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Indigenous Blockades in the Peru: Cops kill over 25

Lany | 07.06.2009 10:59 | Repression | Social Struggles | World

Bagua, Peru (June 6, 2009) – In the early morning hours on Friday, Peruvian Special Forces staged a violent raid on a group of indigenous people at a peaceful blockade on a road outside of Bagua in a remote area of the northern Peruvian Amazon resulting in 25 civilians confirmed dead and over a hundred wounded. Over 600 police attacked several thousand unarmed Awajun and Wambis indigenous peoples including many women and children and forcibly dispersed them using tear gas and live ammunition.

Dramatic photos (see link below) of the attack show clearly the police brutally beating and shooting demonstrators at close range. At 2am police began to approach the demonstrators as they were sleeping along the Fernando Belaúnde Terry road. Demonstrators refused to move from the roadblock as police in helicopters fired teargas grenades and live ammunition. Eyewitnesses report that police also attacked from both sides firing live rounds into the crowd as people fled into surrounding steep hillsides, many becoming trapped. As the unarmed demonstrators were being killed and injured some wrestled with police, fighting back in self-defense, which resulted in the reported deaths of nine police officers.

In local radio reports the chief of police claimed that the indigenous demonstrators were armed and fired first. This claim has been strongly rejected by dozens of local eyewitnesses including local journalists who confirmed that Amazonian demonstrators have been entirely peaceful and only bear traditional spears and in no way provoked any violence. A point highlighted by the fact that the blockades have been going on for 56 days without a single incident.

Gregor MacLennan of Amazon Watch who is currently in Bagua gathering first hand testimonies from blockade participants, local journalists and residents stated: "All eyewitness testimonies say that Special Forces opened fire on peaceful and unarmed demonstrators including from helicopters, killing and wounding dozens in an orchestrated attempt to open the roads. It seems that the police had come with orders to shoot. This was not a clash, but a coordinated police raid with police firing on protesters from both sides of their blockade."

"There have been many accounts of atrocities committed by the Special Forces. Some have reported seeing the police throwing liquid on the cadavers and burning them. Also local residents have given accounts of having seen police throwing bodies of dead civilians into the river in an apparent attempt to underreport the number of dead. We've also received accounts that some of those injured were being detained by security forces and denied medical attention leading to additional deaths. There are many people still reported missing and access to medical attention in the region is horribly inadequate."

Peru's Ombudsman's office issued a strong statement yesterday demanding an end to the violence. Letters condemning the government's actions are pouring in from thousands of Peruvians and international human rights activists and organizations. Today, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, the chair of the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues of the United Nations issued a letter expressing "shock and deep distress at reports received of atrocities committed" and calling on the government to "Immediately cease all violence against indigenous communities and organizations."

Indigenous peoples have vowed to continue protests until the Peruvian Congress revokes the "free trade" decrees issued by President Garcia under special powers granted by Congress in the context of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States.

In the past two weeks, the Constitutional Committee of Congress has ruled that legislative decrees 994 and 1090 were unconstitutional. The Peruvian Congress was scheduled to debate the revocation of decree 1090 again on Thursday, however, Garcia's political party, for the third time, prevented the debate preferring instead to attack the peaceful blockades. The government Ombudsman office has filed a legal action with the constitutional tribunal regarding the unconstitutionality of decree 1064, which affects the land rights laws in Peru.

"Garcia has rejected several congressional debates on the decrees, opting for violent attacks and brute force that will only worsen this conflict. It is outrageous that the ministers are now attempting to blame the victims for this incident and cover up the number of indigenous people
dead," said Gregor MacLennan.

The protests have provoked national debate about government policies in the Amazon that ignore indigenous peoples and encourage large-scale extractive industries in Amazonian lands. Indigenous peoples assert that new laws undermine their rights and open up their ancestral lands to private companies for mining, logging, plantations, and oil drilling without their consultation or consent.

AIDESEP, the national indigenous organization of Peru presented a legal petition yesterday for "precautionary measures" to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights requesting intervention to prevent more bloodshed. Orders for the arrest of leaders of AIDESEP, including Alberto Pizango who is being charged with sedition, were put in effect on Friday.

A coalition of human rights and environmental organizations are urging the Garcia Government to stand down and cease violent confrontations by the military and calling for solidarity demonstrations at Peruvian Embassies around the world. There were demonstrations on Friday at the Peruvian Government missions in San Francisco and Washington, DC. More are planned next week.

AIDESEP, the national indigenous organization of Peru has called for a nationwide general strike starting June 11th.

