieron un poco y una lampa” ¡Ajá! Un pico y una lampa es, en el dialecto de los reporteros con habilidades diferentes, un ideograma que se traduce como tumba. Y tumba era, en este caso, entierro por lo bajo. O sea: Te jodiste Rosario, nos venos en la cana.

En “Enemigos públicos” salió un supuesto experto en expresión corporal al decir esta frase criminalmente textual: “No la estoy culpando, no la estoy defendiendo, pero que algo oculta, algo oculta”. Este experto había hecho de cuerpo ante las cámaras y parecía feliz. Todo vale con tal de salir en TV. La TV confirma la existencia, enriquece la hoja de vida, redime a los anónimos, apellida a la vida.

Fue Beto Ortiz el Truman Capote oral de las tinieblas. Fue él quien “consagró” la “teoría” de que se había hallado el DNI de Ciro en el poblado de Madrigal , bajo las cumbres del Colca. “Se tendría la certeza — dijo en resumen este héroe de la noche — que Ciro y Rosario volvieron al poblado de Madrigal y que de allí Ciro habría desaparecido”. La novela negra escrita en una noche por alguien que ha frecuentado la sordidez pero que no tiene derecho a producirla como espectáculo, sobre todo cuando la reputación de terceras personas está en juego.

Canal 2 no podía quedarse en el colchón y compitió enérgicamente. Uno de los rescatistas dijo en su pantalla: “Podría estar preocupada, por lo menos mostrar un poquito de dolor, angustia, molestia…”. Claro, la indiferente era Rosario. Canal 4 puso lo suyo. “Nadie puede decir cuánto calla Rosario Ponce”, dijo “Cuarto Poder” desde la investidura de su rating. Y ya no hablemos de la prensa chicha, ese puré de chamanismo informativo, supuración sintáctica y pequeñez de todos los propósitos. En el lado de la prensa de más de 50 céntimos, Perú 21 fue rotundo, como casi siempre: “¡Mentirosa!” Y ya está: veredicto que no se apela.

Y luego vino don Ricardo Uceda, el comandante en jefe de la investigación en el Perú. Él fue el autor de un varonil ensayo de la vida sexual extraviada y superlativa de Rosario Ponce. Uceda habló con amigos y enemigos de la universidad donde ella había estudiado para obtener una especie de retrato genital de la señorita en cuestión. La conclusión era que ella candidateaba a ninfómana, era una necesitada crónica y podía romper las camas donde podía yacer de puro gusto. Un Uceda disfrazado de William Masters hizo lo que pocas veces se había visto en la llamada prensa seria. Y así por el estilo. El vampirismo de la prensa peruana encontró una de las yugulares más sabrosas. La vena canalla de la tele se ensaño como nunca.

El problema de Rosario Ponce, es que no lloraba, no estallaba en gritos, no cumplía las normas de la angustia. Hasta que este semanario incurrió en un exceso de sospechas al respecto.

Y también estuvo el asunto del padre de Ciro. Aquejado de un dolor tenaz, el doctor Castillo fingió haber sido un padre ejemplar y un marido impecable al que la fatalidad, disfrazada de precoz mujer fatal, había visitado. No era así: ahora se sabe que la desdicha de su hijo no interrumpió ninguna gran felicidad y que el hogar del doctor Castillo era tan disfuncional como el de la mayoría de la gente roída por el tiempo. Su matrimonio exhausto salió a la luz. Y ahora, convertido en líder del partido del sufrimiento, el doctor Castillo insiste en sus insinuaciones retorcidas.

He escuchado el linchamiento radial de Rosario Ponce, y he visto a la gente de Arequipa convertir el ataúd de Ciro en urna de votación, la muerte en programa de gobierno y la ignorancia en ejecutoria de un corte suprema de los milagros. Y me ha dado pena que el Perú siga siendo, en muchos aspectos, país de plebes fulminantes.

Ciro Castillo murió en una aventura montañera. Lo mató el azar, la arbitrariedad, el no-Dios de las alturas. Pero quien ha querido matar a Rosario Ponce, que cometió el pecado de no morirse al alimón, ha sido esta prensa nuestra que luego reclama por sus estatutos de privilegio. Al cuerno con ella.

Cesar Hildebrandt
Fuente: Semanario “Hildebrandt en sus trece”

Diez hipótesis sobre Ciro

by Esteban Valle-Riestra

Rosario Ponce esconde algo, definitivamente. Quizás, en un arrebato de pasión, empujó accidentalmente a Ciro por uno de los desfiladeros del cañón del Colca. O, probablemente, en un arranque de furia lo asesinó sin piedad y dejó su cuerpo a merced de las aves carroñeras. Incluso, no es descabellado pensar que ella, después de cometer el sangriento acto, contó la ayuda de un tercero, aquel hombre misterioso que tomó las fotos que han circulado en todos los medios de comunicación.

En esta historia sobre la joven pareja, que con su desaparición e mantuvo por meses en vilo a la audiencia peruana, la prensa se ha encargado de introducir diversas hipótesis, unas realistas, otras alucinantes, sobre lo que pudo pasar en las alturas del Colca. Sin embargo, en estos días en que el rescate del cuerpo sin vida del joven Ciro parece poner fin al relato, el periodista Jaime Bedoya nos presenta -a manera de crítica al rol asumido por los medios en este caso- otras hipótesis que pueden alimentar el “Ciro Circo”.

Ciro Circo

1. ROSARIO PONCE SIEMPRE TUVO UN PLAN. Se hizo extraer las glándulas lacrimales en el 2006. Por eso no llora.
2. ROSARIO PONCE SE HA HECHO RICA. Es accionista de la mayoría de los tabloides chicha del país.
3. ROSARIO PONCE ES UNA ALIENIGENA. Llevó a Ciro con engaños hacia el Bomboya, cuyo interior alberga una instalación extraterrestre destinada a extraer el alma de los humanos una por una.
4. UNA VEZ QUE SON ACEPTADOS COMO TALES, los Topos de México tienen que usar esos mamelucos anaranjados por el resto de sus días.
5. EL PODER JUDICIAL; LA POLICIA; EL COLEGIO MEDICO, y la opinión pública en general, deberían ser reemplazados por dos o tres desempleados de buen hablar dispuestos a opinar en los noticieros acerca de cualquier cosa sobre lo que se les pregunte.
6. EL BOMBOYA ES A CIRO lo que facebook a la tolerancia.
7. A UN NIVEL SUBCONSCIENTE; Nicolás Lúcar difundió la sesión sicológica privada de Rosario Ponce para resarcirse emocionalmente de la exposición pública de sus frotaciones extramaritales en un ascensor. Ahora es un hombre feliz.
8. DALE UN HUESO A UN PERRO y moverá la cola. Dale un cadáver a un periodista y hará una carrera.
9. EL COLCA NO ES LARCOMAR, o, la irresponsabilidad es la carnada de la tragedia.
10. LA MUERTE, siempre y cuando ajena o lejana, es un espectáculo irresistible.

