June 17, 2009

The Indigenous populations of the Peruvian Amazonia started a general and peaceful strike for almost 60 days to protest against 10 legislative decrees promoted by the Peruvian Government in order to comply with the Free trade Agreement (FTA) with US that threatens their rights and their environment. More specifically, the FTA with the US permits oil and mining companies to enter 44 out of 75 million hectares of Amazonian forest, which are Indigenous territories, without any kind of agreement or even consultation.

In response, President Alan Garcia launched on June 5th an extremely violent attack on the demonstrators who had occupied the Belaunde-Terri road for 10 days, in the region named «Curva del Diablo», Amazonas, in the northern part of the country. The military dropped tear gas from helicopters on the demonstrators.

According to the latest information, these confrontations killed at least 50 people, with many more still missing, including Indigenous people and policemen. This massacre happened a few hours after the Peruvian Congress postponed again the debate on the repeal of these legislative decrees. Alan Garcia's government has continued to refuse the dialogue demanded by the Indigenous communities from the beginning of the crisis. Even though Peru has ratified the ILO Convention 169 concerning Indigenous and Tribal Peoples in independent countries and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which obliges Peru to conduct consultations with Indigenous communities before adopting decisions that can affect their lives, the Government has completely ignored its obligations as a signatory to these international conventions.

This situation shows once again the devastating consequences of Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) for small-scale farmers and Indigenous communities, for workers, for biodiversity and for the environment. If the FTAs between the European Union and Peru and Colombia currently being negotiated are signed, it is foreseeable that further changes in national laws will be required, prompting similar consequences for Indigenous and farmer communities as well as for workers and women among others.

The next Round of trade negotiations between the EU and Peru/Colombia is planned for June 15-19 in Bogotá, Colombia. It is unacceptable that the European Governments are continuing the negotiations in a situation of flagrant violation of human rights on the side of the governments of Peru and Colombia, and giving the clear proof of the negative impacts of these FTAs on people's civic, social, economic, cultural and environmental rights.

We, the undersigning organisations, have been denouncing and resisting for years Free Trade Agreements and the expansion of the WTO primarily because they impose a failed trade model which causes depredation of natural resources and undermines national interests in favour of big transnational corporations which, in turn, have a record of environmental damage, plundering and exploitation of native people, and have played a major role in bringing about global warming and the world economic crisis.

Therefore, we demand: To the Peruvian Government An immediate halt to the state violence being waged against Indigenous peoples in the Peruvian Amazon and insist that their rights be respected. The respect of and compliance to the Convention 169 (ILO) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples signed by Peru, that enshrines the self-determination of Indigenous peoples. The immediate abolition of all unconstitutional law decrees imposed by the Peruvian Government. The lifting of the State of Emergency in the Peruvian Amazon. An immediate end to the persecution of social leaders, the criminalisation of social protest and the criminal charges against Alberto Pizango (the main leader of AIDESEP) for conspiracy, rebellion and sedition. Prosecution of those responsible for the massacre.

To the European governments and the European Union to stop the negotiation for an Association Agreement with the Peruvian government, as well as with Colombia

To the United States Government to denounce and cancel the Free Trade Agreement between Peru and USA.

Finally, we urge all social movements and civil society organisations around the world to show solidarity with the Indigenous struggles of Peru by calling for an immediate halt to these FTA negotiations and the conclusion of the WTO Doha Round

The Declaration was signed by more than 200 social movements, civil society organizations and networks members of OWINFS, S2B and Europe-Latin America Bi-regional network Enlazando Alternativas. To see full list of signatures visit: http://www.ourworldisnotforsale.org/en/signon/perufta