Peruvian Government declares that indigenous as not first class citizens

[Connie B]

Peruvian Government declares that indigenous as not first class citizens and ordered to kill.

Hello Everyone,

First of all, I am sorry for placing this post here as couldn’t find an appropriate place
where to communicate what is happening on the other side of the world.

On June 5th, the president of Peru, Alan Garcia, ordered helicopter gun-ships and many armed troops to assault a peaceful and legal protest from the indigenous communities from Bagua who were protesting the entry of foreign multinational mining companies on their homelands. There have been more than 40 people killed among indigenous and army plus 1000s of indigenous who have disappeared.

Alan Garcia declared to the local news that indigenous are not first class citizens and they can not rule the Amazon and he was going to take action.

Peru has a new trade with U.S. (U.S. Peru Promotional Trade Agreement)
where some of the resources from the Amazon are part of the trade. The Peruvian government created a new law to have full control over the natural resources from the Peruvian’s Amazon without asking permission from Indigenous who live in that area.
They have been protesting pacifically for about 2 months asking the government to derogate this new law for protection of the environment and their families.

I was borned in Peru and immigrated to Canada when I was very young. Canada is my new home; however, I still have part of my heart in Peru. Hearing this type of news made me so angry to a dictatorship government who declare themselves as Democratic.

More details here:
http://www.democracynow.org/2009/6/10/peru

I am sorry for taking your time but I really wanted to share this with all of you.

Connie Burstin

[casinochipsj]

I hate to ask a stupid question but is this actually happening? It sounds shocking. If it's true the best thing to do is to spread the news and hope that governments around the world pick it up and put pressure on the gov. of Peru to explain themselves.

[Betpartners]

Connie as far as i am concerned there is no need to apologise for bringing this to out attention, it does not matter that we are all in the gambling industry and not related to this subject, we are citizens of the world and things like this must be publizised.

It is indeed shocking and if true disgusting.

[joeyl]

No external govts with any clout will get involved, because the word autonimy is involved.

I'm afraid, it really is that simple.

[casinochipsj]

I think for an issue like this other countries will get involved as long as they hear about it and their citizens pressure their own governments to do something about it. It is an easy way to have trade cut off from that country.

If people make enough noise this news could become world news and that is when some real pressure can be applied.

[Betpartners]

I think for an issue like this other countries will get involved as long as they hear about it and their citizens pressure their own governments to do something about it. It is an easy way to have trade cut off from that country.

If people make enough noise this news could become world news and that is when some real pressure can be applied.

I am not sure about tha John

Places like Darfur, Zimbabwe immediately spring to mind nevermind the plight of indeginous people worldwide.

Without getting political we have the Roma people in Europe, the Kurds, Tamils and so many others.

Unless it is politically expedient for the western powers or of economical importance i doubt they will give a damn no matter the protests.

[Chalkie]

Due to the lack of economic strain this issue will have on any particular country and the fact that it is a joint trade venture with the US there is unlikely to be any support from governments.

A way to ensure that things are done is to make sure that it becomes common knowledge throughout the world.

One thing favourable for the issue is the fact that it is the rain forest and as such it should get plenty of support from the green activists and supporters! So next time you see a tree hugger, be sure to tell them about it!

In all seriousness, this is another case of power and corruption taking advantage of the poorer and less advantaged of this world!

[casinochipsj]

Well those are good points but with African nations with those problems I don't think there is much in trade happening at all and thus no leverage. With a country like Peru they are a lot more connected and my opinion is more can be done. However I don't think the answer is to just say don't waste your time because nothing is going to happen anyways because if you do what's next, or rather who is next?

If you would like to pass on the message and at least try to do something you can.

[casinochipsj]

I googled "Peru killings" and I already found a few articles so this is certainly gaining some momentum:

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alber...2/9781841.html
http://www.canadians.org/media/trade...2-June-09.html
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/N05303875.htm [reuters]

I would say this story is in it's infancy and hopefully gaining momentum. Calgarysun is the only mainstream media I see covering it but that was 2 days ago.

[Betpartners]

Well those are good points but with African nations with those problems I don't think there is much in trade happening at all and thus no leverage. With a country like Peru they are a lot more connected and my opinion is more can be done. However I don't think the answer is to just say don't waste your time because nothing is going to happen anyways because if you do what's next, or rather who is next?

If you would like to pass on the message and at least try to do something you can.