Beware with the fake mountainclimbing guides in Colca Canyon

by the Colca Specialist

Miguel Zárate the real discoverer of Juanita the snow maiden has denounced publicly along with the directives of the tour guides association from Colca Canyon ASGUIP TUCAY the presence of a “fake” mountain climbing guides in Arequipa.

Zacarías Ocsa is the name of this “fake” mountain climbing guide who presents himself as a specialist in rescue and as a professional mountain climbing guide.

After the investigations done by the directives of ASGUIP TUCAY it was discovered that Zacarías Ocsa is not a professional mountain climbing guide neither an accredited specialist in rescue operations.

Zacarías Ocsa is just a common tour guide from Chivay, Colca Valley who is trying in different ways to become promoted. He took part as a volunteer in the search of the dead body of the Peruvian student Ciro Castillo Rojo, lost in the Bomboya area.

The “vulture” Zacarias Ocsa took advantage of the situation and he travelled to Lima offering interviews to the worst 5 cent Peruvian newspapers like “El TROME” and “OJO” which were looking for information about the dead student.In the interviews Zacarías Ocsa, the fake mountainclimbing guide narrates ridiculous stories about the dead student .The real situation is that the unethical Zacarías Ocsa wants to use this terrible situation in order to promote himself and one of his books in which he tells his theories about the death of the student Ciro Castillo Rojo.

The local tour guides association from Colca Canyon denounced that Zacarías Ocsa appears several times in different limenian newspapers as “expert mountain climbing guide” which is not true! This situation provoked the reaction of the association of local guides from Colca Canyon ASGUIP TUCAY ,association which Miguel Zárate is a member of.

The major of Caylloma province Elmer Cáceres Llica and the manager of the International Commerce and Tourism in Arequipa, Mr Luis Venero La Torre were notified about this situation by the representatives of ASGUIP TUCAY.

The situation of tourism in Arequipa is concerning. Crowded by illegal travel agencies and by illegal tour guides whose services are notoriously poor quality , arequipenian authorities need urgently to take measures in order to solve the problem.

This situation provokes by this unethical tour guide Zacarías Ocsa who wants just to become promoted thanks to the death of a student reflects the terrible situation of tourism in Arequipa whose authorities do nothing in order to put an end to informality and illegality.

The investigation continues and now the association of tour guides from Caylloma province want to know which NGOS from United States are backing up his mountain climbing projects. We are sure that ASGUIP TUCAY will discover soon the truth behind the curtains of corruption called “Tourism” in Arequipa.

Corpse of peruvian student was found in Colca Canyon

by the Colca Specialist

The corpse of the Peruvian student Ciro Castillo Rojo was found this April 21 on the cliffs near Bomboya mountain after an intensive search of 6 months.

Ciro Castillo Rojo and Rosario Ponce,a couple of students from Lima got lost in Colca Canyon when they were doing a trekking circuit from Madrigal to Tapay village.
Unfortunately the couple got lost in the surroundings of Bomboya area getting inside an abysm without an easy way out.

Rosario Ponce was found after ten days dehydrated but still conciouss but her couple Ciro was not found with her.

According to Rosario Ponce version , Ciro Castillo Rojo left her in order to look for help in Tapay area but Ciro never arrived there. Many different rescue teams took part in this search of Ciro but after several months of speculations and failed expeditions, the corpse of Ciro Castillo Rojo was found by a local mountain guide from Pinchollo Eloy Cacya.

The authorities actually investigate if Ciro Castillo Rojo was killed or not. Rosario Ponce is being investigated too.

Was Ciro Castillo the first lost student on the Bomboya?

Definitively no. Ciro Castillo Rojo was not the first one neither the only one. There were many tourists who got lost in the same circuit. The main mistake of these students was traveling without a local guide. Local guides know the area very well and in that circuit it is very important to hire one because on the area there are several paths that nobody knows very well where they end.

Bomboya is not the inca trail. There are no signs,nothing. If you get lost there you are in trouble because you are walking in the mountain range area which is very wide and wild.Walking with the aid of a touristic map is not a good idea.It is stupid!
Bomboya cannot be done in three days but five and you need a local guide in order to take the proper way.

If a tourist get lost in Colca Canyon nobody will look for him/her. There were many tourists that got lost in Bomboya area and nobody looked for them.

Ciro Castillo Rojo and Rosario Ponce belong to rich and important families from Lima. That is the difference. If I get lost in the area nobody will look for me but if the daughter of a congressman gets lost be sure that all the army is going to look for her. So before planning an expedition on the Andes Mountain Range is important to know what to expect in case you get lost.

Besides the rescue teams in Colca Canyon don´t have the necessary equipment for rescue expeditions. There is no helicopter designed for this kind of operations.So it is better to take the proper measures before doing an expedition in Bomboya area. Mistakes can have a tragic end like that of Ciro.

I am taking a trekking tour in Colca Canyon!

Well done,but what about if you fall on the way. Are you traveling with a professional tour guide or you are traveling with a non-professional trekking guide?
Think it twice before taking a trip. Situations like this should never happen anymore!

The Colca Specialist

The family of Ciro Castillo left this banner on the walls of the church of Chivay saying thank you Chivay for your help in the search of Ciro.

Carol Chamán and Ramón Flores ,members of a rescue team called "Los Topos de Mexico" helped the family of Ciro Castillo in the search of the lost student.

Carol Chamán and Ramón Flores were living in this hotel called "La Casa de Anita" keep this name in mind because this is the worst place in Chivay. Carol Chamán and Ramón Flores belongings were stolen in this hotel.

Somebody got inside the room and took all the results of the investigations done by the couple. GPS and other specialized equipment were stolen in this hotel. It is a shame that until the moment the police has done nothing about this situation! The couple came to help people in disgrace and they were stolen! The one in charge of the hotel is a man called ELVIS ROMERO.Take care much and don´t stay in this hotel.

On the wall you see several advertisements and if you pay attention the real name was put in the upper part of the left side in order to hide the name of the hotel after this event.

Eloy Cacya, a mountain guide from Colca Canyon. He was the one who found the dead body of Ciro Castillo Rojo. Eloy is from Colca Canyon and as we said before the role of local guides is very important for the development of tourism in the area. A local guide knows his homeland very well much better than tour guides from Arequipa.Eloy Cacya now has a dream: to open a school for local guides in his native village, Pinchollo in Colca Canyon.

Simona Cutipa: a living treasure in Colca Valley

by the Colca Specialist

Simona Cutipa is one of the living treasures from Colca Valley. She keeps the ancient tradition of embroidery. Embroidery was introduced during the Spanish conquest.

