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Peruvian Government, Natives Agree On Abolishment of
Controversial Laws
Lima - The Peruvian government and indigenous
leaders from the Amazons on Wednesday handed in the
National Congress a joint proposal to abolish
controversial laws, which caused a conflict on June
5 killing 34 people.
"We are making our commitment, hoping the
negotiation table can take us to a good end and the
incidents in Bagua never happen again," said Prime
Minister Yehude Simon after two days of negotiation
with the chiefs of the Amazon's ethnic groups.
On June 5, the Peruvian police tried to evacuate
indigenous people in the Amazon's city of Bagua, who
were blocking a highway near Fernando Belaunde town.
The operation ended in a massive clash.
The violence went out of control and spread to the
cities of Bagua Grande and Bagua Chico in Amazonas
department in the north of the country, causing the
death of 24 policemen and 10 natives.
The indigenous groups have been demanding the
abolishment of some laws that could lead to
uncontrolled use of their lands for exploiting oil,
gas and other resources.
The congress decided to leave those laws "under an
indefinite suspension" after the conflict on June 5.
The proposal of abolishing these laws will be
discussed at the Congress. |
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