[IPSM] (Ott) Solidarity Rally with Indigenous in Peru, Thursday, June 11 at 11:30am

[mattm-b at resist.ca]

~~~~ FORWARD WIDELY ~~~~


SOLIDARITY WITH INDIGENOUS IN PERU!
Demonstration and information picket in front of the Peruvian Embassy

==========================================
Thursday, June 11 - 11:30am -1:30pm
Peruvian Embassy, Ottawa
130 Albert, between O’Connor and Metcalfe
Indigenous Peoples’ Solidarity Movement –Ottawa
ipsmo at riseup.net – http://ipsmo.wordpress.com
==========================================
Call for group endorsements of demands – see below
==========================================

This protest is in response to calls for international solidarity by
indigenous movements in Peru, as well as coinciding with the national
strike called for June 11 inside of Peru.

Indigenous led protests against new “Free Trade” agreements in Peru have
been met with brutal violence by the Peruvian government.  The Peruvian
police and military murdered up to 100 protesters on June 5/6 2009, and
are continuing to terrorize people under a declared 'State of Emergency'
while blaming the protesters for the violence.  The Peruvian government
considers the profits made from exploiting logging, mining, oil and
agroindustry more important than the lives of protesters and indigenous
people.

If we are serious about safeguarding the human rights of the Indigenous
and non-Indigenous peoples of the Amazon, we need to act now. The violent
repression of Indigenous protests and the loss of civil liberties must
come to an end. If we want to protect and preserve the Amazon, and its
bio-cultural diversity, especially in the face of climate change, there is
no better protection than keeping it under the control of those who have
maintained it forever. The free trade laws that open up the Amazon to
logging, mining, oil and agroindustry must be suspended. Indigenous
Peoples' rights - to self-determination, to their lands and resources, to
their lives - must be protected and guaranteed. If we are to stop other
atrocities and bloodshed, the battle line must be withdrawn, immediately,
and there must be dialogue.

It is essential to understand that this is not an “indigenous issue” or a
“Peruvian” issue; this is a global issue; this is “our” issue in the
north.  Since the 1980s and 1990s, the governments of the USA and Canada
-- along with our “development” institutions (from the World Bank,
International Monetary Fund and Inter-American Development Bank, to our
“aid” agencies [US-AID, CIDA]) -- have been pushing for and insisting on
the “free trade” trade model of development / exploitation, on the signing
of “free trade” agreements. Canada signed a “free trade” agreement with
Peru on May 29 2008, and on June 3 2009, Bill C-24 was passed in the House
of Commons to implement this agreement. The Peruvian government has also
signed “free trade” agreements with the United States, the European Union,
Chile, and China, all of which endanger indigenous territorial rights and
Amazonian biodiversity.

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OUR DEMANDS OF THE PERUVIAN GOVERNMENT:

1) Immediately suspend violent repression of indigenous protests and the
State of Emergency
2) Repeal the Free Trade Laws that allow oil, logging, and agricultural
corporations easy entry into indigenous territories
3) Respect indigenous peoples' constitutionally guaranteed rights to
self-determination, to their ancestral territories, and to prior
consultation
4) Enter into good faith process of dialogue with indigenous peoples to
resolve this conflict

!! We are calling for groups and organizations to endorse these demands
and this action.  To do so, email ipsmo at riseup.net by Wed June 10 at 1pm
!!