The preinca and inca people in Colca Valley had their own type of clothes. During the Spanish conquest the native clothes were replace by the new models brought from Spain. The women arms and neck couldn´t be exposed and had to be well covered.

The influence of catholic religion was very strong in those times and this influence can be specially appreciated in the clothes. Some conquerors arrived to the area with their wives from Europe. Of course their favorite place of most of them was Arequipa, “the white city”, but some of them arrived with their wives to the area, so native women were forced to dress the same way as the Spanish ladies.

The Spanish ladies used in those times the big crinolines that gave a special pompous shape to the skirts they wore.

Native women of Colca Valley and Colca Canyon started to use the same and that´s the moment were embroidery was introduced. The first patterns of embroidery taught were roses which were done with alpaca wool and painted with cactus seeds to color them, but, there are no roses in the area so with the pass of the time native women started to introduce all the different local patterns of the area such as the hummingbird, the vizcacha which a kind of chinchilla, the condor among others creating a new proper style.

When we see a native woman from Colca Valley or Colca Canyon dressed in the traditional clothes is like watching a lady from the Spanish conquest period.

Hats were introduced during the conquest too. Colca area was inhabited by two preinca groups: the kollawas and the cabanas respectively. Both groups practiced cranial deformation in order to differentiate themselves from the other ethnic groups. During the Spanish conquest cranial deformation was prohibited and considered diabolic so people started to use hats.

At the beginning they were a symbol of authority but with the pass of the time they created their own type of hats in order to keep the difference so now we have two hats very well defined: the white hats which are used in Colca Valley area by the descendants of the Kollawa people and the black hats covered with embroidery and crowned by an eight pointed star at the top of the head that represents the sun, typically used by the Cabana descendants.

Besides women are not talkative so they represent their civil status through the use of flowers. In the case of the white hats, one flower means married, two flowers means single and a black flower with a black skirt means widow. In the case of the Cabana hats the presence of Cantuta flowers on the hats means that the girl is not married.

Simona Cutipa keeps the tradition of embroidery in Colca Valley. She lives in Chivay and her little store can be found easily in one of the small passages of the square.
There you can see why she is considered like a living treasure in Colca Valley area.Simona was invited by the Spanish cooperation group, a NGO from Spain, to participate in a embroidery conquest in Europe. Everybody was delighted by the skills of Simona who won the first place in the international embroidery conquest.

All the participants did drawings before doing the embroidery. Simona doesn´t do any kind of drawings. The drawings are inside her mind and he uses the machine as a pencil. She can make a condor in seconds. It is such an incredible experience to see her performing this forgotten art of embroidery.

Colca valley and Colca canyon were invaded by the cheap low quality handicrafts from Puno.

Disgracefully many visitors have the idea that those handicrafts are original from Colca area and it is not like that. Peru is the country of the thousand bloods as we say and there are different ethnic groups with their own languages and it is a terrible mistake to believe that all Peruvians are the same. Each group have their own unique traditions and their own handicrafts.

Colca Valley and Colca Canyon handicrafts are unique and more elaborated. Their quality is better. Because their prices are higher tourist prefer to buy cheap articles whose quality is very poor too. That is why the local handicrafts cannot compete with those from Puno area.

I had the opportunity to read in a Lonely Planet Guidebook that it is recommended to bargain all the time before buying. Natives don´t make much money from their articles so if you bargain don´t be abusive. Don´t give the impression that you are a cheap and stingy. Be fair.

If you want to buy articles at good prices go alone without the tour guide so in that way you won´t have to pay the tour guide commission. Good luck my friends and don´t forget to visit Simonas little store in Chivay. Sustainable tourism is important especially in these days. We should practice a sustainable tourism during our visits.

You can find Simona in the following address:
Calle Puente Inca 116
Chivay- Valle del Colca
Cellphone: 959395858

Famous people in Colca Canyon Part I

by the Colca Specialist


Miguel Rumaldo Mamani Huanca

To talk about Miguel Rumaldo Mamani Huanca means to talk about mountainbiking. He took part in several road cycling competitions and cross country events and his reputation as a champion is well known in Arequipa.

Miguel Mamani is not just a professional cyclist but also a touristic promoter and a tour guide from Caylloma province, a province where the Colca Canyon is located.

As a professional tour guide and touristic promoter I had the opportunity of traveling with very qualified tour guides from Arequipa,but let me tell you something, traveling with a local guide is very interesting because their knowledge doesn´t come just from books but from their daily experience.

If you go to Chivay just by yourself you can contact him and you won´t be disappointed. Miguel Mamani won´t offer you the classical boring two-day tour to the Colca Canyon but other circuits that are not visited by tourists such as the tour to Mismi volcano which is the source of Amazon river, mountainbiking and trekking in the Colca Canyon among other tours that are very interesting and worth to be done. The prices are cheaper than in Arequipa. Enough reasons to book for tours with local guides from Colca Canyon.

Miguel Mamani has a passion for tourism and he loves to show the culture of his people to the visitors. He is very patient with the tourists which is important and he is very helpful.
If you are traveling by yourself or you are looking for free info about the different circuits in Colca Canyon you can write him to: mikicolcabiker@hotmail.com You won´t be disappointed!

La Muerte de Rosario Ponce y el circo de Ciro

César Hildebrant

Buscando en Google, Rebeca Diz, encontró algo sorprendente: si en la barra se escribe la frase “Rosario Ponce asesina”, aparecen 838.000 entradas; si se acude a la frase “Rosario Ponce culpable”, aparecen 428.000 posibilidades. Y para el código “Rosario Ponce ninfómana”, los posibles ingresos llegan a 4.930. Nada desdeñable. Se trata de toda una obra maestra del chisme porno, el asesinato simbólico, la cobardía del cargamontón.

Me quito el sombrero. En este país donde los juicios pueden durar años, el linchamiento de la chusma es de vértigo. Una por otra.Todo en este asunto fue novelescamente repulsivo. Una reportera de la tele, por ejemplo, “descubrió” que Rosario Ponce estuvo en un cuarto con televisión en la clínica privada donde debió internarse tras el regreso del Colca. “Aparentemente tranquila y con unos kilos demás, apareció Rosario Ponce en la gobernación de La Molina”, dijo la periodista de ATV al presentar un informe cargado de tarada malicia. Y luego la misma damisela le pregunta a los padres de la chica: “¿Tres meses se va de viaje su hija y deja al pequeño sólo con ustedes?” La insinuación es clara: mala madre, mala hija, mala amante: asesina en potencia. Es como hacer una sinfonía con una corchea. Es como hacer una mirada valiéndose de una legaña. Aquel informe tenía música a todo volumen y terminaba con esta frase: “¿Qué otros enigmas y misterios existen?” La verdad es que el único enigma era saber si la presentadora tenía 75 y 79 de coeficiente intelectual.