For Background information see additional links and www.aidesep.org.pe.


 http://www.amazonwatch.org/newsroom/index.php?type=photo

Lany

Additions

a call out from a few weeks ago - more info coming

07.06.2009 13:56


21 May 2009/ 21 de mayo, 2009

PLEASE TAKE ACTION TODAY / POR FAVOR RESPONDER LO MAS PRONTO POSIBLE

Espanhol sigue al ingles

Dear friends,

URGENT ACTION: Crisis in the Peruvian Amazon as government sends in the military to suppress peaceful protests

Indigenous peoples in the Amazon region of Peru are now five weeks into a mass protest and mobilisation to reject regressive new governmental decrees that seriously undermine their rights and promote the fragmentation of their traditional lands to facilitate private sector investments in agribusiness and large-scale commercial exploitation of oil, gas, minerals, forests and other natural resources (there are several indications that these destructive reforms may be closely linked to the Free Trade Agreement between Peru and the USA - this is now being verified by NGOs in Washington).

Last week the government sent armed forces, the navy and special police squads to the protest areas to suppress the demonstrations and break open road and river blockades. Meanwhile, the President of Peru has issued threatening public statements that "small groups" must not stand in the way of "development" of the Amazon.

Indigenous protesters have tried to secure dialogue with the government, but this has been shunned and there are reports that protesters have been beaten and detained and that one person is missing and feared dead. There are real dangers that the tense stand-off could escalate and more people could be hurt (see attached background brief compiled by Amazon Watch).

Please take time today to send the model letter below in the name of your organisation or as an individual.

Thanking you in advance for your solidarity and support, Tom Griffiths (Forest Peoples Programme)

Send letters and faxes to

Excelentísimo Señor
Presidente Alan García
Despacho Presidencial
Jirón de la Unión S/N 1 cda
Lima 1
PERU

 http://www.presidencia.gob.pe/cartas_presidente.asp (LIMITED TO 300 WORDS)

To send the full model letter send the letter via your local Peruvian embassy or via fax to the Council of Ministers (see below)

see  http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Peru

Please copy your letter to:
Yehude Simon Munaro, President of the Council of Ministers ( ysimon@pcm.gob.pe , Fax +51 1- 716- 87-35 )
Rafael Vásquez Rodríguez, President of Congress (  rvasquezr@congreso.gob.pe , Fax +51 1- 311- 77- 03 )
Public Ombudsman Office of Peru (  centrodeatencionvirtual@defensoria.gob.pe )
Peruvian Embassador in your country (for contact details - see  http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Peru
UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (  indigenous@ohchr.org )
UN Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances (  wgeid@ohchr.org )
UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom expression (  freedex@ohchr.org )
United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (  indigenous_un@un.org )
IACHR Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (  cidhoea@oas.org )
IACHR Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Expression (  cidh-expresion@oas.org )
________________
////
xx May 2009

Your Excellency:

Request for suspension of state of emergency in the Peruvian Amazon, a plea for urgent measures to fully respect the rights of indigenous peoples, and a call for peaceful resolution of differences

[xxxx] is writing to you to communicate our grave concerns regarding the current militarisation of indigenous territories in the eastern lowlands of Peru alongside government legal measures that seriously weaken protections for the rights of Peruvian indigenous peoples.

The purpose of this letter is to appeal to your government and its armed forces, police and other authorities to refrain from any use of force against peaceful protesters and to ensure that their human rights are fully respected. We call on your government to take urgent measures to enter into good faith dialogue with the representatives of indigenous peoples in the Amazon region in order to peacefully resolve their grievances regarding threats to their rights arising from recent legislative decrees (reportedly linked to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between Peru and the USA).

Background and fundamental concerns:
In August 2008, indigenous peoples in the Peruvian Amazon used peaceful protests to challenge regressive legislative decrees adopted by your government that would weaken indigenous land and territorial rights and open up the Amazon region to increased commercial development of land, water and subsoil resources.[i] Indigenous peoples made multiple representations calling for the offensive legal measures to be withdrawn on the grounds that they violate their well-recognised and legitimate rights protected under national and international law.[ii]

In December 2008, a cross-party commission of the Peruvian Congress recommended that the offending decrees be immediately withdrawn as unconstitutional.[iii] The Public Ombudsman of Peru has likewise concluded that the legal reforms are in violation of the Constitution of Peru, in particular as they have been formulated without prior consultation with affected rights holders, including indigenous peoples.[iv]

Despite robust evidence that the legal measures are unconstitutional and in violation of the duties and obligations of Peru under domestic and international law, in 2009 the government is pushing ahead and refuses to repeal the legislative decrees and laws that:

