An important victory for the Indigenous of Peru
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
By: Stefanie Fisher
In brief
The indigenous population of Peru has won an important victory in their ongoing struggle to retain control over their resource-rich ancestral land. After weeks of militant protests, Peru’s congress was forced to revoke two land laws enacted in 2008 by President Alan Garcia as part of a free-trade agreement with the United States.
The two laws stated that the government would decide how the land would be used and who could use it. Protesters exposed the deal for what it truly was—an open door for foreign companies to exploit the land and steal the oil, gas and other natural resources that belong to the people of Peru.
Indigenous groups organized roadblocks, demonstrations and strikes, which Garcia ordered the police to break up. The Peruvian government, however, was unable to squelch the resistance, despite the fact that the police killed over 30 people and injuring many more.
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