Y el noticiero de ATV no fue el único. Un día, “Buenos días Perú” ( que bien podría llamarse “ Buenas tardes Suiza”) puso el siguiente anzuelo pantalludo: “¿Mataron a Ciro?” El “informe” no tenía nada: ni pistas, ni revelaciones, ni entrevistas. Era un monumento virtual a la nada, a la huelga general del pensar. Una paisana del Colca solía decir: “Vinieron unos gringos y me pidieron un poco y una lampa” ¡Ajá! Un pico y una lampa es, en el dialecto de los reporteros con habilidades diferentes, un ideograma que se traduce como tumba. Y tumba era, en este caso, entierro por lo bajo. O sea: Te jodiste Rosario, nos venos en la cana.

En “Enemigos públicos” salió un supuesto experto en expresión corporal al decir esta frase criminalmente textual: “No la estoy culpando, no la estoy defendiendo, pero que algo oculta, algo oculta”. Este experto había hecho de cuerpo ante las cámaras y parecía feliz. Todo vale con tal de salir en TV. La TV confirma la existencia, enriquece la hoja de vida, redime a los anónimos, apellida a la vida.

Fue Beto Ortiz el Truman Capote oral de las tinieblas. Fue él quien “consagró” la “teoría” de que se había hallado el DNI de Ciro en el poblado de Madrigal , bajo las cumbres del Colca. “Se tendría la certeza — dijo en resumen este héroe de la noche — que Ciro y Rosario volvieron al poblado de Madrigal y que de allí Ciro habría desaparecido”. La novela negra escrita en una noche por alguien que ha frecuentado la sordidez pero que no tiene derecho a producirla como espectáculo, sobre todo cuando la reputación de terceras personas está en juego.

Canal 2 no podía quedarse en el colchón y compitió enérgicamente. Uno de los rescatistas dijo en su pantalla: “Podría estar preocupada, por lo menos mostrar un poquito de dolor, angustia, molestia…”. Claro, la indiferente era Rosario. Canal 4 puso lo suyo. “Nadie puede decir cuánto calla Rosario Ponce”, dijo “Cuarto Poder” desde la investidura de su rating. Y ya no hablemos de la prensa chicha, ese puré de chamanismo informativo, supuración sintáctica y pequeñez de todos los propósitos. En el lado de la prensa de más de 50 céntimos, Perú 21 fue rotundo, como casi siempre: “¡Mentirosa!” Y ya está: veredicto que no se apela.

Y luego vino don Ricardo Uceda, el comandante en jefe de la investigación en el Perú. Él fue el autor de un varonil ensayo de la vida sexual extraviada y superlativa de Rosario Ponce. Uceda habló con amigos y enemigos de la universidad donde ella había estudiado para obtener una especie de retrato genital de la señorita en cuestión.

La conclusión era que ella candidateaba a ninfómana, era una necesitada crónica y podía romper las camas donde podía yacer de puro gusto. Un Uceda disfrazado de William Masters hizo lo que pocas veces se había visto en la llamada prensa seria. Y así por el estilo. El vampirismo de la prensa peruana encontró una de las yugulares más sabrosas. La vena canalla de la tele se ensaño como nunca.

El problema de Rosario Ponce, es que no lloraba, no estallaba en gritos, no cumplía las normas de la angustia. Hasta que este semanario incurrió en un exceso de sospechas al respecto.

Y también estuvo el asunto del padre de Ciro. Aquejado de un dolor tenaz, el doctor Castillo fingió haber sido un padre ejemplar y un marido impecable al que la fatalidad, disfrazada de precoz mujer fatal, había visitado. No era así: ahora se sabe que la desdicha de su hijo no interrumpió ninguna gran felicidad y que el hogar del doctor Castillo era tan disfuncional como el de la mayoría de la gente roída por el tiempo. Su matrimonio exhausto salió a la luz. Y ahora, convertido en líder del partido del sufrimiento, el doctor Castillo insiste en sus insinuaciones retorcidas.

He escuchado el linchamiento radial de Rosario Ponce, y he visto a la gente de Arequipa convertir el ataúd de Ciro en urna de votación, la muerte en programa de gobierno y la ignorancia en ejecutoria de un corte suprema de los milagros. Y me ha dado pena que el Perú siga siendo, en muchos aspectos, país de plebes fulminantes.

Ciro Castillo murió en una aventura montañera. Lo mató el azar, la arbitrariedad, el no-Dios de las alturas. Pero quien ha querido matar a Rosario Ponce, que cometió el pecado de no morirse al alimón, ha sido esta prensa nuestra que luego reclama por sus estatutos de privilegio. Al cuerno con ella.

Cesar Hildebrandt
Fuente: Semanario “Hildebrandt en sus trece”

The Simpsons protest against travel agencies and tour guides from Arequipa.

by the Colca Specialist

The most important tour guides association from Colca Canyon ASGUIP TUCAY has declared Eddy del Carpio,the president of AVIT (travel agencies association from Arequipa) as not welcome in Colca Canyon area.

ASGUIP TUCAY has published a list of UNDESIRABLE TOUR GUIDES AND TRAVEL AGENCIES FROM AREQUIPA,travel agencies and tour guides that were involve in scandals of corruption, prostitution, rapism, accidents, fraud , abusive commissions and other problems that are affecting the development of sustainable tourism in Colca Canyon .

How can Colca Canyon be considered as one of the marvels of the world if there are problems that are affecting the development of tourism in the area? Basics first. If the authorities want Colca Canyon to be considered as one of the marvels of the world ,first, they need to pave the road and then to put order in this circus of commissionists!

See :http://asguiptucay.blogspot.com/2011/09/avit-y-eddy-del-carpio-no-gratos-en-la.html

At the same time The Simpsoms, one of the most popular cartoons of peruvian kids were chosen to create posters as part of the campaign against the abusive tour guides commissions which are increasing each time more.

The representatives of AUTOCOLCA until the moment have done nothing to solve the problem. The major of Caylloma province needs to take measures against this situation that is not only affecting the economy of locals but tourists economy too. The complaints of tourists have increased in the last months and many of them feel that they were overcharged by the touristic restaurants which is right.

We are sure that the posters and the T- shirts will become pieces of collection in Colca Canyon area, and if you see one poster or one T- shirt of this campaign buy one! In that way you will be supporting the natives of Colca and the tourists too!

About Trip Advisor advices

By Susan Breslow Sardone

The Bottom Line

Trip Advisor is a travel opinion aggregator. Recently some hotels — especially those with less-than-glowing reviews — have tried inducing guests with discounts, free nights, gifts, and other bribes to post positive reviews that counteract negative statements. Some hotels also encourage staff members to post bogus positive reviews. While Trip Advisor aims to monitor and remove fakes, there's no way the service can totally eliminate them.

