Peruvians appeal Amazon tribal lands law

Myanmar News.Net
Saturday 23rd August, 2008

Thousands of indigenous Peruvians have been victorious over President Alan Garcia's Government after the repeal of two unpopular laws.

The controversial laws had opened up their Amazon tribal lands to development from large utilities companies.

About 12,000 Peruvians from 65 tribes occupied oil and electricity plants in the Amazon basin from August 9th before agreeing to a 48-hours truce late on Wednesday when Peru's Congress promised to revise the controversial laws.

During their 12-day strike, protesters occupied the hydroelectric plant in Bagua and disrupted gas production in the southern Cusco region.

Last weekend there were clashes between demonstrators and police which left at least four people injured, prompting the government to decree a state of emergency in the Amazon area.

Economists estimate $US3.5 billion worth of timber, mineral and oil products are locked in a 92,000-square kilometre region of the Amazon basin.

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