The indigenous populations of the Amazon area in Peru have united and started a protest against the policy of President Alan Garcia. They cry for help in their attempt to protect the Amazon, which is under pressure because of the extraction and export of oil, gas, timber, gold, and other commodities. 

Although ecological awareness is growing globally, the destruction of the Amazon continues indifferently. Large parts of the rainforest of Peru are in concession of petroleum- and mining companies (in 2008, mining concessions alone made up for 13,4% of the countries surface, in comparison to 7,3% in 2005) and due to the extraction of timber 150.000 ha of rainforest are lost every year. The inhabitants of the Amazon feel abandoned by their government and they accuse Alan Garcia of giving away the countries riches to multinational companies.
Something has been wrong with the environmental policy of the consecutive Peruvian governments. A statement supported by the fact that half of the social conflicts in Peru – quite a high number, 161 in 2008 – are related to the conservation of ecosystems.
The Peruvian government is following a very neo-liberal course and is openly supporting the idea of mining as many as possible of its natural resources. Recently, a series of laws, that will facilitate the access to natural resources such as wood, water minerals and land, was approved. These laws have sparked the protest of the Amazon population. They demand the withdrawal of water law 29317 and of decrees 994, 1020, 1060, 1064 and 1089 from land law 29338.
Dialogue with the national government has proved challenging until now. Yesterday, 28 of April, the congress said to continue with the extractions in the rainforest and the awarding of concessions to multinational companies. This way, they want to fight poverty and secure the further development of the country.
The indigenous population living in the Amazon says that if the government does not step back, they will not either. “The protest will continue until we have obtained change and the protest will radicalise”.
Alberto Pizango, chairman of the 'Interetnic organisation of the development of the Peruvian rainforest' (AIDESP - Asociación Interétnica de desarrollo de la selva Peruana), stated that two petrol stations (nr. 5 and 6) were occupied by the protesters as a direct result of the radicalisation of the strike; because of this action the pumping of crude oil has been suspended. In Atalay, an airport has been taken and the road to Tarapoto and Yurimaguas keeps closed. In the seven regions of Peru (Peru has 24 regions in total) that are participation in the action, actions will be expanded and radicalised over the next few weeks.
Because the protest is spread over seven regions, it is hard to estimate exactly how many people are participating in the protest. The government paints the strike as a local matter of little importance. But this hardly seems an accurate representation of the facts, as the whole Amazon population has united forces in this indefinite strike. And recently, also 'campesino' (farmer) leaders have committed to support the indigenous strike with words and deeds.
The protest is not only growing in actions, it is also increasing in number of protesters. The tension rises. The government is organising itself too, strategic points are manned with police officers, and discord is planted. The battle continues…
Thomas Quirynen (www.wijzijnweg.be)
 
 The indigenous populations of the Amazon area in Peru have united and started a protest against the policy of President Alan Garcia. They cry for help in their attempt to protect the Amazon, which is under pressure because of the extraction and export of oil, gas, timber, gold, and other commodities.
 
 
Although ecological awareness is growing globally, the destruction of the Amazon continues indifferently. Large parts of the rainforest of Peru are in concession of petroleum- and mining companies (in 2008, mining concessions alone made up for 13,4% of the countries surface, in comparison to 7,3% in 2005) and due to the extraction of timber 150.000 ha of rainforest are lost every year. The inhabitants of the Amazon feel abandoned by their government and they accuse Alan Garcia of giving away the countries riches to multinational companies.
Something has been wrong with the environmental policy of the consecutive Peruvian governments. A statement supported by the fact that half of the social conflicts in Peru – quite a high number, 161 in 2008 – are related to the conservation of ecosystems.
The Peruvian government is following a very neo-liberal course and is openly supporting the idea of mining as many as possible of its natural resources. Recently, a series of laws, that will facilitate the access to natural resources such as wood, water minerals and land, was approved. These laws have sparked the protest of the Amazon population. They demand the withdrawal of water law 29317 and of decrees 994, 1020, 1060, 1064 and 1089 from land law 29338.
Dialogue with the national government has proved challenging until now. Yesterday, 28 of April, the congress said to continue with the extractions in the rainforest and the awarding of concessions to multinational companies. This way, they want to fight poverty and secure the further development of the country.
The indigenous population living in the Amazon says that if the government does not step back, they will not either. “The protest will continue until we have obtained change and the protest will radicalise”.
Alberto Pizango, chairman of the 'Interetnic organisation of the development of the Peruvian rainforest' (AIDESP - Asociación Interétnica de desarrollo de la selva Peruana), stated that two petrol stations (nr. 5 and 6) were occupied by the protesters as a direct result of the radicalisation of the strike; because of this action the pumping of crude oil has been suspended. In Atalay, an airport has been taken and the road to Tarapoto and Yurimaguas keeps closed. In the seven regions of Peru (Peru has 24 regions in total) that are participation in the action, actions will be expanded and radicalised over the next few weeks.
Because the protest is spread over seven regions, it is hard to estimate exactly how many people are participating in the protest. The government paints the strike as a local matter of little importance. But this hardly seems an accurate representation of the facts, as the whole Amazon population has united forces in this indefinite strike. And recently, also 'campesino' (farmer) leaders have committed to support the indigenous strike with words and deeds.
The protest is not only growing in actions, it is also increasing in number of protesters. The tension rises. The government is organising itself too, strategic points are manned with police officers, and discord is planted. The battle continues…
Thomas Quirynen (www.wijzijnweg.be)