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RSVP to this event on Facebook, and invite your friends:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=89930363498

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Write, Phone and Fax the Peruvian Embassy:

EMBASSY:
Tel: (613) 238-1777
Fax: (613) 232-3062
E-mail: emperuca at bellnet.ca

CONSULAR SECTION
Tel: (613) 233-2721
Emergency Phone: (613) 796-0634
Fax: (613) 232-3062
E-mail: seccionconsular at embassyofperu.ca

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LINKS TO MORE INFORMATION:

* Reports by Ben Powless, IPSMO member currently in Peru
http://rabble.ca/taxonomy/term/2686

* In depth analysis of the situation, by Gerardo Rénique:
https://nacla.org/node/5879

* News from AmazonWatch.org - includes action items
http://www.amazonwatch.org/peru-protests.php


BACKGROUNDER

Peru: Battle lines drawn over the Amazon
By Ben Powless | June 8, 2009
http://rabble.ca

The rhetoric was sharp enough to cut down Amazonian hardwoods. Yesterday,
Sunday June 7th, after a number of ministers had been paraded out Saturday
and the day before, Peru's el Señor Presidente, Alan Garcia decided to
make it personal. After a joint police-military operation aimed at
stopping an Indigenous protest had gone awry, leaving many dead on both
sides, Garcia declared the Indigenous elements to be standing in the way
of progress, in the path of national development, wrenches in the gears of
modernity, and part of an international conspiracy to keep Peru down. In a
troubling statement on the resemblance of the Indigenous protestors to the
infamous Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) armed insurrection, Garcia seemed
to imply the Natives were a band of terrorists as he stood in front of
hundreds of military officers in a nationally televised speech. He
continued to decry the Indian barbarity and savagery, and called for all
police and military to stand against savagery.

Clearly, the battle lines were being drawn. Garcia demonstrated he is not
about to allow anything to get in the way of "our development" of the oil
and mineral resources the Amazon has to offer. Especially by a bunch of
confused savages (his words) who are pawns to the international market and
to Indian elites and therefore have no real reason to be resisting. At
this point, it was obvious he thought nothing of the Indigenous cause, and
what they actually stood for. There is too much money to be extracted from
oil, from minerals, from logging, and from possible agriculture in the
Amazon region, the 2nd largest stretch outside of Brazil. All on land with
less than 200,000 Indigenous people. All now supposed to be open for
business, as a result of a series of laws passed under the auspices of
Free Trade Agreements signed with both Canada and the United States.

All those who lost their lives - certainly more than the 30 or so
officially cited - have in the end given their lives for these free trade
agreements and their domestic implementation. After wresting a concession
from Congress - a la Bush - Garcia was able to push through 99 changes to
the law of Peru. A number of these were ruled unconstitutional later, one
dealing with property law standing out. Indigenous groups disputed from
the beginning that these laws threatened the integrity of the Amazon, its
cultural and biological diversity. Since the beginning, they were ignored.
Living up to their Amazonian warrior mythology, they decided to take
action.

Protests have lasted now over 50 days, only recently erupting into
bloodshed when Garcia suspended civil liberties, declared a state of
emergency, and decided to send in the military to end the dispute. This
was all done in the name of Garcia's idea of ‘democracy,' which should be
farcical to anyone who has the least idea what democracy means. Indigenous
groups have maintained they want to be included in this so-called
democracy, meaning they have a say over what happens in their lands, and
that their rights be respected. This is clearly within international law
now, after the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples was approved two years ago.

The Declaration lays out provisions that clearly establish the rights to
free, prior and informed consent over development projects in Indigenous
territories, and the right to be involved in any decision making processes
that would impact on Indigenous Peoples' lands, resources or rights.
Repeated demands have called for there to be dialogue with Indigenous
groups. Garcia's response? Yes, there has been dialogue - within the
government, by elected officials. Obviously, this hasn't done enough to
safeguard the rights, the lives, and the livelihoods of Amazon peoples,
and a number of the new laws have been shown to be unconstitutional.
Indigenous leaders quickly condemned the tragic loss of lives as the fault
of the government, who was not committed to dialogue, but arms. Even the
ex-president has placed the blame on Garcia for not seeking dialogue with
Indigenous representatives.

Lamentably, this whole situation could have easily been prevented, had the
government cared enough about its own citizens' lives and effective
dialogue more than getting its own way. Instead, on Friday morning, police
and military descended on an Indigenous encampment near the Amazonian
towns of Bagua Chica and Bagua Grande. Reports from the ground contradict
the government version, in which security forces, reluctant to use force,
were ambushed and had to defend themselves with bombs, helicopters, and
machine guns. Other reports establish that a private meeting was held
between the military, the Indigenous leadership, and a local bishop, among
others, the night before the violence. Indigenous groups were reportedly
given until 10am to make a decision to leave or stay, and were guaranteed
that nothing would happen until then. In response, many decided to go
home. But the government apparently lied. The operation started around
6am.