Pros
· Trip Advisor is a unique, timely, populist travel resource
· Trip Advisor enables a variety of opinions to be voiced
· Trip Advisor's Quick Check is a well-integrated search engine for online booking

Cons
· Widely diverse opinions ("Loved it!"..."Hated it!") make it hard to objectively evaluate a place
· Dissatisfied guests use Trip Advisor as a venue to broadcast bad experiences
· Trip Advisor has many poorly written trip reviews
· Bogus positive reviews posted along with honest ones can confuse users

Description

· Cities and hotels, restaurants and attractions are covered in the Trip Advisor database.
· Trip Advisor's Hotel Popularity Index provides a ranking of the top hotels in a city.
· Trip Advisor also links to travel guidebooks and Web articles.
· Got a question? Nearly 2/3 of Trip Advisor forum posts get an answer within 24 hours.
· Candid photos by Trip Advisor members provide fresh perspectives.
· Free Trip Advisor emails include Trip Watch, a personalized newsletter, and Weekend Getaway Guide.
· Smart Deals on Trip Advisor indicate highly rated hotels with good prices.

Guide Review - Trip Advisor

Trip Advisor features some 45 million reviews and opinions, including both rants and raves about destinations, hotels, attractions, and restaurants.

If you're like most travelers, when planning a trip you appreciate hearing or reading others' opinions before you choose a place. Yet a surfeit of (often conflicting) voices can create cacophony and confusion. I recently received an email that said:

I am so happy I came across your info on About.com. I am trying to plan a destination wedding, but get so discouraged after reading negative reviews on Trip Advisor about every place I look in to. (Except for Four Seasons and the Ritz, which are too expensive for me).

Here's my advice to get the most from Trip Advisor:

· Take what you read on Trip Advisor with a grain of salt. If you see a scathing one-star review but no other writers complain about the same problem(s), it's safe to write it off as an isolated incident.

· However, if you encounter the same complaint about a hotel repeatedly on Trip Advisor (e.g. "terrible service," "dirty bathroom"), I'd trust it.

· Conversely, a glowing, this-place-couldn't-be-better report on Trip Advisor — especially when it's surrounded by others' complaints — could have been written by a ringer.

· Use Trip Advisor as one — but not your only — resource for travel information. You can get a balanced picture by speaking with trusted friends and acquaintances, talking to a travel agent, and visiting other travel sites in addition to a property's own Web site.

Can Quechua survive?

Endangered Languages, Endangered Lives

by Anna Saroli

Quechua has been spoken in Perú since it became the unifying language of the Inca Empire 600 years ago. As the most widely spoken autochthonous language of Perú, it is considered to be an official language along with Spanish. Statistics vary, but the number of Quechua speakers in Perú is estimated at four and a half million, approximately 19 percent of the total population.

(Instituto Nacional de Estadística e Informática: Censos Nacionales 1993) Some regions are predominantly Quechua speaking. In the Department of Cusco,(1) for example, Quechua speakers comprise almost 64 percent of the population: 39 percent in urban centers and 86 percent in rural areas.

In spite of the prevalence and the antiquity of the Quechua language, however, Spanish is the language of power in all regions of Perú, even those in which there are more Quechua speakers than Spanish speakers. Many Quechua-speaking Peruvians need to learn Spanish in order to function in their own country, as the latter is the language of commerce, education, and government.

The negative attitude many Spanish-speaking Peruvians have toward the Quechua language and those who speak it makes matters worse. Many view Quechua, an oral language generally considered to be difficult if not impossible to write, as an archaic language spoken by Indians.

There exists a strange dichotomy between the pride in the history and culture of the Inca Empire (promoted by government and tourist sectors) and the disdain with which the living descendants of this empire are regarded. The unfortunate result of these attitudes is that many Quechua speakers hide their linguistic roots.

Speaking a fractured Spanish with their children, who learn to speak neither Quechua nor Spanish well, they prefer to pass as Spanish speakers.
In the city of Cusco, once the capital of the Inca Empire and now the departmental capital, Quechua is rarely seen in the media. Not a single newspaper or magazine is published in Quechua; the only written Quechua to be found is in academic works on linguistic or literary topics, or in songbooks for musicians.

The national university in Cusco offers only two courses in Quechua, for degrees in medicine and pedagogy. Quechua is taught in only one private school in Cusco. The Academy of the Quechua Language languishes for lack of government support; its members, mostly retirees, give of their time for love of the language.

A few radio stations do broadcast music, news, or personal announcements for people in isolated communities; all of these stations, however, are either private or partially financed by NGOs; they are not protected in any way by the government.

Unless steps are taken to promote the Quechua language in the public sectors, the real possibility exists that it will decline in importance to the point that it is no longer used with any frequency, as has been the fate of minority languages in many countries.

Governmental Policies Then and Now

The Peruvian government has not been unsympathetic, but its efforts to promote and protect Quechua have been sporadic and superficial at best. In 1975, the idealistic military government of General Velasco made Quechua an official language in areas with high numbers of Quechua speakers.

For a few years, the language was taught in public schools, but this was a second-language program aimed at Spanish speakers; its purpose was to raise the profile of Quechua rather than to implement true bilingual education. This program disappeared with successive changes in government.

Now, 25 years later, the Ministry of Education in the city of Cusco is laying the groundwork for another program in primary education. Optimistically called "bilingual and bicultural," it appears on close examination to be neither bilingual nor bicultural. Its stated goals are: (1) the introduction of Quechua as the language of instruction for Quechua-speaking children in rural areas, and (2) the maintenance and preservation of the Quechua culture.

Yet policy-makers have adopted a program of transition for the children involved, with no consideration of the possibility of implementing a truly bilingual program of maintenance. (With reference to bilingual education, a program of transition is one in which children learn in their native language for as long as it will take them to become fluent in the dominant language, which then becomes the language of instruction.

A maintenance program uses both languages concurrently.) All instruction in grades one and two is to be in Quechua, but from grade three, Spanish will be phased in. At no point is the desired result -- the hispanicization of these children and their absorption into mainstream Spanish-speaking culture -- questioned.

The common experience for a child from a Quechua-speaking background is to be plunged into a Spanish-speaking school environment at the age of five or six. By grade four or five, most are able to speak Spanish, but many never learn to read well and few go on to secondary school. By implementing a program that addresses the number of children, especially in rural areas, who face the difficulties of learning in what is for them a foreign language, the government is taking a step in the right direction.

