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Jail and Trial are Next for Wounded Peru Indians

by Barbara McPherson | August 8, 2009 at 10:04 am

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It appears that jail and trial are next for Peruvian Indians wounded in bloody clashes in June.

The Indians had been blockading jungle highways and rivers on and off since last August, demanding the revocation of 11 decrees issued by Peru's president last year under the rubric of a free trade pact with the United States.

Peru's Congress repealed two of the decrees after protests last year and two more after June's bloodshed. Indians feared the decrees would lead to a widespread land and resource grab by private companies.

Despite the revocations of some of the decrees, 75 percent of Peru's Amazon remains carved up into oil concessions, with the government owning all subsoil rights.

"If they want to put the Amazon up for sale, they'll do it by spilling blood. Period," Manuin said.

The Peruvian government led by President Alan Garcia is taking a hard line on prosecuting protesters wounded by police. An Indian leader, Santiago Manuin, still in hospital with at least four bullet holes is guarded by police with automatic weapons. They are waiting for his discharge from hospital to put him in jail awaiting trial on charges of inciting murder and unrest. Santiago Manuin is the same Indian leader who led a resistance movement to protect his people from leftest rebels in the early '90s.
Peru's justice minister, Auerelio Pastor, was asked to speak before a U.N. Human Rights committee to explain his government's actions. Both Auerelio Pastor and President Alan Garcia have claimed that foreign elements are behind the civil disobedience of the Indians.
Alberto Pizango, a top leader of the Awajin Indians was forced to seek asylum in Nicaragua.
Peru: Alberto Pizango Accuses Government of Genocide

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A. Tran

at 14:57 on August 8th, 2009

Thanks Barbara for this piece. I'm sorry that Indians are being targeted by the Peruvian authority for trying to protect the land and natural resources.