----- Forwarded message from miguel aguilar <[log in to unmask]> -----
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:08:39 -0700 (PDT)
From: miguel aguilar <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: miguel aguilar <[log in to unmask]>
To: Umberto Albarella <[log in to unmask]>
The last demonstration supporting the claims of the Peruvian Amazonia were
massive around the Peruvian territory. Just in Lima 30,000 people gave their
support to the native organizations, including the Social Archaeologists Group
(GAS-in spanish). Other groups did the same all around peru as well as in front
of the Peruvian Embassies in Spain (Madrid and barcelona), Argentina, Italy,
Canada, France, Bolivia, and others.
The Peruvian government already grantted the 70% of the Amazonic territories to
natural resources companies (the second largest Amazon territory after Brazil).
The indigenous demonstration were against the Laws which pretend to keep with
this provatizations for oil, gas, forest wood, mining and large scale
agriculture without asking to the indigenous communities living there. Those
territories are considered property of the indigenous organizations since the
epochs of the spanish colony, and it suppossed are protected by our
constitution. Hence, this new "Laws" given by Peruvian President Alan
garcía are no constitutional, and violate the 169 Convention of OIT
(International Work Organization), which says that Indigenous communities
should be asked before negotiate with their territories.
Many Peruvian and World organizations are denuncing and manifesting against the
repressive politics of the Peruvian Government, the one which is accused now
for the death of 25 police people as well as a no-determined number of civilian
indigenous people -not official numbers give 40 victims and 60 dissappears.
You might see more news from "The Economist", in order to know more about facts
and economical activities at the Amazonic territories:
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13824454
Peruvian government is chasing now indigenous leaders as Alberto Pizango, as
well as different organizations and local media like the amazonic radio station
"La Voz".
Its very important to mention that the Political activities of the Peruvian
president were made it in the context of the improving of the "Free Trade
Agreement" between Peru and the United States. We well know that the United
States governments were improving the "Colombia Plan" to be present at the
Colombian Amazonic Territories, the larger water reserve of the world. The
Peruvian Amazon constitute one of the bigest reserves of water, gold, oil, and
other natural resources. In this context, the interests of the Indigenous
communities are not in the US'S FAIR TRADE AGREEMENTS AGENDA.
I strongly think that archaeologists and anthropologists are related with the
human agenda, and in adittion to study the human life we should be engaged with
its defense.
We urge you to immediately cease the forceful suppression of indigenous
protests, to suspend laws that open up the Amazon to extractive industries, and
to engage in a genuine dialogue with indigenous groups to end the conflict and
address their legitimate demands and rights.
Now I'm working at a statement the one I'll send to all WAC members and
Executive waiting for an institutional response and collegues support. Hope
that the Translation committe of WAC can help us to translating some of the
important documents -I just had the time to write and translate the statement,
but since nobody pays for this activities I don't have much time to translate
more.
Thanks to all,
Miguel Aguilar Diaz
Grupo de Arqueologos Sociales - Peru
Lic. Miguel Aguilar Díaz
Laboratorio de Arqueología
Universidad de los Andes
"Ahora al imperialismo, le llaman globalización" (Eduardo Galeano)
--
Umberto Albarella
Department of Archaeology
University of Sheffield
Northgate House
West Street
Sheffield S1 4ET
United Kingdom
Telephone: (+) 44 (0) 114 22 22 943
Fax: (+) 44 (0) 114 27 22 563
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/staff/albarella.html
For Archaeologists for Global Justice (AGJ) see:
http://www.shef.ac.uk/archaeology/global-justice.html
"There is no way to peace. Peace IS the way".
