INDIGENOUS STRIKES IN THE AMAZON

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001380

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/19/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR EINV PHUM PE
SUBJECT: INDIGENOUS STRIKES IN THE AMAZON

REF: LIMA 1046

Classified By: DCA James Nealon for reasons 1.4b and d.


1. (C) Summary: Indigenous Peruvians in various parts of the
Amazon on August 9 launched an indefinite strike aimed at
protecting indigenous lands against the alleged threat of an
influx of outside investors. The protestors' principal
demand is that the government revoke presidential decrees
(passed earlier this year as part of the PTPA package) that
enable investors to operate on community-held lands after
securing approval of a simple majority of the local
community. The GOP has publicly taken a hard line against
the protests, prepared to mobilize 1500 security personnel to
the area, and demanded that protest-leaders end the strike
before the government will re-enter negotiations. Government
officials have accused radical political leaders of inflaming
the protests, charges that protest organizers deny. End
Summary.

Timeline of Events
--------------

2. (U) On August 9th, indigenous Peruvians in various parts
of the Amazon launched an indefinite strike aimed at
protecting indigenous lands against the alleged threat of an
influx of outside investors. Protestors in parts of Loreto
(base of petroleum firm Pluspetrol),Cusco (base of natural
gas firm Camisea),and Amazonas regions cut off roads,
surrounded oil and gas installations, and threatened to halt
the flow of energy resources from the jungle. Initial
negotiations held between Environment Minister Antonio Brack
and indigenous representative Alberto Pizango, from the NGO
Aidesep (Interethnic Association for the Development of the
Peruvian Jungle),fell apart on August 15th when Brack
admitted that he did not have the authority to revoke
presidential decrees that had incited the protestors.


3. (U) In clashes with security forces the following day,
protestors injured two police officers and took several
hostages. Further clashes on the 18th left another nine
people injured, according to press reports. The GOP in
response declared a state of emergency in three provinces and
publicly guaranteed the continued flow of energy resources.
The government also prepared to mobilize some 1500 police and
military personnel to the region to protect oil and natural
gas installation, according to Prime Minister Jorge del
Castillo.

Protestor Demands: Revoke Decrees Threating Indigenous Lands
-------------- --------------

4. (SBU) The protestors' principal demand is that the
government revoke presidential decrees 1015 and 1073 --
passed earlier this year as part of the Peru Trade Promotion
Agreement implementation package. These decrees reduce from
two thirds to a simple majority the percentage of local
community members required to approve changes in the status
of community-owned land. Indigenous leaders say the
government passed these laws without input from indigenous
communities and fear that the laws will make it easier for
private interests to enter and take over land the communities
consider their own. One Embassy contact with ties to a key
protest leader explained that for Amazonian communities, land
is the only possession and it represents both their
livelihood and their way of life. Communities will do
anything to defend their land if they believe it is under
threat. Our contact added that if the government sought to
forcibly end the strike, it would only turn the protest
leaders into martyrs.

Government Response: Strikes Must End Before Negotiations
-------------- --------------

5. (SBU) The GOP has publicly taken a hard line against the
protests and demanded that protest-leaders end the strike
before the government will re-enter negotiations. A military
official based in Lima told poloff that the government views
the dispute through the lens of protests that occurred in
Moquegua region in June 2008, when protestors cut off supply
routes to southern Peru and embarrassed the government by
taking several police officers hostage (ref). The government
wants to maintain its authority in this situation and has so
far stuck to a hard-line position, said the official. That
said, the GOP's priority remains a peaceful settlement of the
strike and the release of hostages, and it would only
consider using security forces to clear roads and
installations as a last resort.

Radical Political Leaders Behind Strike?
--------------

6. (SBU) As with previous protests, both Prime Minister del
Castillo and Environment Minister Antonio Brack have alleged
that radical political leaders have manipulated indigenous
leaders to exacerbate tensions with the government and
aggravate the strike. Del Castillo has specifically accused
Peruvian Nationalist Party (PNP) Congressman Victor Isla -- a
Loreto representative with known links to Venezuela -- of
convincing indigenous leaders to reject a deal that had been
negotiated with the government on August 15th. PNP leader
Ollanta Humala has publicly acknowledged that some of his
supporters have backed the strikes, saying "We cannot say
that there are no 'nationalists' involved in these
protests...The communities...are making a legitimate claim."
Aidesep leader Alberto Pizango, however, has denied any
linkage with any political party or foreign actor, saying
that such a linkage would only bring more problems. Asked
about Victor Isla's alleged role in undermining negotiations,
one PNP Congressman told poloff that he doubted Isla had that
much influence.

Comment: The Latest in a Series of Protests
--------------

7. (C) The Amazonian protests are the latest in a series of
strikes that have roiled Peruvian society in the past year.
Whereas national-level protests with diverse and diffuse
goals have failed to mobilize significant government
opposition, regionally-focused protests with limited and
concrete ends have had much more success. Radical political
leaders may be manipulating strike leaders and inflaming
tensions, but underlying grievances and poor communication
appear to be the root problems. We should expect more such
protests in the year to come.
NEALON