Peru: Experiencing Social Conflicts - Environmental Concerns

The National Front in Defence of Life and Sovereignty -- made up of Trade Unions and Indigenous and civil society organizations -- called for three days of nationwide demonstrations between 7 and 9 July. They are protesting against a series of decree laws over the use of land and natural resources in the Amazon. Indigenous communities in the Amazon were not consulted on this legislation, despite the fact that Peru has ratified the International Labour Organization Convention 169, which obliges them to do so.

In June, at least 33 people were killed, including 23 police officers, and 200 injured after the police forcibly removed Indigenous demonstrators protesting against the same decree laws who had blocked the approach road to Bagua in the Peruvian Amazon. Seventy-nine protestors were reportedly detained in Bagua, with 21 still in custody. Some of the detainees were reportedly tortured and ill-treated and prevented from accessing legal assistance and interpreters.