· undermine the legal rights of indigenous peoples to own, control and administer their traditional lands and territories (DL1604, DL995)
· allow the transfer of indigenous peoples’ lands considered “idle” to government control (DL994)
· permit the privatisation and break up historically held communal lands through incentives for individual titling (DL1604, DL 1089)
· remove the protection for collective lands as imprescriptible property (DL1604)
· do away with legal prior consultation requirements for investments and plans affecting indigenous peoples’ traditional lands (DL1604)
· promote the militarisation of indigenous territories (DL1090)
· threaten to extinguish indigenous peoples’ recognised rights over rivers in their territories (Law 29338)
· give greater legal protections to commercial and industrial interests at the expense of indigenous peoples’ physical integrity, culture and land and resource rights (DL 1089, Law 29338)

Current situation and ongoing concerns:
Given the failure of the government to address concerns raised in 2008 and in view of the inadequate and time-consuming legal remedies available to challenge the regressive reforms within the Peruvian system, indigenous peoples again commenced peaceful demonstrations in the Amazon region in April 2009 (in the regions of Amazonas, Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios, Cuzco and Junin).[v] [XXXX] is dismayed to learn that genuine efforts by indigenous leaders over the last few weeks to seek constructive dialogue with officials on how to resolve the problems have been rebuffed by your government.

We are alarmed that on May 9th your government suspended rights to freedom of assembly, personal liberty and movement, and sent in armed forces and special-operations police to the areas where protests are taking place. These areas are now under a 60-day State of Emergency.

According to information available to [XXXXX/us], tear gas and rubber bullets have been used in Bagua Province in the Amazonas region where indigenous protesters have been beaten, injured, detained and threatened by police and the army. We understand that one Awajun person is missing and feared dead as a result of the military and police actions. We have also learned that there has been intimidation of protesters and heavy police presence on the Napo River (Loreto region).

This increase in the number of law enforcement forces in the area is especially troublesome given that the media and press have reportedly been prevented from entering protest areas to monitor and report on the manner in which justice and peace are administered.

We are likewise deeply troubled on receiving news that on May 15th 2009, the Shawi leader and President of the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Amazon (AIDESEP) was summoned to court and accused of “rebellion” and actions against public order[vi] and was then charged on May 19th 2009.

Recommendations:
In view of the worrying reports of oppression and intimidation and serious threats to the rights of indigenous peoples posed by recent regressive legal measures we call on the government of Peru and you as President to take urgent steps to:

· suspend the current State of Emergency
· withdraw military and special-police forces from indigenous peoples’ territories where protests are taking place
· establish immediate dialogue with indigenous leaders at the highest level of government to seek ways to address their concerns and resolve the current crisis
· repeal legislative decrees that violate indigenous peoples’ rights protected under the Constitution, national laws and international human rights instruments ratified by Peru, including DL 1064, 1020, 1089, 1090, 994 and 995 and discriminatory provisions in Law 29338 (Water Resources)
· undertake reforms to establish stronger legal and institutional mechanisms to uphold the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and ensure effective compliance with Peru’s obligations to protect indigenous peoples’ rights established under ILO Convention 169, the Convention for the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (CERD), the International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights ("ICCPR") and Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ("ICESCR") and the American Convention on Human Rights, including obligations to protect indigenous peoples’ rights to their lands and territories and the need to uphold the principle of free, prior and informed consent for all decisions and activities that may affect the lands and territories that they traditional use or occupy or otherwise own
· re-examine and reconsider the legitimacy in a just society of the judicial charges against the Shawi leader Segundo Alberto Pizango Chota

[XXXXX] looks forward to learning at the earliest opportunity how your government plans to address the concerns and recommendations presented in this letter.

Yours respectfully,

[i]  http://www.servindi.org/actualidad/4495
[ii]  http://www.servindi.org/actualidad/4499/4499
[iii]  http://tr.im/lUU2 See also  http://tr.im/lURN
[iv]  http://tr.im/lUU2 See also  http://www.defensoria.gob.pe/descarga.php?pb=3733 and  http://tr.im/lUS3
[v]  http://www.aidesep.org.pe/index.php?codnota=618
[vi] Fiscalia Provincial Penal Turno Permanente de Lima (2009) Notificación de Denuncia, May 15th, 2009

/////

Estimadas amigos/as:

ACCION URGENTE: Crisis en la Amazonia peruana con la enviada de las fuerzas militares para enfrentar manifestaciones pacificas

Los pueblos indigenas de la region amazonica de Peru ya estan entrando en la quinta semana de manifestaciones y una mobilizacion masiva para rechazar decretos legislativos regresivos que tienen el fin de debilitar los derechos indigenas y despedazar sus territorios, facilitando la inversion del sector privado en agro-industrias y la explotacion comercial a gran escala de petroleo, gas, minerales, recursos hidricos, bosques y otros recursos naturales (hay indicaciones de que dichas reformas nocivas estan ligadas aI Tratado del Libre Comercio (TLC) entre Peru y los EEUU - actualmente las ONG en los EEUU estan averiguando este asunto).

