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Canada must halt free trade agreement with Peru
by Council of Canadians
Indigenous communities in Peru have been holding peaceful protests since April 9 to condemn new laws that would allow for the rapid industrialization of the Amazon rainforest. These laws were put in place by the Peruvian government to further facilitate its proposed free trade agreements with Canada and the United States.
Over 30,000 Indigenous protesters have blocked roads, rivers and railways to force the repeal of these new laws, which would make way for intensified oil, mining, logging activities and massive agricultural projects, and to demand that they be consulted on all development planned on their land.
But at dawn on Friday, June 5, 600 Peruvian police in helicopters and on foot opened fire on protesters blocking a road near Bagua in the Peruvian Amazon. Conservative estimates indicate that 60 Indigenous and police have been killed. Police are accused of burning bodies then hiding them in the river and of removing the wounded from hospital to hide the real number of casualties.
Should Canada really be signing a free trade agreement with the Peruvian government when this is how they respond to legitimate protests against oil, mining and forestry projects that threaten to displace local and indigenous communities and further despoil Amazonian ecosystems?
The Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement gives Canadian resource companies new legal powers to challenge what few Peruvian laws stand in their way, while paying only lip service to labour rights and environmental protection. The House of Commons has already passed Bill C-24, the implementing legislation for the Agreement, without adding even a mention of human rights; it is currently before the Senate.
We need you to write to the Senate immediately and ask them to send the Canada—Peru FTA back to Parliament for reconsideration. The Senate cannot be allowed to rubber stamp this deal, which legitimizes state repression for the sake of boosting the profits of Canada’s oil patch and major mining companies. By using the form below, your letter will be copied to all the major party leaders so they know Canadians stand in solidarity with the Peruvian Indigenous protesters and oppose the free trade agreement.
In solidarity,
The Council of Canadians
Common Frontiers
MiningWatch Canada
by Council of Canadians
Indigenous communities in Peru have been holding peaceful protests since April 9 to condemn new laws that would allow for the rapid industrialization of the Amazon rainforest. These laws were put in place by the Peruvian government to further facilitate its proposed free trade agreements with Canada and the United States.
Over 30,000 Indigenous protesters have blocked roads, rivers and railways to force the repeal of these new laws, which would make way for intensified oil, mining, logging activities and massive agricultural projects, and to demand that they be consulted on all development planned on their land.
But at dawn on Friday, June 5, 600 Peruvian police in helicopters and on foot opened fire on protesters blocking a road near Bagua in the Peruvian Amazon. Conservative estimates indicate that 60 Indigenous and police have been killed. Police are accused of burning bodies then hiding them in the river and of removing the wounded from hospital to hide the real number of casualties.
Should Canada really be signing a free trade agreement with the Peruvian government when this is how they respond to legitimate protests against oil, mining and forestry projects that threaten to displace local and indigenous communities and further despoil Amazonian ecosystems?
Many of our elected Members of Parliament seem to think so.
The Canada-Peru Free Trade Agreement gives Canadian resource companies new legal powers to challenge what few Peruvian laws stand in their way, while paying only lip service to labour rights and environmental protection. The House of Commons has already passed Bill C-24, the implementing legislation for the Agreement, without adding even a mention of human rights; it is currently before the Senate.
But the deal can still be stopped!
We need you to write to the Senate immediately and ask them to send the Canada—Peru FTA back to Parliament for reconsideration. The Senate cannot be allowed to rubber stamp this deal, which legitimizes state repression for the sake of boosting the profits of Canada’s oil patch and major mining companies. By using the form below, your letter will be copied to all the major party leaders so they know Canadians stand in solidarity with the Peruvian Indigenous protesters and oppose the free trade agreement.
In solidarity,
The Council of Canadians
Common Frontiers
MiningWatch Canada
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It has been widely reported that on June 5 and 6, riots took place in the North Eastern part of Peru, particularly in the Province of Bagua located in Amazonas Region. These disturbances have caused the death of 33 people, 24 of which were agents of the National Police and 9 civilians; as confirmed by the Ombudsman and the Prosecutor’s office. The Peruvian Government deeply regrets the loss of life of all our fellow countrymen which the country and its institutions mourn.
Regarding this issue, the Embassy of Peru would like to share the following information:
1. At end June 2008, the Government enacted Legislative Decree 1090 “Forest and Wildlife Law” under special powers provided by Congress. This law met the opposition of the native inhabitants of the Amazonian region. After a negotiation process in which the mentioned inhabitants were represented by the “Interethnic Association for the Development of the Rainforest” (AIDESEP for its acronym in Spanish), Congress approved Law 29317 in January 2009, which reflected the proposals presented by AIDESEP and the views of other organizations in order to modify LD Nº 1090.
Notwithstanding AIDESEP continued to demand the repeal of LD Nº 1090 and Law Nº 29317. Initially, they took the appropriate legal steps to ask Congress for a repealing of these laws (by presenting a demand of unconstitutionality to Congress which, if approved, would be submitted to the Constitutional Tribunal for a final decision). At the same time they started a series of demonstrations in different zones of the country, including the Province of Bagua, interrupting the provision of basic services as well as food transportation.
On May 20th 2009, the Government opened an opportunity for dialogue and established a Multisector Standing Committee chaired by the President of the Cabinet of Ministers and comprising 9 ministers, 7 representatives of AIDESEP and 3 other members of civil organizations. The Multisector Standing Committee which was installed on May 26th, could only held two sessions since the process was interrupted on June 1rst, when the representatives of AIDESEP decided to withdraw from the dialogue.
Without waiting for a solution to their demands under the legal procedures which was running in parallel, AIDESEP radicalized its demonstrations. This compelled the Government to declare the State of Emergency in early May. However, it was not until June 5 when the situation worsened that the National Police was given instructions to take measures in order to reestablish public order and guarantee the safety of the population of Bagua. By this time the seizing of roads, public services and private installations had entered its 55th day.
2.- The Government of Peru rejects the news that have been circulated that it has used force in a disproportionate way, causing a high number of injured and dead among the civilian population. The majority of victims who were cold blooded murdered, as has been mentioned before, were agents of the National Police who received orders to act with extreme tolerance toward the protesters.
3.- The Government also denounces that AIDESEP has been spreading, in an irresponsible manner, the idea that the mentioned legislation threatened the ownership of the land by the native population. The Government of Peru reiterates that neither the LD Nº 1090 nor its amending law affects in any way the property of the indigenous peoples. It is legally established that the 12 million hectares are rightfully owned by the 400,000 inhabitants of the Amazon, which together with the 15 millions hectares of reserve areas for ecological sanctuaries and natural parks are untouchable.
4. The Government has initiated a thorough investigation and will make all the necessary efforts to clarify these events and punish those responsible for them, with due respect to the citizens’ rights in the Peruvian Constitution and with due observance of the rule of law, as it is characteristic of a democracy. Up-to-date the President of AIDESEP, the one that instigated this violence, Mr Alberto Pizango Chota has sought and obtained political asylum by the Embassy of Nicaragua in Lima in order to evade justice.
5. The Government of Peru has requested the participation of prominent people and the mediation of the Church in order to reestablish the dialogue within the shortest time. The Government believes that the restoration of the dialogue is essential for addressing the concerns the indigenous people.
6. Congress has suspended the application of LD 1090 for 90 days to allow its full review. The former legislation will be temporarily in effect while the Multisector Standing Committee will be broadened to enhance the representation of the indigenous communities.
Washington, June 10, 2009