In light of the Peruvian State’s push for the granting of oil and gas concessions in our Amazonian rainforest, AIDESEP would like the Peruvian and international citizens and decision-makers to know the following:
1) We condemn the government of Peru for not fulfilling its obligations and failing to protect indigenous territories; for violating indigenous communities’ rights to choose their own model of development; and for failing to consult them ahead of giving any mining, forest and gas and oil concessions. We believe these concessions will damage the Amazon rainforest irreversibly, hurting the indigenous peoples that live in it, and the rest of the world.
2) For all the reasons stated above, indigenous communities REJECT THE GRANTING OF NEW CONCESSIONS IN OUR PERUVIAN AMAZONIAN TERRITORIES. The Peruvian state has yet to address the problems or demands of its indigenous population since the unfortunate events of June 5th, 2009. This has been done in open violation of international laws such as the ILO Convention 169, the U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, and recommendations from human rights NGOs from around the world.
Down with colonialism and discrimination, long live the Multicultural Republic of Peru!”
National Executive Council, AIDESEP
