Peru Indians hail 'historic' day
Friday, 19 June 2009 12:37 UK
Peru Indians hail 'historic' day
Indigenous groups in Peru have called off protests after two land
laws which led to deadly fighting were revoked.
Hailing victory, Amazonian Indian groups said it was an "historic day".
At least 34 people died during weeks of strikes against the
legislation, which allowed foreign companies to exploit resources in
the Amazon forest.
The violence provoked tension with Peru's neighbour, Bolivia, where
President Evo Morales backed the Peruvian Indians' tribal rights.
"This is a historic day for indigenous people because it shows that
our demands and our battles were just," said Daysi Zapata, vice
president of the Amazon Indian confederation that led the protests.
She urged fellow activists to end their action by lifting blockades
of jungle rivers and roads set up since April across six provinces in
the Peruvian Amazon.
The controversial laws, passed to implement a free trade agreement
with the US, were revoked by Peru's Congress by a margin of 82-12
after a five-hour debate.
Diplomatic dispute
The worst of the clashes occurred on 5 June when police tried to
clear roadblocks set up by the groups at Bagua, 1,000km (600 miles)
north of Lima.
At least 30 civilians died, according to Indian groups, as well as 23 police.
Peru's Prime Minister Yehude Simon said the reversal of policy would
not put at risk Peru's free trade agreement with the US, but he has
said he will step down once the dispute is settled.
The dispute led to a diplomatic row between Peru and Latin American
neighbours Venezuela and Bolivia.
Peru recalled its ambassador to Bolivia for consultation on Tuesday
after Bolivian President Evo Morales described the deaths of the
indigenous protesters as a genocide caused by free trade.
Peru's Foreign Minister Jose Antonia Garcia Belaunde called Mr.
Morales an "enemy of Peru".
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Special thanks to Dorinda Moreno for this lead.
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June 2009 Reports