Local sources instead claim they were sleeping, unarmed, when bullets were
fired in their direction. When the police finally arrived to physically
remove protestors, it was then that many police were disarmed, killed, or
taken prisoner by the masses of protestors, probably numbering over 2,000
in days prior, now down to a few hundred. By now, the war had been
declared, and wouldn't stop well into the night as police and military
continued in a violent sweep, ending up going into the towns and
reportedly searching house by house in vengeance. Police entered with
weapons of war against civilians. Now the military has been reported to be
wearing civilian clothing to carry out what seems more and more to
resemble a civil war. Families decry that they haven't been allowed to
enter the areas to search for missing family, or enter jails to visit and
feed prisoners. All this done in a declared state of emergency, with many
liberties and human rights withdrawn for local citizens.

Then came the outrage. But not by locals or Indigenous groups, though that
was palpable. By the very same government who initiated the action. Their
reports came out throughout the next day - a dozen security forces
murdered in cold blood, maybe 3 Indians hurt. Now 24 police and military
cruelly assassinated, about 9 Indians dead (no information how). The
choice of words is translated from government pronouncements, and reflects
their dim view of Indigenous deaths, despite many being civilians, with a
few children among those murdered.

On the other side, Indigenous groups reported at least 30 civilians and
Natives were killed, but also that government officials had gone through
lengths to disappear some of the bodies, a claim documented by Amazon
Watch (see link below). Some AIDESEP members in the communities dispute
that the number is much higher, closer to 100, including peasants and
civilians. Video evidence clearly shows Natives armed only with spears
against a tactical unit in one confrontation, and photos show police
firing live weapons from the roofs, reportedly into crowds gathered below.
A national newspaper even reported that one could clearly find pictures of
more than a dozen Natives and civilians dead, online. No matter, the
numbers had suddenly taken on a new importance.

This had been the worst episode of violence since the 90's, so one might
think the government might want to cut its losses and signal a shift
towards more productive measures. Indeed, both sides could claim that they
lost a number of lives, impetus to stop the bloodshed. Except that the war
had already been declared, and may only be heating up. Hence the
president's fiery rhetoric, about how dare the savage Indians hurt our
humble police, who didn't want to raise their weapons. With their claim of
nearly 30 deaths to the Indians' 9 pushed them to call it a massacre
(matanza, masacre) and seemed to pave the ethical and emotional road
towards stronger retaliation, as all news channels were flooded with
pictures of the soldiers bodies being flown out. The president of the
ministers' congress today appeared before congress and on national
television to decry all the foreign news reports that fail to coincide
with official numbers. Not only that, of course, these Natives were
getting in the way of our development,of our modernity, denying us our
basic human rights. Many of these government claims are thin disguises to
misrepresent the Indigenous movement and its positions.

Take the issue of development. Indigenous communities have repeatedly said
they aren't against development, but it has to be a different kind of
development, one more responsible. A reasonable claim, especially
considering that the loss of the Amazon rainforest is one of the top
drivers of climate change. On the issue of leadership and responsibility,
the government has maintained that this was a top-down movement led by
Alberto Pizango, president of AIDESEP, the Interethnic Association for the
Development of the Peruvian Rainforest, an Indigenous organization with
representation from Amazon communities. This flies in the face of the
history of the protest, which has literally involved thousands of
communities, and shown itself to be led by local communities in their own
decision making structures. The government has instead tried to pin the
blame on Pizango as the main instigator, as a political agent of other
parties or perhaps other countries, and a criminal mastermind who has
tricked his followers into rallying against perfectly good legislation.
They have gone so far as to issue a warrant for his arrest now, with many
news reports hinting he has fled to Bolivia, and the Indigenous leadership
have lost contact with him.

The other easily disputed claim is that this is an Indigenous movement
uniquely, the implication being that this does not apply to anyone
non-Indigenous, and others should repudiate the movement. It is well known
in and around the Amazonian towns, however, that there have consistently
been Mestizos, those of mixed race who make a slim majority of Peruvians,
as part of the movement. In recent days reportedly a number of
disenfranchised army reservists also decided to join the Indigenous cause.
