Indigenous protesters lift Marañón river blockade

Residents in Peru’s Loreto department have lifted a blockade in the Marañón river in protest of Argentinean oil company Pluspetrol’s response to an oil spill earlier this year, Radioprogramas reported. Indigenous residents began the protests this week by blocking traffic on the river. They argued that Pluspetrol had not fulfilled its commitment to provide social [...]

DA confirms Bagua indigenous protesters were not armed

Amazonas region District Attorney Oswaldo Bautista Carranza has confirmed that indigenous protestors involved in a deadly clash with police last June were not carrying firearms. “Our preliminary investigation has led us to the conclusion that the indigenous protesters were not carrying any type of firearm,” said Bautista in comments to daily La República. Before dawn [...]

Number of social conflicts reaches year-high in June

Social conflicts in Peru have shot up from 132 in March 2008 to 273 this past month, daily El Comercio  reported Wednesday. Of the 273 social conflicts tracked last month, more than half were related to environmental concerns and 83 percent are still active, said Peru’s Ombudswoman, Beatriz Merino. Last month’s most heated and severe [...]

Peru’s García: Evo Morales’ comments are nothing short of bar-room shouts

Evo Morales’ “bar-room shouts” don’t deserve attention or a response, said Peru President Alan García on Saturday, just days after his Bolivian counterpart Evo Morales called him “one of the world’s worst presidents.” “I understand the limitations some people have, each person is shaped according to his education, his level, his scope,” said García, clearly [...]

Human Rights Watch: Peru radio closure could undermine press freedom

The Peruvian government’s decision this month to revoke the broadcast license of a local radio station “could have a chilling effect on community broadcasting in Peru,” reported Human Rights Watch on Wednesday. “The timing and circumstances of the revocation suggest that it may have been an act of censorship, or punishment, in response to coverage [...]

Indigenous leader Alberto Pizango granted safe passage from Peru to Nicaragua

The Peruvian indigenous leader Alberto Pizango boarded a flight Wednesday to Nicaragua, where he has been granted asylum. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs granted a letter of safe-conduct to Pizango, a Shawi Indian and former president of Peru’s Interethnic Association for the Development of Peru’s Jungle, Aidesep. But, according to Foreign Affairs Minister José Antonio [...]

Peru Government adopts conciliatory tone after Amazon clashes

In a conciliatory move, after two months of telling indigenous communities that the government would not review legislation aimed to open up the Peruvian Amazon to more foreign investment, Peru’s Premier Yehude Simon asked Congress to repeal the controversial decrees by June 18. “I understand that the members of Congress are upset,” said Simon. “But I [...]

Minister of Women’s Affairs resigns following violent clashes in Peru’s Amazon

The Minister of Women’s Affairs and Social Development, Carmen Vildoso, resigned from the Cabinet of Peru’s President Alan García late Monday evening, following violent clashes between police and indigenous protesters in Peru’s northern Amazon that left dozens of police and civilians dead.

Indigenous leader granted political asylum by Nicaragua following deadly melee in Peru’s Amazon

Presidential Cabinet Chief Yehude Simon told lawmakers Monday that the leader of Peru’s largest Indigenous federation was holed up in the Nicarguan Embassy, protected by political asylum following a deadly melee with police in Peru’s northern jungle.

Death toll rises in aftermath of clash between police and indigenous protesters in Peru’s north Amazon jungle

Indigenous communities in Peru’s Amazon, demanding the repeal of a series of decrees they say are promoting unchecked development in their territory, clashed with police on Friday, leaving up to 40 or more people dead, including at least 9 police officers and up to 28 indigenous protesters.

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