Fatal Clashes Erupt in Peru at Roadblock

Fatal Clashes Erupt in Peru at Roadblock

www.nytimes.com

LIMA, Peru — Clashes between indigenous protesters and security forces on a remote jungle highway in northern Peru left more than a dozen dead on Friday, including 11 police officers, heightening tension over intensifying protests by indigenous groups over plans to open vast tracts of rain forest to oil drilling, logging and hydroelectric dams.

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Once again the powers that be are subjugating indigenous peoples to their will. This story is very sad, the government in Peru wants to develop their infrastructure but are doing it on Indian lands.

All the Indians wanted was a chance to voice their concerns and again their views were silenced because of having inadequate representation. As a result, the Indians blocked off the road to the building sites and from there it erupted into an armed confrontation with authorities. Senseless deaths resulted and it could have been avoided if both sides would have came to the table and bartered with each other on the terms of the deal.

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The Peruvian natives deserve ample opportunity to voice their concerns. But on a broader scale, I think we need to look at whether or not a compromise is possible here without a monumental change in the operation of the Peruvian infrastructure. The president mentioned the necessity of obtaining the resources located in indiginous areas, for the well-being of the vast majority of the population; it's a legitimate argument, from my point of view. The issue is then whether or not we should be relying on these resources. This goes deeper into an environmental discussion. Yes, protecting the indiginous lands would be reverential to tribal peoples. It would mean respect for their sovereignty over land that has been partitioned to them for past governmental negligence. But as the Peruvian population grows, it is clear that the expanded acquisition of resources like oil and timber will be necessary to sustain the country. To avoid that conflict, we need to examine possibilities that lie beyond callously stripping the land of natural resources. If you've visited the Amazon region, you can't help but be disturbed by the thought of Garcia's plans succeeding. But alas, the population must be sustained by cruel methods unless we're able to progress into a more environmentally sensitive point of view.

This is an issue that is echoed around the world. When will we learn?