11 June 2009
Peru's Congress approved the suspension of two legislative decrees on Wednesday, June 10th for a period of 90 days. These decrees have fueled months of indigenous protests in the Amazon. Most recently, the protests resulted in the deaths of indigenous people and police when sleeping protesters were surprised by tear gas dispensed from helicopters and approaching police on the ground. Reports say that the total number of victims could be as high as 40 with many more wounded.
Ley 29376 - suspensión de los decretos legislativos 1090 y 1064 - (in Spanish) Peruvian Congress, 10 June 2009
Acta del Congreso: suspensión de los DL 1090 y 1064 - (in Spanish) Peruvian Congress, 10 June 2009
Peru suspends decree that fueled Amazon violence: lawmaker - France 24, 10 June 2009
Protesters Gird for Long Fight Over Opening Peru’s Amazon - New York Times, 12 June 2009
The position of the Peruvian government is that the decrees are necessary for the implementation of the Free Trade Agreement with the United States. The government claims that they are willing to dialogue with the indigenous groups and that the appropriate changes can be made to the legislative decrees. The minister of agriculture Antonio Brack said that they could revisit the decrees with the National Coordination Group for the Development of the Amazonian people which was recently created as part of the Executive branch. This is a drastic change from the government's earlier position which ignored the option of dialogue with indigenous groups. Moreover, the government blames Alberto Pizango, leader of the indigenous organization AIDESEP, for instigating the violence last week calling the indigenous groups "savages". Last week, Pizango was forced to seek political asylum in the Embassy of Nicaragua.
The Global Significance of the Amazon Protest - Cross Currents, 11 June 2009
Blood at the Blockade: Peru's Indigenous Uprising - NACLAC, 8 June 2009
Letter from COICA - COICA indigenous organization, 8 June 2009
Belgian report on Bagua - CATAPA organization, 12 June 2009
Carta al presidente del Perú - (in Spanish) European NGOs, 11 June 2009
Youtube video of the press conference organized by the National Coordinator for Human Rights - in Spanish
Indigenous groups are calling for change in Garcia's cabinet after the flagrant errors in handling the situation in the Amazons (The Minister for Women, Carmen Vildoso did resign). They are also calling to a complete revocation of the decrees and not just a limited suspension.
Seven congress members who fully support the derogation of the anti-Amazon laws were suspended from their congressional duties for 120 days. The members suspended are: María Sumire, Hilaria Supa, Rafael Vásquez, Cayo Galindo, Yanet Cajahuanca, Juana Huancahuari y Nancy Obregón.
Violence continued and a national strike was held on Thursday, June 12th. The widespread participation in the national strike shows the unified disagreement with the government's handling of the Amazon situation and their refusal to abide by the ILO 169 which requires free, prior and informed consent from indigenous peoples.