La semana pasada el gobierno declaro un "Estado de emergencia" en toda la zona afectada y envio al ejercito, la flotilla y la policia de "operaciones especiales" para enfrentar a los manifestantes y romper los bloqueos de vias fluviales y los caminos. Mientras tanto, el Presidente de Peru ha hecho declaraciones amenazantes de que "grupos pequeños" no pueden frenar ni obstaculizar el "desarrollo" de la Amazonia.

Los dirigentes y pueblos indigenas han tratado de entablar un dialogo con el gobierno, pero este ultimo ha rechazado sus solicitudes. Desde la entrada de la fuerzas militares y la policia, se reportan casos de gente golpeada y detenida y una persona indigena del pueblo Awajun esta desaparecida y se teme que este muerto. Hay un gran peligro de que la situacion tensa se deteriore y mas gente pueda sufrir.

Por favor actue hoy o lo mas pronto posible en nombre de su organizacion o de su persona.

Gracias de antemano por su solidaridad, Tom Grffiths

Envie sus cartas a:

Excelentísimo Señor
Presidente Alan García
Despacho Presidencial
Jirón de la Unión S/N 1 cda
Lima 1
PERU

 http://www.presidencia.gob.pe/cartas_presidente.asp (LIMITADO A 300 PALABRAS)

Para poder enviar una carta mas detallada, hay que enviarla por medio de la embajada peruana en su pais

Vease  http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Peru

Por favor copiar su carta a:

Yehude Simon Munaro, Presidente del Consejo de Ministros ( ysimon@pcm.gob.pe , Fax +51 1- 716- 87-35 )
Rafael Vásquez Rodríguez, Presidente del Congreso (  rvasquezr@congreso.gob.pe , Fax +51 1- 311- 77- 03 )
Defensora del Pueblo (  centrodeatencionvirtual@defensoria.gob.pe )
El embajador de Peru en su pais (ver  http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Peru
El Relator de la ONU sobre los derechos de los Pueblos Indigenas (  indigenous@ohchr.org )
El Grupo de Trabajo de la ONU sobre las Desaparencias forzadas (  wgeid@ohchr.org )
El Relator de la ONU para la promocion del derecho a la libre expresion (  freedex@ohchr.org )
El Foro Permanente de la ONU para cuestiones indigenas (  indigenous_un@un.org )
La Relatoria de la CIDH sobre los derechos de los pueblos indigenas (  cidhoea@oas.org )
La Relatoria de la CIDH sobre el derecho a la libre expresion (  cidh-expresion@oas.org )

///
CARTA MODELA

xx de mayo de 2009

Excelentísimo Señor
Presidente Alan García
Despacho Presidencial
Jirón de la Unión S/N 1 cda
Lima 1
PERU

Excelentísimo Presidente:

Llamado para la suspensión del Estado de emergencia en la Amazonía peruana, la toma de medidas urgentes para asegurar el pleno respeto de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas y la resolución pacífica de las diferencias

[ xxxxxxx ] se dirige a usted con el fin de manifestarle nuestra profunda preocupación con relación a la militarización de las tierras bajas del oriente junto con recientes medidas legales gubernamentales orientados a debilitar los derechos de los pueblos indígenas en el Perú.

La presente tiene por objeto hacer un llamamiento a su gobierno, sus fuerzas armadas y policiales, y otras autoridades para que se abstengan de tomar cualquier medida forzosa en contra de los manifestantes pacíficos y aseguren el respeto absoluto de sus derechos humanos.

Pedimos encarecidamente al Gobierno peruano que tome medidas urgentes para establecer un diálogo de buena fe con los representantes de los pueblos indígenas con el fin de resolver pacíficamente sus reivindicaciones relacionadas con los recientes decretos legislativos que amenazan sus derechos (decretos aparentemente ligados al Tratado de Libre Comercio con los EEUU).