The policy as it stands has many limitations, however. Since the program's main goal appears to be to incorporate minority children as quickly as possible into the Spanish-speaking mainstream, it will do little to effect real change in the prevailing perception of Quechua as a second-class language. In practical terms, too, the program may not be well conceived. Although the Ministry states, for instance, that its strategies include the elaboration of materials and workshops in Quechua for teachers, the only materials developed to date have been didactic manuals. There are no readers or other materials for students and no signs as yet of training or support for teachers.

The Peruvian government has always been prone to implementing "top-down" policies that may be misunderstood and resisted by those who should benefit from them. It is clear that there will need to be increased and sensitive consultation with government officials, and real input and participation from the Quechua-speaking communities, for any such program to be effective.

Community Attitudes

In interviews in Cusco and in surrounding rural communities, Quechua speakers and teachers commented on: (1) their personal experience of the Quechua language, and (2) whether Quechua should indeed be promoted in their schools or the communities they lived in.

Teachers

Thirty-four teachers working in schools ranging from reasonably well-appointed urban schools through semi-urban to impoverished rural schools were interviewed. All of the teachers were either native Quechua speakers or had learned Quechua as their only means of communicating with their students.

When asked for a wish list, the teachers' requests were for didactic materials for classroom use and for training courses in the Quechua language, two basic needs not being met by the government. Almost without exception, the teachers firmly believed that the best way to teach Quechua-speaking children is in their own language, at least throughout primary education (though a significant number also support programs of maintenance through secondary school).

Their experiences with the academic problems suffered by minority-language children in a majority-language system support current pedagogical research showing that these children progress significantly more slowly than majority-language children and tend to drop out of school more frequently.(2)

Teachers working with Quechua-speaking children in a Spanish-language framework face many additional challenges. Most of them are young women, often poorly trained and badly paid. Those who work in rural areas feel a great sense of isolation and a need for improved communication with government departments, whose staff tend to be urbanites with no real understanding of these isolated and often monolingual Communities.

The teachers frequently make heroic efforts to cope with the difficult situation in which they work; many of them use their own money to create teaching aids. They are, however, often overwhelmed by lack of support, few teaching aids, isolation, and poor remuneration; frustration and burnout are common results.

Parents in Rural Communities

There are enormous differences in terms of literacy and general sophistication between Quechua speakers living in traditional agricultural communities (comuneros) and those who were born in or have migrated to urban areas. Not one of the comuneros interviewed had studied beyond primary school, and many of the women were illiterate.

Six had some Spanish, while the others were monoglots. People living in rural areas often have little contact with the Spanish-speaking world, and they tend to compartmentalize uses of Spanish and Quechua: Spanish is used for traveling to Cusco, in schools, with the government, at hospitals, or in other areas of perceived authority.

Quechua is the language of daily communication with family and community. A mistrust of most government officials exists among monolingual Quechua-speakers as a result of a long history of repression and exploitation.

Many of the comuneros have had unpleasant experiences with those in positions of authority, and they tend to believe the idea that if those authorities want Quechua to be used in schools, they must intend to keep the children ignorant and backward. This belief may result in resistance to the use of Quechua in schools on the part of parents who want their children to be taught only in Spanish, the language of progress and of power.

Teachers did comment that parents are opposed to the implementation of bilingual education. Clearly, however, it is important to examine closely the reasons behind this resistance. During discussions with the comuneros about the pedagogic reasons for teaching a child in his or her native language (using examples from countries where bilingual education has been successfully implemented), the idea of using Quechua as well as and not instead of Spanish became more reasonable. The thought that they themselves might also learn to read in their own language took root.

Migrants and Urbanites

Although the government is taking some steps toward implementing a bilingual program in rural areas, the linguistic needs of a sizeable population of Quechua speakers who have migrated from rural to urban areas are not being met (see also Oliveira, this issue).

A group of ten newly-urbanized Quechua-speakers -- all women and parents who spend part or all of their time in Cusco working in small, family-run businesses or selling their products in the markets or to tourists -- were interviewed. Quechua speakers by birth, these women are now bilingual, and in comparison with rural dwellers, sophisticated in their interactions with modern society.

Though their children are generally enrolled in schools in the city, some may spend part of the year in their home communities; their education is thus fragmented. The children often have to work from a young age in order to help support the family (city schools now recognize this reality and some offer evening classes for working children).

All of these entrepreneurs are aware of the benefits of education. They support the idea of bilingual education in the schools, even through secondary school, and would like to see greater exposure of Quechua in the media.(3) With the pragmatism that enables them to survive, they do not dispute the need for Spanish, but they still value Quechua for its historicity and because it is "theirs."

In spite of this positive outlook, however, signs of language death are present.(4) Urban residents all claimed to speak Quechua at home with their children, but in some cases they admitted that the children do not speak the language well.

Many of the children were uncomfortable in Quechua; some did not speak the language or preferred to use Spanish, a preference probably due to the common perception of Quechua speakers as uneducated and inferior to Spanish speakers. Approximately half of the parents commented that their relatives no longer wish to speak Quechua; that they consider it "ugly," or "are ashamed," or do not want to appear to be "from the country."

More than half said that people in the rural communities from which they had migrated do not use Quechua as much as they used to. If these women and children are representative of those from other urban and semi-urban areas, it would appear that the use of Quechua is declining. The increasing migration to and contact with urban areas in the past decades bode ill for the active survival of the language.

The linguistic pattern evidenced among these migrants in Cusco illustrates a process especially common among migrants to urban areas from traditional agricultural societies and typical of areas where language decline and death have taken place. The pattern operates in the following way: grandparents speak only the traditional language; parents speak both the native language and the language of assimilation, and their children become monolingual in the assimilated language.

Future Direction

In order for Quechua to be strengthened and promoted in Perú, negative attitudes toward the language, ingrained over centuries by the Spanish-speaking elite, must be reversed; initiatives to reinforce the daily use of Quechua and, as a consequence, its presence as a living entity in Peruvian society should be implemented.

The Ministry of Education's bilingual program needs improved planning and implementation. It is of prime importance to promote the use of Quechua in schools, albeit in maintenance rather than in transition programs (as is current policy). For these programs to be successful, however, certain other steps must be taken.

The most important is to win parental support for bilingual language programs. To this end, consultation and sensitization sessions for both parents and teachers should be held. This policy must not be seen as another idea imposed by authorities that will result in greater separation of Quechua-speakers from modern Perú.

Rather, it must be viewed as a joint effort to make the educational experience a positive one for every child, with the full consultation and participation of parents, teachers, and government.
To ensure the effectiveness of this new teaching program, teachers must be supported with teaching materials and workshops.

Quechua in its written form for the use of adult speakers should also be promoted. The perception currently exists that Quechua is a difficult if not impossible language to write. Academics waste much time and energy debating the value of three versus five vowels in written Quechua.