Looking at the protests in and around Bagua, it can clearly be seen that
as many as half the protestors were not Indigenous, but were there in
support. Also in the past, it has been a number of labour unions and
farmer groups that have participated in national strikes, concerned over
the same free trade agreements as Amazon communities. The implications
here are critical, though, and seem to seek a precedent in declaring the
Indigenous movement to be a criminal, or even terrorist, movement and
outlaw their activities, organizations, and politics.

What comes next? On the Indigenous side, there have been calls for a
national strike on Thursday, the 11th. In this case, many labour groups
have been involved from the beginning, so it remains to be seen whether
this will go farther than strikes in the past, which have shut down vital
transportation and oil infrastructure, as well as Machu Picchu, the main
tourist destination of Peru. Indigenous leaders have said, however, their
protest will continue until they are able to renegotiate the controversial
laws. On the government side, we can only wait and hope for the best. If
the inflamed words and rallying of the troops are any indication, however,
they may be getting ready to try and strike down harder on the Indigenous
movement sooner rather than later. Reports have come in that Special
Forces have been seen in the area. All this may spell out more bloodshed
in the name of democracy. However, they are also acutely aware they are
under the international microscope right now, despite the lack of
substantial media reporting about the situation here in Peru.

And that may be where hope rests. This is a critical moment, as the
government plans its next steps. There needs to be a strong international
focus on Peru, to let them know they cannot get away with more human
rights abuses. Already, protests are planned across the United States,
with more in planning in Canada. Letters have been sent to the government
and to representatives at embassies around the world. AIDESEP has called
for a national inquiry into the events of Bagua and the deaths. They have
also issued a request for an international observer committee to come and
be witnesses to the situation. A national strike is planned for this
Thursday, with participation from diverse groups, calling for resolution
to the situation and the resignation of Alan Garcia. AIDESEP is also
collecting funds to aid in its work and support observers to get into the
region.

A curfew has been imposed. Amazonian towns have been militarized. AIDESEP
officials are in communication with the communities that there are many
missing, many presumed dead. The government has begun persecuting and
threatening jail for Indigenous leaders, while the leaders have said they
are ready to go to jail to defend their rights. The fear is growing that
the government is trying to build support to further repress Indigenous
groups. This is not a path to peace and reconciliation.

For now, the protests will continue. If we are serious about safeguarding
the human rights of the Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples of the
Amazon, we need to act now. The violent repression of Indigenous protests
and the loss of civil liberties must come to an end. If we want to protect
and preserve the Amazon, and its bio-cultural diversity, especially in the
face of climate change, there is no better protection than keeping it
under the control of those who have maintained it forever. The free trade
laws that open up the Amazon to logging, mining, oil and agroindustry must
be suspended. Indigenous Peoples' rights - to self-determination, to their
lands and resources, to their lives - must be protected and guaranteed. If
we are to stop other atrocities and bloodshed, the battle line must be
withdrawn, immediately, and there must be dialogue.

For up-to-date information and planned actions:
http://peruanista.blogspot.com/

So far actions are planned in Canada, the US, Australia, India and more.

Website of AIDESEP: Aidesep, pueblos indígenas amazónicos del Peru | Portada
http://www.aidesep.org.pe/index.php?id=5


Donations can be made to "SOLIDARIDAD AIDESEP", at
Bank Name: Banco de Crédito del Perú
Account number: 193-1070011-1-01
Account name: AIDESEP-VARIOS
Swift Code: BCPLPEPL
Address: Jr. Lampa 499, Cercado de Lima, Peru

Peruvian news network, with many (shocking) videos:
http://enlacenacional.com/

Collection of actions to take and media sources:
http://beckermanlegal.com/Peru.htm

AmazonWatch investigates disposed bodies:
http://www.amazonwatch.org/newsroom/view_news.php?id=1843

Send a letter to Peruvian officials:
http://amazonwatch.org/peru-action-alert.php

Preliminary blog: Calm at the Center of the Storm: Reporting from the
Amazonian Peoples' Headquarters in Lima | rabble.ca:
http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/ben-powless/2009/06/calm-center-storm-reporting-amazonian-peoples-headquarters-lima

More photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/powless/sets/72157619320374511/

Democracy Now! Report:
http://intercontinentalcry.org/democracy-now-reports-on-bagua-massacre/

News Report from Australia:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/06/08/2592391.htm?section=world

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