Antecedentes y principales preocupaciones:
En agosto de 2008, los pueblos indígenas de la Amazonía peruana manifestaron pacíficamente su rechazo a decretos legislativos retrógrados que vulneran sus derechos sobre sus tierras y territorios y abren la región amazónica al desarrollo comercial de las tierras, aguas y recursos del subsuelo.[1] Los pueblos indígenas hicieron llamados múltiples solicitando el retiro de las medidas legislativas ofensivas ya que violan sus legítimos derechos reconocidos por el derecho nacional e internacional.[2]

En diciembre de 2008, una Comisión multipartidaria también recomendó el retiro inmediato de estos decretos ofensivos debido a la inconstitucionalidad de los mismos.[3] La Defensora del Pueblo concluyó asimismo que dichos decretos violan la Constitución del Perú, en parte porque han sido formulados sin previa consulta a los titulares de derechos afectados, incluyendo los pueblos indigenas.[4]

Pese a que exista abundante evidencia de que las medidas legislativas son inconstitucionales y violan los deberes y obligaciones contraídos por el Perú en virtud del derecho nacional e international, en 2009 el gobierno se niega a derogar las medidas legislativas que:

· debilitan los derechos legítimos de los pueblos indígenas a poseer, controlar y administrar sus tierras y territorios tradicionales (DL1604, DL994, DL995)
· permiten que las tierras indígenas “sin uso” pueden ser incorporadas al dominio del Estado (DL994)
· fomentan la privatización y fragmentación de las tierras comunales tradicionalmente poseídas por los pueblos indígenas incentivando la titulación individual (DL1604, DL 1089)
· quitan las protecciones que garantizan la imprescriptibilidad de las tierras comunales (DL1604)
· eliminan el requisito de consulta previa a los pueblos indígenas acerca de todos los planes y las inversiones que podrían afectar sus tierras y recursos tradicionales (DL1604)
· fomentan la militarización de los territorios indígenas (DL1090)
· extinguen los derechos de los pueblos indígenas sobre los ríos en sus territorios (Ley 29338)
· brindan una mayor protección legal a los inversionistas e intereses industriales a costa de la integridad física y cultural de los pueblos indígenas y sus derechos sobre la tierra y los recursos naturales (DL 1089, Ley 29338)

Situación y preocupaciones actuales:
Ante la falta de respuesta del gobierno a las preocupaciones planteadas en 2008 y debido a que los recursos disponibles dentro del sistema peruano para impugnar las reformas retrógradas son inadecuados y requieren mucho tiempo, los pueblos indígenas han reanudado sus movilizaciones pacíficas en la Amazonía en abril del 2009 (en las regiones de Amazonas, Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios, Cuzco y Junín).

[xxxxxxx] quedó consternado en las últimas semanas al enterarse que los esfuerzos sinceros de los dirigentes indígenas por entablar un diálogo constructivo con las autoridades a fin de buscar soluciones a los problemas han sido frustrados por el gobierno.

Nos preocupa sobremanera que su gobierno haya suspendido, el 9 de mayo, los derechos referidos a libertad de reunión y tránsito y a la libertad personal, y haya enviado las fuerzas armadas y efectivos policiales de las operaciones especiales en las zonas donde se realizan las protestas. Estas zonas están ahora en estado de emergencia por 60 días. De acuerdo a la información con que cuenta [ xxxxx su organizacion xxxx], se han utilizado gases lacrimógenos y balas de goma en la provincia de Bagua, región de Amazonas, donde los manifestantes han sido golpeados, injuriados, detenidos y amenazados por las fuerzas policiales y militares. Entendemos que una persona Awajun se encuentra desaparecida y se teme que haya fallecido a consecuencia de las acciones militares y policiales. Asimismo nos hemos enterado de que se han producido actos de intimidación hacia los manifestantes y existe una masiva presencia policial en el Río Napo (región de Loreto). Este reforzamiento de la presencia de las fuerzas del orden en la zona resulta particularmente preocupante ya que ha impedido que los medios de comunicación accedan a las zonas de las protestas para monitorear e informar sobre la forma en que se está administrando la justicia y la paz.

Asimismo nos preocupa profundamente la noticia de que el 15 de mayo del 2009, el dirigente Shawi y presidente de la Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP) fue citado a comparecer ante la justicia y acusado de “rebelión” y delito contra la paz pública[5] e inculpado el 19 de mayo del 2009.

Recomendaciones:
A la luz de los informes preocupantes de opresión e intimidación y serias amenazas a los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, exhortamos al gobierno del Perú y a usted como presidente a que tomen medidas urgentes a fin de:

