Human Rights Activists Present Letter to Consul General of Peru : Houston Indymedia

Ellie Sequeira, Rachel Clarke, and Nick Cooper expressed concerns and delivered a letter (below) about the role of the Peruvian government, oil corporations and free trade in the deaths of dozens of indigenous Peruvians. The Consul, Carlos R. Polo, expressed the government position that unarmed police were attacked by indigenous when trying to re-open roads that were keeping essential supplies from the poor in those regions. Nick Cooper, representing Friends of Brad Will, responded that while many facts of what happened on June 5th will continue to be disputed, that the violence against indigenous groups is not something that happens only at gunpoint -- indigenous people die and lose their land and ways of life whenever petroleum is extracted, sometimes with bullets, sometimes with toxins, etc. Rachel Clarke from Houston Indymedia encouraged the Consul to visit the website Amazon Watch to see the horrible photos of the indigenous victims. The meeting was respectful with all parties having the opportunity to express their thoughts and finished with a photo and an agreement to continue the dialogue.

It is with a heavy heart that I contact you on the essential matter of the treatment of the indigenous people of Peru. I have had the honor to meet these brave and resolute Achuar and Shapibo leaders, and have heard first hand of the suffering caused by petroleum extraction from their lands.

The Friends of Brad Will, an organization committed to non-exploitative international communication and exchange, asks you in the strongest terms to help influence the government of Peru to:

- immediately suspend violent repression of indigenous protests and the State of Emergency

- repeal the Free Trade Laws that allow oil, logging, and agricultural corporations easy entry into indigenous territories

- respect indigenous peoples' constitutionally guaranteed rights to self-determination, to their ancestral territories, and to prior consultation

- enter into good faith process of dialogue with indigenous peoples to resolve this conflict

Sincerely, Nick Cooper, Friends of Brad Will Border States Chapter Congressional Liaison friendsofbradwill.org

Es con el corazón pesado que me pongo en contacto con usted sobre la cuestión fundamental del tratamiento de los pueblos indígenas del Perú. He tenido el honor de conocer a estos valientes y determinados líderes Achuar y Shapibo, y he escuchado de primera mano el sufrimiento causado por la extracción de petróleo de sus tierras.

Los Amigos de Brad Will es una organización dedicada a la no explotación de la comunicación e intercambio internacional, y le pedimos en términos enérgicos que ayuden a influir al gobierno del Perú a:

-- suspender de inmediato el Estado de Emergencia y la represión violenta de las protestas indígenas.

-- revocar las leyes de libre comercio que permiten entrada fácil a las empresas petroleras, forestales, y agrícolas a los territorios indígenas

-- respetar los derechos garantizados por la constitución a los pueblos indígenas a libre determinación, territorios ancestrales, y consulta previa

-- entrar en un proceso de diálogo en buena fé con los pueblos indígenas para resolver este conflicto