Peru: Indigenous People declaring the real state of emergency
(Updated: June 5) On May 9, 2009, the Peruvian government declared a state of emergency in the regions of Loreto, Amazonas, Cusco, and Ucayali--where thousands of indigenous people have mobilized against several new laws that threaten to strip away their indigenous land rights.
In effect, the state of emergency (SoE) is a "declaration of war" against "those who seek to change the course of history," says Roger Rumrrill: A license for the government to violently repress Indigenous People.
The real state of emergency
One day before the SoE was announced, AIDESEP, the National Organization of the Amazon Indigenous people of Peru, and several other key indigenous and peasant organizations pledged unanimously to "radicalize" the mobilization, which is backed by more than 1200 communities.
They say it is the only thing they could do to "resolve the mobilization," since the government refuses to act responsibly and repeal the laws in question.
As far as needs and rights go, this is the real state of emergency in Peru right now. Indeed, the mobilization isn't some "misinformed" adventure as the government would have us believe---as if the needs and rights of Indigenous people can be relegated to mere provender, and then tossed aside for the "greater good" of foreign bank accounts.
No, the mobilization is a struggle for life itself. And it is one that will continue no matter what rhetoric or violence the government puts out during their own State of Emergency.
Photo: AIDESEP
What You Can Do
1. Join the Solidarity with Peru group on Facebook
2. Send a Message to the President of Peru (additional contacts) asking him to:
- Repeal the Free Trade Laws that allow oil, logging, and agricultural corporations easy entry into indigenous territories
- Suspend the State of Emergency and suppression of peaceful protests
- Respect indigenous peoples' constitutionally guaranteed rights to self-determination, to their ancestral territories, and to prior consultation
- Enter into good faith process of dialogue with indigenous peoples to resolve this conflict
Peru Mobilization Updates (As of June 5)
- June 5 - Police Violently Attack Peaceful Indigenous Blockade (at least 20 dead, hundreds more injured)
- June 3 - (ES) Peru Solidarity: indefinite strike announced if Amazon People's demands are not met
- June 3 - (ES) Amazon Fight grows in Cusco and Loreto
- June 3 - (ES) Napo River Natives denounce Navy aggression
- June 2 - (EN/ES) UN: President of the Indigenous Forum calls for end to state of emergency
- June 2 - (Spanish) - massive sit-in across the banks of the Napo River
- May 29 - Thousands march in Lima in support of Amazon Indigenous
- May 28 - Day 50 of Indigenous Protests in Peru
- May 28 - clashes in the Amazon ended up with 20 protesters under arrest
- May 28 - (Spanish) Roadblock continues between Jaen and Bagua
- May 28 - Peru's Indigenous Congresswoman speaks at the UN Forum of Indigenous Issues
- May 27 - (Spanish) Seven wounded and 20 arrested in Iquitos
- May 26 - (Spanish) Good News! Legislative decree 994 declared unconstitutional
- May 25 - (Spanish) Awajun Wampis continue their protest
- May 25 - Native organizations call for another strike, in Bagua
- May 21 - (Spanish) protest action in support of the indigenous struggle
- May 20 - Good News! Peru's Congress repealed legislative decree 1090 and re-opened negotiations
- May 18 - Indigenous avoid provocations and Shipibo/Conibo joins the struggle
- May 18 - Video and photos of police attack near Bagua, Peru
- May 18 - Peru oil pipeline halted on protests in Amazon
- May 18 - Peru army moves into Amazon after tribes blockade rivers and roads
- May 17 - Peru dispatches army to quell indigenous protests
- May 16 - Indigenous groups declare 'insurgency' in Peru
- May 14 - Talks Fall Flat; Indigenous Protests Rage On
- May 12 - (Spanish) Yurimaguas Tarapoto road-blocked by the people and Shawi Cocama Cocamilla
- May 12 - State of emergency rejected in Peru's amazon basin provinces
- May 11 - Indigenous leaders declare hunger strike in Peruvian Congress to protest FTA decrees
- May 10 - (Spanish) Awajun and Wampis block Corral Quemado bridge, (English) violent clash follows (Video)
- May 9 - Catholic Bishops in Peru’s Amazon call for protection of ethnic communities
- May 8 - (Spanish) 400 Indigenous People blockade road in Lamas Province
- April 27 - Campesinos Unite with Amazonian Indigenous Peoples
- April 24 - Action Platform of the Amazonian Indigenous Peoples (AIDESEP)
- April 16 - Indigenous Demonstrations Shut Down Roads and River Traffic in Peruvian Amazon
- April 9 - Peruvian Indigenous Peoples Mobilize Across the Amazon to Demand Government Respects Land Rights
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This is sad news but the indigenous people of Peru are under my wing what ever wrongs are done to them will be reflected back at the senders ten fold.I am confused and surprised by the president of Peru i thought he defended the poor and the oppressed so what the heck is going on out there?careful what you do Alan Garcia when the government of Venezuela attacked their own civilians recently at a protest there was an earthquake when the Brazilian government sided with big business over the people their were great floods when Ecuador sided with oil corporations the red tide came cease and desist your attacks on the tribal peoples of the lands for nature sides with them not big business leave the tribes alone send in mediators end this peacefully or your infrastructure will be in ruins peaceful ends not bloodshed i worry for you out there if you do not PEACE!!Peace in Peru this is what i pray for as i hope you all pray for peace for the nature spirits and the earth will not tolerate war.PEACE!!
