The Native Federation of the Madre de Dios River and Affluents, Fenamad, has initiated a campaign for recognition of the Territorial Corridor of isolated and contacted tribes in the area of the Peruvian territories of Madre de Dios, Cusco and Ucayali, and of Acre in Brazil. Fenamad’s president, Klaus Quicque, said recognition of this large land space is essential for their survival. “This is not a whim, it is a necessity.” The campaign is backed by a platform of native Amazon organizations, including the largest, AIDESEP. The aims include preventing forced contact with the native communities — thousands of Quicque’s own people, the Harakmbut of the Manu River, died of disease from forced contact, including his parents and grandparents.
Protests and a 48-hour strike in the town of Lucanas, Ayacucho were quelled by police, with one woman suffering a head injury from a teargas canister. The population in Puquio and part of Lucanas are against mining exploration in the area of the Ccarhuarazo mountain, considered sacred because it is the source of the Chicha, Pampas and Sondondo rivers. The Kimsa Orcco copper-gold-silver project was acquired in 2013 by the Australian mining company Laconia Resources.
Following Congress’ passing of a bill March 4th against sexual harassment in public spaces or public transport, the National Network of Women Authorities at their conference in Arequipa last week also highlighted political harassment, particularly aimed at women who hold positions of public authority. According to the network’s president, Lima’s former mayor Susana Villaran, the women who suffer political bullying or harassment are 30% city councilors, 4% regional presidents, 23% city advisors, and 3.11% mayors. In 71% of the cases, the aggressors have been regional presidents and mayors, followed by the press and interest groups, with most attacks being against their honesty and intellectual abilities.
Science and technology research got an added boost last week in an agreement signed by Peru’s Foreign Relations minister, Gonzalo Gutierrez and the French ambassador to Lima, Fabrice Mauriès. France’s long-standing technical cooperation in science and technology dates back to 1967, through the Research and Development Institute, IRD. The French have led this project since 1967, and IRD today works on a permanent basis with 26 researchers and scientists in 12 Peruvian institutions, including the Ministry of Education and several private and public universities. The IRD is also developing a network of Peruvians living abroad who work in the science and technology fields.
