Tuesday 19 August
2008, San José, Costa Rica
Nicaragua to Mark
Literacy Campaign
Anniversary
Panamanians Back
up Demands
Latin
America: 28 Medals in 10 Olympic Days
Peru Declares State Of
Emergency Over Protests
Brazilian Police Find
Picasso Print Stolen
From Sao Paulo Museum
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Peru Declares State Of
Emergency Over Protests
LIMA - Peruvian
government on Monday
declared a state of
emergency in three
northern provinces where
indigenous groups are
holding protests against
a law that they believe
will deprive them of
their land.
Police said eight
policemen and two
indigens have been
injured.
The state of emergency
was imposed in the
provinces of Bagua and
Utcubamba in northern
Peru and the nearby
province of Datem del
Maranon.
According to Peruvian
law, the measure will
affect the personal
rights of freedom and
security in those
provinces.
The government also
reaffirmed their
willingness to discuss
with the indigenous
groups if they agree to
end their protests.
The indigenous groups,
who have been on
demonstrations since
Aug. 9, demanded the
annulment of a law that
makes it easier for big
companies to buy land
owned collectively by
communities.
The indigenous groups
also asked for a
stricter environmental
control of the oil
companies of the
Amazonia and that they
pay them part of the
profits from
exploitation.
The indigenous groups'
protests intensified on
Friday after the
negotiations with the
Environment Minister
Antonio Brack failed.
The protests was
initiated by the
Inter-Ethnic Association
of Development of the
Peruvian Jungle (Aidisep)
and was followed by at
least 40 indigenous
communities.
The protests have
blocked the land and
river transport in many
jurisdiction of the
Peruvian jungle.
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