· suspender el actual estado de emergencia
· retirar las fuerzas militares y policiales especiales de los territorios de los pueblos indígenas donde se están realizando las protestas
· establecer inmediatamente un diálogo con los dirigentes indígenas al más alto nivel de gobierno con el fin de encontrar soluciones a sus preocupaciones y a la crisis actual
· derogar los decretos legislativos 1064, 1089, 1090 y 995 y las disposiciones discriminatorias de la Ley 29338 (Recursos hídricos) que amenazan los derechos de los pueblos indígenas protegidos por la Constitución, las leyes nacionales y los instrumentos internacionales de derechos humanos ratificados por el Perú
· llevar a cabo reformas para establecer mecanismos legales e institucionales más sólidos para lograr el cumplimiento efectivo de la Declaración de las Naciones Unidas sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas y de las obligaciones que tiene el Perú de proteger los derechos de los pueblos indígenas consagrados en el Convenio 169 de la OIT, la Convención sobre la Eliminación de todas las Formas de Discriminación Racial (CEDR), los Pactos Internacionales de Derechos Civiles y Políticos (PIDCP) y de Derechos Económicos, Sociales y Culturales (PIDESC) y la Convención Interamericana sobre Derechos Humanos, incluyendo las obligaciónes de proteger sus derechos a la tierra y a sus territorios y la necesidad de hacer respetar el principio del consentimiento libre, previo e informado en todas las decisiones y actividades susceptibles de afectar las tierras y los territorios que los pueblos indígenas tradicionalmente poseen, ocupan o utilizan de alguna otra manera.
· reexaminar y reconsiderar la legitimidad en una sociedad justa de la denuncia judicial contra el dirigente Shawi Segundo Alberto Pizango Chota.

[ xxxxxxx ] espera ser informado lo antes posible de la manera en que su gobierno piensa atender las preocupaciones y recomendaciones planteadas en la presente carta.

Atentamente,
XXXXXXXXX
cc.
Yehude Simon Munaro, Presidente del Consejo de Ministros, Perú
Rafael Vásquez Rodríguez, Presidente del Congreso, Perú
Beatriz Merino, Defensora del Pueblo, Perú
Embajada de Perú, Londres
James Anaya, Relator Especial de Naciones Unidas sobre la Situación de los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas y sus Libertades Fundamentales
Vicky Tauli-Corpuz, Presidenta, Foro Permanente de las Naciones Unidas para Cuestiones Indígenas
Torsten Schakel, Secretariado, Convención Internacional para la Eliminación de todas las formas de Discriminación Racial (CIEDR)
El Grupo de Trabajo de las Naciones Unidas sobre Desapariciones forzadas
El Relator de la ONU para la Libertad de Expresión
Dr Victor Abramovich, Relator de la CIDH sobre los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas
Dra. Norma Colledani, CIDH, Costa Rica


[1]  http://www.servindi.org/actualidad/4495
[2]  http://www.servindi.org/actualidad/4499/4499
[3]  http://tr.im/lUU2 See also  http://tr.im/lURN
[4]  http://tr.im/lUU2 See also  http://www.defensoria.gob.pe/descarga.php?pb=3733 y  http://tr.im/lUS3
[5] Fiscalia Provincial Penal Turno Permanente de Lima (2009) Notificación de Denuncia, May 15th, 2009

zoe


more info...

07.06.2009 14:00

Español abajo

URGENT SUPPORT needed for indigenous people in Peruvian
Amazon

Please disseminate this information as widely as possible

A bloody World Environment Day in the Peruvian Amazon
Indigenous organizations call for support from the international
community

On April 9, local communities began what they call an "indefinite strike"
throughout the Peruvian Amazon region to protest the Peruvian
Congress' failure to review six government decrees that endanger the
rights of indigenous peoples. These decrees were issued by the
Presidency in the framework of the implementation of the Free Trade
Agreement signed with the United States, and pave the way to opening
up the Amazon region to socially and environmentally destructive
industries such as mining and oil exploitation.

In the early morning hours today (June 5) the Alan García government
unleashed a violent wave of repression in the Peruvian Amazon.
Reports from the area are conflicting and there are no official figures
available, but it appears that there have been between 10 and 20
deaths so far in Bagua, in the area around Corral Quemado and Curva
del Diablo.

The Andean Coordinating Body for Indigenous Organizations (CAOI),
which includes indigenous organizations from Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru,
Colombia, Chile and Argentina, describes the situation as follows:
"Once again they are trying to impose death over life, massacre over
dialogue. This is the dictatorial response after 56 days of peaceful
indigenous struggle and supposed dialogue and negotiation, which
ended with bullets as always, the same bullets of more than 500 years
of oppression."

The violent crackdown began only hours after the Peruvian Congress
decided once again to postpone debate on the repeal of the decrees
which would permit the invasion of indigenous territories. This close
timing clearly suggests collusion between the Congress and the
Presidency.

The CAOI is calling on "indigenous organizations, social movements
and human rights organizations around the world to take concrete
action, by writing letters to the Peruvian government, the United
Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Peoples, Amnesty
International, Survival International, the Nobel Peace Prize Foundation,
the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, and the
International Labour Organisation (Convention 169), urging them to
send missions to Peru immediately to stop the violence and demand
respect for indigenous rights." The CAOI is also calling for "sit-ins in
front of Peruvian embassies in every country of the world until the
bloodbath is stopped and the legislative decrees for the Free Trade
Agreement with the United States are repealed."

