31 dead in Peru clashes

[Asi-Irish]

The death toll is disputed.... haven't seen a lot of coverage of this incident in the mainstream media.

The death toll from a bloody clash between Peruvian police and indigenous protesters over the rights to natural resources rose to at least 31 Saturday, including nine police officers reportedly taken hostage by demonstrators at an oil pumping station.
31 dead in Peru clashes - Los Angeles Times

[Thac0man]

Interesting contrast with Bolivia. The protesters original demands had been for greater control of the wealth generated from resources on "their" land. A demand they have dropped choosing to emphasise instead the land issue over resources once these clashes broke out.

[Cathar]

Informaqtion coming out of Peru is very unreliable. The Govt now claim that 34 people were killed 23 policeman and 11 indigenous. !53 people were injured.
The indigenous claim more than 60 deaths of indigenous.
The row is over the Govt granting exploration licences on the land (rainforest) that the indigenous tribes occupy.They blocked the main road and occupied a petrol pumping station with a crowd of 1500 to 5000 people. It was a peaceful protest.The Govt sent in the army to clear the route and free policemen who were taken captive by the indigenous at the pumping station.The Army used machine guns and Tear Gas todisperse the crowd including Helicopter gunships.

The Govt death toll is not credibile in these circumstances.
It was a massacre by Govt troops. The true extent of which will never emerge.
Western Media just recycle the govt press releases.

[Thac0man]

Informaqtion coming out of Peru is very unreliable. The Govt now claim that 34 people were killed 23 policeman and 11 indigenous. !53 people were injured.
The indigenous claim more than 60 deaths of indigenous.
The row is over the Govt granting exploration licences on the land (rainforest) that the indigenous tribes occupy.
They blocked the main road and occupied a petrol pumping station with a crowd of 1500 to 5000 people. It was a peaceful protest.
The Govt sent in the army to clear the route and free policemen who were taken captive by the indigenous at the pumping station.
The Army used machine guns and Tear Gas todisperse the crowd including Helicopter gunships.
The Govt death toll is not credibile in these circumstances.
It was a massacre by Govt troops. The true extent of which will never emerge.
Western Media just recycle the govt press releases.

How exactly do peaceful protesters take armed policemen captive?

[Ambassador Mollari]

The death toll is disputed.... haven't seen a lot of coverage of this incident in the mainstream media.

The death toll from a bloody clash between Peruvian police and indigenous protesters over the rights to natural resources rose to at least 31 Saturday, including nine police officers reportedly taken hostage by demonstrators at an oil pumping station.
31 dead in Peru clashes - Los Angeles Times

Unfortunately for indigenous populations the world at large doesn't care enough to stop the encroachment of rich nations, who have acquired through lease agreements, huge swathes of rainforest to pillage for natural resources.
Niether, it seems, does their own government care, if you listen to their comments in the media.

[Cathar]

How exactly do peaceful protesters take armed policemen captive?

The only reports Ive seen say the policmen surrendered to the crowd. The indigenous ameroindians were armed with tribal spears.

[Thac0man]

The only reports Ive seen say the policmen surrendered to the crowd. The indigenous ameroindians were armed with tribal spears.

So how were the prisoners killed? With harsh words? You are treading water and its not working.

*A spear by the way, tribal or otherwise, is a weapon.

[Breadan O'Connor]

The death toll is disputed.... haven't seen a lot of coverage of this incident in the mainstream media.

The death toll from a bloody clash between Peruvian police and indigenous protesters over the rights to natural resources rose to at least 31 Saturday, including nine police officers reportedly taken hostage by demonstrators at an oil pumping station.
31 dead in Peru clashes - Los Angeles Times

The peruvian government is pro- American.

Alan Garcia is president, and Prime minister is Yehude Simon former guerilla and now pro-US

Yehude Simon - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[cactusflower]

Ambassador's Bio - U.S. Embassy Managua, Nicaragua

A different twist on the same themes. Separatist movement of indigenous people in Nicaragua - Nicaraguan Government says it has been stirred up by the US.
There's more on this on the Bolivia thread.

Essentially Business interests don't mind who they work with provided they can get their hands on the loot.

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/10/wo...html?ref=world

[cactusflower]

60 die in Peru rainforest protest - Channel 4 News

Shocking footage on Channel 4 of unarmed people under fire. Mestizos and whites as well as Indians.