Indigenous Peruvians risk Jail for Amazon Protests

Indigenous Peruvians faced jail for protests in the Amazon

AIDESEP, 05 August 2009. The AP news agency described the situation of the leader Santiago Manuin: prostrate in a hospital bed with his companions, five police officers with AK-47 seated at the door. Besides the view Daysi picked Zapata, Vice President of AIDESEP, Amnesty International and the representative of the UN, James Anaya.

A plastic bag drains the stomach of Manuin Santiago, leader of the ethnic Awajun who is lucky to be alive. On June 5 Santiago was shot 4 times when police opened fire during a protest in the Amazon.

Manuin is the most prominent of the 48 protesters injured in June. Five policemen with AK-47s seated outside her room.

The UN special envoy, James Anaya, said that negotiations in good faith to resolve the dispute, in which 350,000 Indians, will be difficult if the government treats them like criminals. Manuin is more direct: "Justice for the Indian does not exist. The police are more valued than us, and the government does not want to acknowledge their mistake," said the leader of 53 years.

Indigenous groups in the Amazon have blocked roads in the jungle and rivers intermittently since August 2008. They want 11 decrees introduced by President Alan García when he signed a free trade agreement with United States to be revoked because they fear a massive land and natural resources grab by private companies.

Critics say the government has erred in not considering that the police may have overstepped the use of force. At least 10 civilians and 23 policemen were killed during the protest, according to the representative office of the Peruvian citizens.

"It is striking that while there are investigations and proceedings against accused persons charged with the killing of policemen, so far there have been no arrests or investigations into the abuses that led to the deaths of demonstrators in the indigenous communities or residents of Bagua "said Susan Lee, Program Director of Amnesty International in the Americas. He added that the group gathered testimony on police abuse.

Daysi Zapata, Vice President of AIDESEP, the indigenous federation that organized the protests, said that 120 Indians facing criminal charges, including charges of murder.

Manuin is expected to leave the hospital after an operation this week and could be sentenced to 35 years in prison for acts of June 5. The leader claims to negotiate but he was shot trying.