The CAOI adds that "UN agencies should speak out firmly and join in
the demands made by the chair of the UN Permanent Forum on
Indigenous Issues, Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, to lift the state of emergency,
cease the use of repression, and fulfil international commitments that
guarantee the exercise of indigenous rights."

The World Rainforest Movement joins in this call for support for the
peoples of the Peruvian Amazon, whose lives, cultures and means of
survival are in grave danger.

Please send letters to the Peruvian embassy in your country,
demanding an immediate end to the current wave of repression and
full respect for the rights of indigenous peoples. Contact information for
UK Peruvian Embassy:

Embassy of Peru in London, Great Britain and Northern Ireland
52, Sloane Street, London SW1X 9SP, UK
City: London, Great Britain and Northern Ireland
Phone: +44 (0) 20 7235 1917 / 20 72352545
Fax: +44 (0) 20 7235 4463
Web Site:  http://www.peruembassy-uk.com
Email:  postmaster@peruembassy-uk.com

For more information:
Norma Aguilar Alvarado
Communications office
Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas/Andean
Coordinating Body for Indigenous Organizations (CAOI)
Fax: 0051-1-2651061
Mobile: 980129692
Website: www.minkandina.org

----------------------------------------------------
Por favor divulgar

Sangriento Día del Medio Ambiente en la Amazonía peruana
Organizaciones indígenas solicitan apoyo a comunidad internacional

Desde el 9 de abril pasado, las comunidades amazónicas del Perú
iniciaron lo que califican de "paro indefinido" en toda la Amazonía
peruana, como respuesta al incumplimiento del Congreso de la
República de revisar seis decretos lesivos a los derechos de los
pueblos indígenas. Se trata de decretos emitidos por el Ejecutivo en el
marco de la implementación del Tratado de Libre Comercio con los
Estados Unidos y que suponen la apertura de la Amazonía a industrias
social y ambientalmente destructivas como la minería y la explotación
petrolera.

En la madrugada de hoy (5 de junio), el gobierno de Alan García
desató una violenta represión en la Amazonía peruana. Las
informaciones son confusas y no hay cifras oficiales, pero hasta el
momento habría entre diez a veinte muertos en Bagua, zona de Corral
Quemado y Curva del Diablo.

La Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas (que incluye a
organizaciones indígenas de Bolivia, Ecuador, Perú, Colombia, Chile y
Argentina), describe la situación diciendo que "Nuevamente se
pretende imponer la muerte sobre la vida, la masacre sobre el diálogo.
Es la respuesta dictatorial luego de 56 días de lucha pacífica indígena
y de supuestos diálogos y negociaciones, que terminan en las balas
de siempre, las mismas de más de 500 años de opresión".

Esta represión ocurre horas después de que el Congreso de la
República decidiera postergar nuevamente el debate de la derogatoria
de los decretos legislativos que facilitan la invasión de territorios
indígenas, lo que hace suponen una clara connivencia entre el
Congreso y la Presidencia.

La Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas (CAOI) llama a
"las organizaciones indígenas, movimientos sociales y organizaciones
de derechos humanos de todo el mundo, a tomar acciones concretas:
cartas al gobierno peruano, al Relator Especial de las Naciones
Unidas para Pueblos Indígenas, a Amnistía Internacional, Survival
International, a los Premios Nóbel de la Paz, Comisión Interamericana
de Derechos Humanos, Organización Internacional del Trabajo
(Convenio 169), para que envíen de inmediato misiones al Perú, para
detener esta violencia y se respeten los derechos indígenas". También
solicitan que en todos los países se realicen plantones ante las
embajadas del Perú hasta que se detenga el baño de sangre y se
deroguen los decretos legislativos del TLC con Estados Unidos".

La CAOI agrega que "los organismos de la ONU deben pronunciarse
con firmeza, sumándose a la demanda planteada por la presidenta del
Foro Permanente para Cuestiones Indígenas, Victoria Tauli, de
levantar el estado de emergencia, no usar la represión y cumplir con
las normas internacionales que garantizan el ejercicio de los derechos
indígenas".

El Movimiento Mundial por los Bosques Tropicales se suma a este
llamamiento y solicita que se brinde el mayor apoyo posible a los
pueblos de la Amazonía peruana cuyas vidas, culturas y medios de
supervivencia están hoy en grave peligro.

