PERU: Animal rights activists in Lima protest bullfighting as Peru's annual Lord of Miracles celebrations begins

Record ID: 375517

  • Title: PERU: Animal rights activists in Lima protest bullfighting as Peru's annual Lord of Miracles celebrations begins
  • Date: 8th November 2011
  • Summary: BULLFIGHTING FANS WEARING TRADITIONAL HATS AND ACCOMPANIED BY FAMILY MEMBERS ENTERING THE ARENA (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) JAIME ARANA, BULLFIGHTING FAN, SAYING: "Throughout Peru, at least 1,200 bullfights take place throughout the country, and now they want to take away our national event. It really is a national event." BULLFIGHTING FANS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) HUMBERTO SA
  • Embargoed: 23rd November 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Peru, Peru
  • Country: Peru
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAE9I48CUANCMMWN754910DQEE8
  • Story Text: Animal rights activists in Lima, Peru on Sunday (November 6) protested against bullfighting and are calling for the practice to be abolished and outlawed.
    The protests come as Peru's annual Lord of Miracles celebration begins, which is traditionally celebrated with a large bullfighting fair that is attended by thousands of fans.
    Dozens of protesters - some of them dressed as bulls or cows - gathered outside Lima's main bullfighting arena as the event began.
    Hernan Villalta, the director of the group "Peru Against Bullfighting", said that a majority of Peruvians are opposed to the bullfights, which end in the stabbing death of the bulls at the hands of "picadores" wielding lances
    "In the latest polls, up to 70 percent of Peruvian citizens are against these cruel activities that are committed against the animals and that encourage violence in our society," he said.
    "Throughout Peru, at least 1,200 bullfights take place throughout the country, and now they want to take away our national event. It really is a national event," said Jaime Arana, a bullfighting fan.
    Humberto Salazar, another bullfighting fan, said that the bullfights are an important tradition which dates back to the Spanish colonial period.
    "I've come to see the bullfights since 1959 or 1960, and I like it because it is a tradition, both here in Lima and through South America. It's something that was left to us by the Spanish," he said.
    One activist flew over the arena in a powered parachute which read "Stop Already....68 percent of Peruvians favor abolition."
    "Here every October and November they commit an unjustified massacre against the bulls. Here we see the violence, even children are allowed to see this spectacle. It's a shame," said animal rights activist William Soberon.
    The activists, supported by members of several political parties in Peru's congress, are calling on Peruvians to support legislation which would abolish bullfighting and make it illegal in the future.
    In May, citizens of neighboring Ecuador voted in a referendum to outlaw bullfights.
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