A year has passed since a police operation to
end 55 days of peaceful indigenous protests in the Amazon basin resulted in a
violent clash between military police and the peaceful protesters in Bagua last
June 5, 2009. It was the worst violence Peru has seen in recent history,
leaving 34 people dead and almost two hundred injured. As Amazon Watch’s Peru Campaigner, I was in
Bagua the day after the violence and returned this year for the anniversary.
One year later there is a troubling contrast
between indigenous leaders, seeking reconciliation and clear answers about what
happened, and a government intent on denying all responsibility and
criminalizing indigenous protesters with unfounded legal charges. To the
government, indigenous peoples are savage extremists, tricked by foreign
infiltrators to think the government was trying to take their land.
On the day of the anniversary, at the site of
the bloody clashes in Bagua, environmental youth groups and local townspeople
joined indigenous people in a peaceful march of remembrance and reflection.
Standing in vigil that night holding candles, indigenous leaders called for
justice, reparation, reconciliation and peace. Rather than anger at police,
there were shared tears and condolences for fellow Peruvians simply following
orders.
The government is now trying to undermine and
intimidate the indigenous movement through over 200 criminal proceedings while
it drags its feet over implementing new laws requiring oil and mining companies
to consult indigenous people.
Amazon
Watch continues to play a key role bringing international pressure to bear on
the government by ensuring that the indigenous voice is heard and exposing
human rights abuses. Our close contacts with groups on the ground combined with
our media experience and network of allies helps us keep the international
spotlight focused on Peru and lets the government know that human rights abuses
will not go unnoticed.