Oh i do agree with your sentiments and that doing nothing is not the answer but the reality is that unless our Governments decide that it is in their vested interests nothing will get done.

The days of mass protest in my opinion are over with, there were 1 million people on the streets of London protesting agsinst the Iraq War and The British Prime Minister at the time Tony Blair did not budge an inch.

That sort of thing just sucks the protest out of you.

Now dont get me wrong i am not saying that protests, petitions etc dont have a place, they do, but only if the government is capable of listening.

Obama may a leader that will listen, i dont know but the British Prime minister wont give a damn and the truth is that unless your leaders are prepared to listen nothing will change.

That is a poor attitude i have i know but it is how i see the world these days, when millions are starving and being brutalised and our so called leaders turn a blind eye i think that says a lot.

I just dont feel my voice carries any weight in this day and age when it comes to Governments, i hope i am wrong but i have yet to see the evidence that i am.

I am prepared to sign online petitions etc and express outrage but i would be lying if i said i felt it would do any good.

[Connie B]

Hello Everyone,

Thank you for taking the time to read and support on this issue.

There is an economical interest from foreign investors who do not agree on
what the government of Peru is doing with indigeneous citizens.

Its obvious to see that Peruvian President, Alan Garcia, and administration
just want it to close the deal with US for the promotional trade and rush
over by creating a law where indigeneous will have no rigths over their land.

The Amazon watch and other organizations are there now to help these people
who are just figthing for their land and able to leave a safe home for their kids.
They dont ask for anything else.

The actress from the movie "The New World",Q'orianka Kilcher, whose background
is from Peru is creating awareness in Hollywood on what is happening there
these days. She has traveled to Peru and donated 50 Cameras for indigeneous
so they can take pictures of the true.

Here is a video showing some picture of indigeneous figthing for their land.
<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ur9duUg0Wo&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x99 9999&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1ur9duUg0Wo&hl=en&fs=1&color1=0x3a3a3a&color2=0x99 9999&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>

[hazo]

Hmm I am going to Peru next year and my close friend from Peru is coming with me. Thanks for bringing this to my attention Connnie.

[Chalkie]

And now:

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/248681?m=e8d06de8

Sick

[SuperiorShare]

That is really a shocking link...

I've been in Peru so many times, lived there for months and I know how easily a big riot can arise due to discrimination, oppression and poor behavior from the local government towards protecting their citizens. It's a complex situation and I hardly believe the government will consider to sit down and negotiate when big transnationals interests, and their own intere$t$ are behind all this.

Sad but true.

The actress from the movie "The New World",Q'orianka Kilcher, whose background
is from Peru is creating awareness in Hollywood on what is happening there
these days. She has traveled to Peru and donated 50 Cameras for indigeneous
so they can take pictures of the true.

Now that is a really smart initiative. I really hope it'll have impact and more people around the world can be aware of this.

[casinochipsj]

Seems that it's not just getting into the media but something is being done about the situation:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8104787.stm

[Connie B]

Hello John,

Thanks for following up on this issue.

Hopefully, those 2 laws get derogated this week.

There has been a lot of international pressure and have already
been losing investors.

There is a video of the Peruvian President, Alan Garcia, giving a speech
at a business conference last year letting people know that his objective
is to become an oil exporter. He also said on that speech that other nations/cultures
such as Japanese, Koreans or Israelis will probably cultivate double on what the nature provides and become a leader on that industry and why not Peru.

Here is the video:

<object width="445" height="364"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/MRxtL_ieHbI&hl=en&fs=1&border=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/MRxtL_ieHbI&hl=en&fs=1&border=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="445" height="364"></embed></object>

Today, he gave a speech to the nation letting people know that other countries
misinformed to the public and trying to create a bad image about Peru.

Anyhow, let's see where this ends. Hopefully, the indigeneous get the complete
rights over their land.

Connie Burstin

[raphnix]

I didn't know that a leader could that be cruel to his native and ancestral land. That's why the conflict between development and preservation is becoming more an issue out of poverty and crisis.

I'm might go prejudice about this but I think Peru's president only eyes for money not for his people's welfare.

[Connie B]

Hello,

Thanks to the world!

The Peruvian goverment has revoked the two amazon land laws on June 19.
Those 2 laws were facilitating foregin developments of the Peruvian bursAmazon land.

Cheers,

Connie Burstin!