Pueden dirigir cartas a la embajada Peruana en sus países exigiendo
el inmediato cese de la represión en curso y que se respeten
plenamente los derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas.
Los datos de contacto de las embajadas del Perú en el exterior están
disponibles en:  http://www.embassiesabroad.com/embassies-of/Peru

Por mayor información:
Norma Aguilar Alvarado
Área de Comunicaciones
Coordinadora Andina de Organizaciones Indígenas - CAOI
Telefax: 0051-1-2651061
Celular: 980129692
Sitio web: www.minkandina.org



WRM International Secretariat
Maldonado 1858
CP 11200
Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: 598 2 413 2989 Fax: 598 2 410 0985
 http://www.wrm.org.uy




zoe


Comments

Hide the following 4 comments

Corporations involved & petition info please

07.06.2009 12:26

thanks

Robin ludd


Some of the companies...

07.06.2009 15:20

It appears that a number of the companies with new contracts or seeking to sign are Canadian and American (though not exclusively), because this most recent widespread sell-off of indigenous lands in the Amazon has partly come about following the signing of a Free Trade Agreement with the US earlier this year....

Some of the companies with new contracts in the Amazon and elsewhere in Peru (signed April 2009, some individually and some as part of a consortium with Perupetro) that I can find (but unable to secure direct links/locations in the UK) are:

Pluspetrol -  http://www.pluspetrol.net/
Reliance -  http://www.reliancepetroleum.com/
CNPC -  http://www.cnpc.com.cn/eng/
Petroperu -  http://www.cnpc.com.cn/eng/
Faulkner Suits Exploration (US)
Olympic (US or Canadian)
Petrolifera -  http://www.petrolifera.ca/
Pan Andean Resources (Dublin based) -  http://www.panandeanresources.com/contact/
Kei (Australia)
PetroVietnam (Vietnam)
Golden Oil -  http://www.goldenoilcorp.com/new/english/company/company01_4.php

However, some of these companies do have UK based offices and trading:

EMERALD ENERGY PLC
 http://www.emeraldenergy.com/contact.htm
With a registered office in London.

CONOCO PHILLIPS
 http://www.conocophillips.co.uk/ContactUs/index.htm
An American company that is reported to have a new "mega concession" of 10.5 million hectares in the Amazon for oil exploration.
Offices and activities in London, Aberdeen, Teesside, Humber, Theddlethorpe, Warwick

There's a report on their activities in Peru here:  http://www.amazonwatch.org/conoco2009.pdf

The situation in Peru currently is dire.... the indigenous communities have been mobilizing and resisting since April and at this time when their leaders are threatened with arrest and there are widespread murders and disappearances occurring it is key that those of us benefitting from these explorations (in the Global North) do what we can to show solidarity and to put the pressure directly on the companies that are treating Peru as a smorgasboard of ways out of the current economic crisis....

viral


Corporations and Interests

07.06.2009 15:35

It appears that a number of the companies with new contracts or seeking to sign are Canadian and American (though not exclusively), because this most recent widespread sell-off of indigenous lands in the Amazon has partly come about following the signing of a Free Trade Agreement with the US earlier this year....

Some of the companies with new contracts in the Amazon and elsewhere in Peru (signed April 2009, some individually and some as part of a consortium with Perupetro) that I can find (but unable to secure direct links/locations in the UK) are:

Pluspetrol -  http://www.pluspetrol.net/
Reliance -  http://www.reliancepetroleum.com/
CNPC -  http://www.cnpc.com.cn/eng/
Petroperu -  http://www.cnpc.com.cn/eng/
Faulkner Suits Exploration (US)
Olympic (US or Canadian)
Petrolifera -  http://www.petrolifera.ca/
Pan Andean Resources (Dublin based) -  http://www.panandeanresources.com/contact/
Kei (Australia)
PetroVietnam (Vietnam)
Golden Oil -  http://www.goldenoilcorp.com/new/english/company/company01_4.php

However, some of these companies do have UK based offices and trading:

EMERALD ENERGY PLC
 http://www.emeraldenergy.com/contact.htm
With a registered office in London.

CONOCO PHILLIPS
 http://www.conocophillips.co.uk/ContactUs/index.htm
An American company that is reported to have a new "mega concession" of 10.5 million hectares in the Amazon for oil exploration.
Offices and activities in London, Aberdeen, Teesside, Humber, Theddlethorpe, Warwick

There's a report on their activities in Peru here:  http://www.amazonwatch.org/conoco2009.pdf

The situation in Peru currently is dire.... the indigenous communities have been mobilizing and resisting since April and at this time when their leaders are threatened with arrest and there are widespread murders and disappearances occurring it is key that those of us benefitting from these explorations (in the Global North) do what we can to show solidarity and to put the pressure directly on the companies that are treating Peru as a smorgasboard of ways out of the current economic crisis....

viral


re list of companies

11.06.2009 10:37

anyone got any ideas on the KEI company, which is listed as Australian? I can't find anything on it.

holly
mail e-mail: holly_tara@hotmail.com


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