54 Confirmed Dead in Clash between Indigenous and Peruvian Military

[NDNdancer]

This is just the last of a long list of human rights abuses of Indigenous peoples by their repressive governments. NAFTA and US corporations have led to widespread abuses throughout developing countries.


BBC NEWS | Americas | Peru polarised after deadly clashes

Page last updated at 18:07 GMT, Wednesday, 10 June 2009 19:07 UK

Peru polarised after deadly clashes

By Dan Collyns
BBC News, Bagua Chica, Peru


Indigenous Amazonians had blocked roads and facilities for two months
The removal by Peruvian riot police of thousands of native Amazonian protesters from a road they were blocking was the worst violence the country had seen in a decade.

At least 54 people are known to have been killed - among them 14 police officers.

In what appeared to be a revenge attack 10 more police officers were killed by their indigenous captors.

More than 100 indigenous protesters still cannot be accounted for.

It was the culmination of two months of massive rallies and blockades across Peru's Amazon - an area that is vital to the country's economy.

The protests threatened to disrupt both national energy supplies and exports.

Progress!

Global News Blog Blog Archive Peru’s Congress suspends land laws, but is it enough to calm Amazon conflict? | Blogs |

Peru’s Congress hopes to calm protests over President Alan Garcia’s plans to open up the country’s Amazon region to oil and logging by multinational companies but the conflict is far from being resolved.

Peruvian lawmakers temporarily suspended two decrees that triggered deadly protests by indigenous groups opposed to the move.

At least 60 people died last week in clashes between security forces and Indian protesters and the government hopes the suspension will ease tensions.

A wide divide remains. Indian groups say they want the government to repeal those decrees and roll back on other laws giving energy and mining firms access to jungle areas.

The government, meanwhile, is hoping to make up for what analysts say was a critical misstep in its push to develop the Amazon: failure to consult Indian groups living in the region.

The clashes have sparked vitriol from both sides with Garcia referring to the Indians as “terrorists” and indigenous leaders calling him a “murderer.”

Also complicating any agreement is that circumstances surrounding the clashes and the death toll remain murky.

Indigenous groups say police opened fire on demonstrators blocking a highway in protest at the laws, and the government charge protesters wielding homemade spears attacked police, taking some hostage and stabbing others to death.

Spears against guns.... Indigenous terrorists....... sheesh

 

[NDNdancer]

I've received a couple of letters from friends in Peru. I'll try to translate them and put them up here. Here's a bit more news from DemocracyNow!


Democracy Now! | Headlines for June 12, 2009

In Peru, thousands of people took part in nationwide demonstrations Thursday to support an indigenous protest against oil and natural gas exploration in the Amazon rainforest. Police used tear gas on a crowd of at least 20,000 protesters near the National Congress in Lima. Tensions have flared after last week’s police killings of scores of civilians at an indigenous roadblock. On a visit to Cuba, Bolivian President Evo Morales voiced support for the indigenous protests.

Bolivian President Evo Morales: “It’s not possible that the most oppressed people in Latin America’s history be humiliated like we have seen in recent days in some regions. We hope these problems are a lesson in understanding the demands, the demands of defending life, the environment, the planet earth and humanity, as Fidel said.”

The unrest in Peru has ties to US trade policy. The land laws that sparked the uprising were passed under “fast track” authority granted to Peruvian President Alan Garcia’s government to implement the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement.

 

[OxymoronP]

I really dont care about the indeginous people, but NAFTA is bad for all involved aside Corporations who make a killing literally.

 

[NDNdancer]

I really dont care about the indeginous people, but NAFTA is bad for all involved aside Corporations who make a killing literally.

*L* Thanks for your honesty!

I agree about NAFTA, CAFTA, the Latin American version...... I've seen firsthand the destruction and death they've set off. It's mainly US corporations pushing them, trying to snap up what's left of the world's natural resources. Killing anyone who's in their way.

 

[Gray_Fox_86]

*L* Thanks for your honesty!

I agree about NAFTA, CAFTA, the Latin American version...... I've seen firsthand the destruction and death they've set off. It's mainly US corporations pushing them, trying to snap up what's left of the world's natural resources. Killing anyone who's in their way.

yeah, that's it.

but really a spear does have the ability to kill. so you throw something at a soldier what do you expect for him to do?

But really I don't agree with any deal that's "free trade". It is not a good thing.