The Wire

Over 3 thousand Peruvian coca farmers have descended on the capital city of Lima to call for the legalisation of production & consumption of coca leaf. The farmers argue that the coca leaf plays an important role in Peruvian culture dating back to their Inca past, and that in the absence of other financially viable alternatives, its their only source of income. But for the past 25 years successive governments have implemented a policy of eradication heavily influenced and financed by the United States in its efforts to stop the 400 metric tons of pure cocaine that is illegally imported into the country every year. Meetings during the week between coca farmers and government representatives have achieved very little prompting one of the movements leaders to start a hunger strike. Paulina Vidal spoke to Ricardo Soberon Peruvian lawyer and adviser to coca farmers.