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Lima (Agenzia Fides) – The President of the Peruvian Bishops' Conference, Archbishop Miguel Cabrejos Vidarte, OFM, Archbishop of Trujillo and Defender of the People, Dr. Beatriz Merino Lucero, have issued a joint statement expressing their profound regret for the violent chain of events that have taken place in the Amazon Region, in the cities of Bagua Chica and Bagua Grande, among others, leading to the death of several civilians and policemen, and several other wounded persons.
“Life, in its intrinsic value, should be protected and defended in any circumstance, both that of our native peoples who have been historically overlooked, as well as those who in fulfilling their Constitutional duty procure the reestablishment of order,” the text said. Thus, they made an appeal to serenity and called for an immediate ceasefire between the fellow countrymen. They also asked that the wounded be cared for, without distinction between peoples, and that “a channel of dialogue, which should never end and should be used as the only means to peaceful conflict resolution,” be restored as soon as possible.
“Aware of our duty to protect the lives and fundamental rights of individuals, we ask all authorities and leaders to move towards dialogue and peace and we remain at the service of the country in collaborating in any way we can, in order to bring peace back to the people involved and to all Peru,” the statement concluded.
The Peruvian Army has established control points and is enforcing a curfew in the Provinces of Bagua and Utcubamba, in the Amazon State, in the northern part of the country, following clashes between police and indigenous people who are protesting against a series of laws they consider “harmful”to their communities. At least 47 people have died already. At least 22 police and 9 demonstrators died during clashes, authorities said. However, the indigenous people claim that 30 of their people have lost their lives.
The conflict began on Friday, June 5, near Bagua, when members of the indigenous community began their protests of plans calling for perforation for oil and gas exploitation on ancestral territory. The demonstrators took 38 policemen hostage. A curfew hour, which is from 3pm to 6am, took immediate effect and authorities said they had arrested 72 people. In an official statement, President Alan Garcia affirmed that Peru is suffering “a subversive attack on democracy” and assured that he will respond “with serenity and firmness.” As the Army was sent in to the area, thousands of natives with wooden lances assured that they would continue blocking the highways if the government forces did not place an end to the efforts being made to disperse the demonstrators. The indigenous tribes hope to force Congress to repeal the new laws in favor of foreign mining in the tropical forest. “We will not surrender until these harmful laws against us are repealed,” one of the leaders of the revolt stated.
Cardinal Juan Luis Cipriani Thorne, Archbishop of Lima, condemned the acts of violence during the Mass celebrated yesterday, June 7, in Lima's Cathedral. “In the name of the God of life, love, and peace, we firmly condemn these inhumane acts occurring in our country. I unite myself to each one of those families who now lack a loved one, those who in serving their country have been victims of a terrible assassination. We cannot become accustomed to this manner of resolving problems.” He also asked God, the Prince of Peace, to “help us to overcome this difficult situation being faced by the nation in these days.”
The Cardinal showed his “closeness to the indigenous communities in their traditions and cultures, but not in their violence,” and encouraged the authorities to seek “a path that respects the customs and traditions of the inhabitants of the forested areas and that offers an opportunity for some investments and improvements.” (RG) (Agenzia Fides 8/6/2009)