This kind of debate is ultimately counterproductive, as it diverts attention from truly urgent issues. If literacy equals power, Quechua must be available not just in academic contexts in its written form, but integrated into daily life and made accessible to everyone in the form of newspapers, magazines, and informative government pamphlets.(5) Adult literacy classes, especially for women, Could be productively integrated into this type of initiative.

The broadcast media is another area in which the government could be supportive, by funding television and especially radio programs in Quechua. The radio has long been used for the dissemination of information to outlying villages. Without government funding, however, radio stations broadcasting in Quechua are vulnerable to market pressures.(6)

Negative attitudes toward Quechua cannot easily be banished by government edict. Nevertheless, directing government resources toward raising the profile of Quechua in a sensitive way, with constant consultation with Quechua-speakers, is a crucial first step in renewing and reinforcing people's pride in their own language.

Conclusion

It has been estimated that half of the languages extant today will disappear during the next century. Although a superficial glance gives the impression that Quechua is not in imminent danger, a closer look reveals that within the Peruvian context, Quechua plays a secondary role to Spanish. What support it receives from the government is mainly theoretical. As we move into the twenty-first century -- with increasing internal migration to urban centers, and with technology playing an ever-growing role in the homogenization of cultures -- the Quechua language will in all likelihood continue to lose ground. A real danger is that people, mollified by current government efforts to institute "bilingual" education in some primary schools, will assume that these efforts are sufficient. If Quechua is to play a true role as an official language of Perú, only the first steps on a long journey have been taken.

(1). Departments, further divided into provinces, are the administrative divisions of Perú.
(2). See, for example, Hornberger, 1989.
(3). All of the women say they listen daily to one of the few radio programs in Quechua, Warmikuna rimanchis (Women speaking).
(4). For a discussion of language death, see Edwards, 1985.
(5). A strong case is made for the importance of publishing as a tool for language preservation in Bernard, 1996.
(6). The media can, unfortunately, be a two-edged sword. If the government does become involved in Quechua radio and television, it will likely aim programming at the much larger Spanish-speaking audience, which would result in more slick television programs of Andean music and dance, almost all broadcast from Lima.
References & further reading:
Bernard, H.R. (1996). Language Preservation and Publishing. In Indigenous Literacies in the Americas. N.H. Hornberger, Ed. Berlin: Mouton de Gruyter. Pp 139-156.
Edwards, J. (1985). Language, Society and Identity. Oxford: Basil Blackwell, Ltd.
Grenoble, L.A. & Whaley, L.J., Eds. (1998). Endangered Languages. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
Hornberger, N. (1989). Haku yachaywasiman: la educación bilingüe y el futuro del quechua en Puno. Lima-Puno: Programa de Educación Bilingüe en Puno.
Nettle, D. & Romaine, S.P. (2000). Vanishing Voices: The Extinction of the World's Languages. New York: USA Oxford University Press.
Article copyright Cultural Survival, Inc.

Capetown Declaration: What is that?

by the Colca Specialist

This is a very important article everybody should read especially our future tour guides,our irresponsible tour operators,our empty headed authorities and our beloved commissionists or tour guides from Arequipa.
As John Lennon said one: You cannot trust in people older than 23 years old if they tell you that they are going to change.
You were right John,but the Colca Specialist is very positive, so that is why I keep sharing information because I know that somebody out there will listen my voice.

The Cape Town Declaration

The Cape Town Conference was organised by the Responsible Tourism Partnership (more) and Western Cape Tourism as a side event preceding the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. The Cape Town Conference on Responsible Tourism in Destinations was attended by 280 delegates from 20 countries. The conference grew out of the South African work on responsible tourism guidelines and involved delegates field-testing the South African Guidelines on sites in and around Cape Town.

RESPONSIBLE TOURISM IN DESTINATIONS

Shaping sustainable spaces into better places

We, representatives of inbound and outbound tour operators, emerging entrepreneurs in the tourism industry, national parks, provincial conservation authorities, all spheres of government, tourism professionals, tourism authorities, NGOs and hotel groups and other tourism stakeholders, from 20 countries in Africa, North and South America, Europe and Asia; having come together in Cape Town to consider the issue of Responsible Tourism in Destinations have agreed this declaration.

Mindful of the debates at the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development in 1999, which asserted the importance of the economic, social and environment aspects of sustainable development and of the interests of indigenous peoples and local communities in particular.
Recognising the global challenge of reducing social and economic inequalities and reducing poverty, and the importance of New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD) in the process.

Recognising the importance of the World Tourism Organization’s Global Code of Ethics, which aims to promote responsible, sustainable and universally accessible tourism and sharing its commitment to equitable, responsible and sustainable world tourism and its STEP initiative with UNCTAD, which seeks to harness sustainable tourism to help eliminate poverty.

Conscious that we are now ten years on from the Rio Earth Summit on Environment and Development, and that the World Summit on Sustainable Development taking place in Johannesburg will put renewed emphasis on sustainability, economic development, and in particular on poverty reduction.

Aware of the World Tourism Organization, World Travel and Tourism Council and the Earth Council's updated Agenda 21 for the Travel and Tourism Industry and the success achieved by a number of businesses, local communities and national and local governments in moving towards sustainability in tourism.

Aware of the work of the UNEP, and the Tourism Industry Report 2002, and work of UNESCO, and other UN agencies, promoting sustainable tourism in partnership with the private sector, NGOs, civil society organisations and government.

Aware of the guidelines for sustainable tourism in vulnerable ecosystems being developed in the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity.

Conscious of developments in other industries and sectors, and in particular of the growing international demand for ethical business, and the adoption of clear Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policies by companies, and the transparent reporting of achievements in meeting CSR objectives in company annual reports.

Recognising that there has been considerable progress in addressing the environmental impacts of tourism, although there is a long way to go to achieve sustainability; and that more limited progress has been made in harnessing tourism for local economic development, for the benefit of communities and indigenous peoples, and in managing the social impacts of tourism.

Endorsing the Global Code of Ethics and the importance of making all forms of tourism sustainable through all stakeholders taking responsibility for creating better forms of tourism and realising these aspirations.

Relishing the diversity of our world's cultures, habitats and species and the wealth of our cultural and natural heritage, as the very basis of tourism, we accept that responsible and sustainable tourism will be achieved in different ways in different places.

Accepting that, in the words of the Global Code of Ethics, an attitude of tolerance and respect for the diversity of religious, philosophical and moral beliefs, are both the foundation and the consequence of responsible tourism.

Recognising that dialogue, partnerships and multi-stakeholder processes - involving government, business and local communities - to make better places for hosts and guests can only be realised at the local level, and that all stakeholders have different, albeit interdependent, responsibilities; tourism can only be managed for sustainability at the destination level.

Conscious of the importance of good governance and political stability in providing the context for responsible tourism in destinations, and recognising that the devolution of decision making power to democratic local government is necessary to build stable partnerships at a local level, and to the empowerment of local communities.