Thank you for your great coverage of these events in Peru!
Hey no problem Maria. And thank you for commenting
There is much support for the indigenous people of Peru here in Peru. There is little love for President Garcia.
However, the power in Peru resides with the government under a constitution which was revised during Fujimori’s reign (yes, the one in prison for human rights abuses). Garcia is a neo-liberal and his fat belly tells a story. He is selling the country from under the feet of the people. And who’s getting fat on these riches? Certainly not the campesinos, the workers, the indigenous or the poor.
The ruling oligarchy is raking in money without a thought to what is happening to the country and its people. Why is the ideology of neo-liberalism not castigated the way other ideologies are? Because it is the ideology of the global rich. La lucha continua! The indigenous people of Peru need people in the US to join the fight!
I am from vancouver,canada and i heard on the cbc radio news about the military attack of the gov. of Peru against the native people.The people of Peru needs a gov. like the people of Venezuela and Bolivia got.The present gov.of Peru is corupt and is backed up by the United States gov.If it wasn’t for the USA backing up these reactionary govs.the people of Peru would have no trouble getting rid of their bad gov.Anyway im sure the people of Peru will eventually get rid of the gov. like the people of Venezuela and Bolivia did in their countries.The people of South America are gradually getting rid of the influence of the american gov.Keep up the good work.
Stan Squires
Dude get a life! You sound so weird. US has no control over S.A countries, get your facts right. Have you been to Peru? Do you really understand the situation? Yes there are major problems there, but don’t start pointing fingers at us.
I also appreciate your coverage of these events in Peru.
In Lima there are scarce and malicious handlings of information.
Today we do not know the number of dead Indians, but they speak of policemen dead.
The President García has a past genocidal when he lost control of the criminal Fronton.
Not it would be unusual for this time sacrificed some policemen, just to get some benefit.
This case reminds me of Geronimo and nort Americans Native.
Here a short video. http://blog.pucp.edu.pe/item/57439
From the National Council of Churches in the Philippines, across the Pacific, we are outraged by the repression of indigenous peoples in Peru and the killing of peace-loving indigenous peoples. I am an indigenous person and I know that indigenous people everywhere defend the future race when they defend the land especially against corporate greed. I reach out to my sisters and brothers in Peru. Hold on! Hold fast! We too are holding on in this part of the world. Together, we will fight any wanton destruction of our ancestral homes, not for us but for those after us.
To the leaders in my country and Peru – NOT EVERYTHING ON THIS EARTH IS FOR SALE! One day you will reap the fruits of your callousness and irresponsibility!
STOP THE VIOLENCE !
I’m in grade 6
and we’re doing a topic on this issue at school
i was surprise that these thing are still happening ,now! in the 21st century!
it’s horrible! there’s enough happening all across the world to do with global warming and other un-righteous things without this situation added to it
globally-eveyy single person who heard or read about this will be sure to support the indigenous people of peru !
i pray for all the indigenous people who have been or who’s ancester have been stripped of their rights to be heard,to speak ………
Thanks for commenting, schoolkid.
I’m glad to hear you’re all talking about this. It really is surprising to see, but in many ways the world hasn’t changed from the way it was, hundreds of years ago. Some things are much better, but terrible things still happen because some of us haven’t learned from the past, and because some people just don’t care. It’s happening in your country too, but it’s different from what’s happened in Peru. It’s still tragic. If only these governments would stop forcing us to do things we don’t want to do.