No Justice for Peruvian Protesters Killed by Police

By Sovereign Hager
Impunity Watch Reporter, South America

 

(Photo Courtesy of Intercontinentalcry.org)

BAGUA, Peru-Human rights groups are calling on the Peruvian government to investigate the deaths of ten indigenous and local people killed in a violent clash at a Peruvian road blockade in June of this year. An inquiry is currently underway into the deaths of twenty-three police officers that occurred on the same day. 

The violence took place after 400 police officers confronted a group of indigenous protesters staging a blockade in the town of Bagua, north of Lima. The protesters used tree trunks and boulders to block a highway to express their opposition to the lifting of restrictions on mining, oil drilling, and farming in the Amazon rain forest. 

The death toll at what has been described as a peaceful protest is considered to be one of the worst in Peru in over twenty years. Amnesty International reports that in addition to the ten civilian deaths, over 200 people were injured. Amnesty International's main concern is currently the lack of investigation into the deaths of the protesters. There have been arrests related to the deaths of police officers and indigenous leaders have reported harassment by police since the incident. 

Over sixty-five indigenous groups staged a series of protests demanding to be consulted on behalf of more than 1,000 indigenous communities living in the rain forest. As a result two decrees lifting development restrictions were revoked. 

Family members of protesters killed in the clash say that the government should acknowledge the protesters' "defense of the Amazon Territory." Amnesty International has called for reparations and justice for all of the victims, not just police officers. 

James Anaya, the UN Special Rapporteur on Indigenous Rights called for a committee to investigate the incident and to monitor efforts to find individuals who have gone missing since the rallies against the decrees began. There are reports that since the since the violence, many Indigenous leaders have gone into hiding or fled Peru. 

For more information, please see:

Amnesty International-Victims of Peru Amazon Violence Deserve Justice Without Discrimination-10 December 2009 

Huntington News-Human Rights Groups Condemn Criminal Repression of Indigenous Community in Peru-10 December 2009

National Indigenous Times-Amnesty Calls for Peru to Remember Indigenous Victims-10 December 2009