Aware that the management of tourism requires the participation of a broad range of government agencies and particularly at the local destination level.

Recognising that in order to protect the cultural, social and environmental integrity of destinations limits to tourism development are sometimes necessary.

Having, during the Cape Town Conference, examined the South African Guidelines for Responsible Tourism, tested them in a series of field visits, and explored how tourism can be made to work better for local communities, tourists and businesses alike, we recognise their value in helping to shape sustainable tourism in South Africa.

Recognising that one of the strengths of the South African Guidelines for Responsible Tourism is that they were developed through a national consultative process, and that they reflect the priorities and aspirations of the South African people.

Recognising that Responsible Tourism takes many forms, that different destinations and stakeholders will have different priorities, and that local policies and guidelines will need to be developed through multi-stakeholder processes to develop responsible tourism in destinations.

Having the following characteristics, Responsible Tourism:

• minimises negative economic, environmental, and social impacts;
• generates greater economic benefits for local people and enhances the well-being of host communities, improves working conditions and access to the industry;
• involves local people in decisions that affect their lives and life chances;
• makes positive contributions to the conservation of natural and cultural heritage, to the maintenance of the world's diversity;
• provides more enjoyable experiences for tourists through more meaningful connections with local people, and a greater understanding of local cultural, social and environmental issues;
• provides access for physically challenged people; and
• is culturally sensitive, engenders respect between tourists and hosts, and builds local pride and confidence

We call upon countries, multilateral agencies, destinations and enterprises to develop similar practical guidelines and to encourage planning authorities, tourism businesses, tourists and local communities - to take responsibility for achieving sustainable tourism, and to create better places for people to live in and for people to visit.

We urge multilateral agencies responsible for development strategies to include sustainable responsible tourism in their outcomes.

Determined to make tourism more sustainable, and accepting that it is the responsibility of all stakeholders in tourism to achieve more sustainable forms of tourism, we commit ourselves to pursue the principles of Responsible Tourism.

Convinced that it is primarily in the destinations, the places that tourists visit, where tourism enterprises conduct their business and where local communities and tourists and the tourism industry interact, that the economic, social and environmental impacts of tourism need to be managed responsibly, to maximise positive impacts and minimise negative ones.

We undertake to work in concrete ways in destinations to achieve better forms of tourism and to work with other stakeholders in destinations. We commit to build the capacity of all stakeholders in order to ensure that they can secure an effective voice in decision making. We uphold the guiding principles for Responsible Tourism which were identified:

Guiding Principles for Economic Responsibility

• Assess economic impacts before developing tourism and exercise preference for those forms of development that benefit local communities and minimise negative impacts on local livelihoods (for example through loss of access to resources), recognising that tourism may not always be the most appropriate form of local economic development
• Maximise local economic benefits by increasing linkages and reducing leakages, by ensuring that communities are involved in, and benefit from, tourism. Wherever possible use tourism to assist in poverty reduction by adopting pro-poor strategies
• Develop quality products that reflect, complement, and enhance the destination
• Market tourism in ways which reflect the natural, cultural and social integrity of the destination, and which encourage appropriate forms of tourism
• Adopt equitable business practises, pay and charge fair prices, and build partnerships in ways in which risk is minimised and shared, and recruit and employ staff recognising international labour standards
• Provide appropriate and sufficient support to small, medium and micro enterprises to ensure tourism-related enterprises thrive and are sustainable
Guiding Principles for Social Responsibility
• Actively involve the local community in planning and decision-making and provide capacity building to make this a reality
• Assess social impacts throughout the life cycle of the operation – including the planning and design phases of projects - in order to minimise negative impacts and maximise positive ones
• Endeavour to make tourism an inclusive social experience and to ensure that there is access for all, in particular vulnerable and disadvantaged communities and individuals
• Combat the sexual exploitation of human beings, particularly the exploitation of children
• Be sensitive to the host culture, maintaining and encouraging social and cultural diversity
• Endeavour to ensure that tourism contributes to improvements in health and education
Guiding Principles for Environmental Responsibility
• Assess environmental impacts throughout the life cycle of tourist establishments and operations – including the planning and design phase - and ensure that negative impacts are reduced to the minimum and maximising positive ones
• Use resources sustainably, and reduce waste and over-consumption
• Manage natural diversity sustainably, and where appropriate restore it; and consider the volume and type of tourism that the environment can support, and respect the integrity of vulnerable ecosystems and protected areas
• Promote education and awareness for sustainable development – for all stakeholders
• Raise the capacity of all stakeholders and ensure that best practice is followed, for this purpose consult with environmental and conservation experts

We recognise that this list is not exhaustive and that multi-stakeholder groups in diverse destinations should adapt these principles to reflect their own culture and environment.
Responsible tourism seeks to maximise positive impacts and to minimise negative ones. Compliance with all relevant international and national standards, laws and regulations is assumed. Responsibility, and the market advantage that can go with it, is about doing more than the minimum.

We recognise that the transparent and auditable reporting of progress towards achieving responsible tourism targets and benchmarking, is essential to the integrity and credibility of our work, to the ability of all stakeholders to assess progress, and to enable consumers to exercise effective choice.

We commit to making our contribution to move towards a more balanced relationship between hosts and guests in destinations, and to create better places for local communities and indigenous peoples; and recognising that this can only be achieved by government, local communities and business cooperating on practical initiatives in destinations.

We call upon tourism enterprises and trade associations in originating markets and in destinations to adopt a responsible approach, to commit to specific responsible practises, and to report progress in a transparent and auditable way, and where appropriate to use this for market advantage. Corporate businesses can assist by providing markets, capacity building, mentoring and micro-financing support for small, medium and micro enterprises.

In order to implement the guiding principles for economic, social and environmental responsibility, it is necessary to use a portfolio of tools, which will include regulations, incentives, and multi-stakeholder participatory strategies. Changes in the market encouraged by consumer campaigns and new marketing initiatives also contribute to market driven change.

Local authorities have a central role to play in achieving responsible tourism through commitment to supportive policy frameworks and adequate funding. We call upon local authorities and tourism administrations to develop - through multi-stakeholder processes - destination management strategies and responsible tourism guidelines to create better places for host communities and the tourists who visit. Local Agenda 21 programs, with their participatory and monitoring processes, are particularly useful.

We call upon the media to exercise responsibility in the way in which they portray tourism destinations, to avoid raising false expectations and to provide balanced and fair reporting.
We all have a responsibility to make a difference by the way we act.

We commit ourselves to work with others to take responsibility for achieving the economic, social and environmental components of responsible and sustainable tourism.
Cape Town, August 2002
Co-chairs Mike Fabricius Western Cape Tourism & Harold Goodwin International Centre for Responsible Tourism