INDIGENOUS STRIKES SUSPENDED

C O N F I D E N T I A L LIMA 001413

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2018
TAGS: PGOV PREL PINR PE
SUBJECT: INDIGENOUS STRIKES SUSPENDED

REF: LIMA 1380

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


1. (SBU) Summary: Congress voted decisively August 22 to
overturn presidential decrees governing land tenure and
ownership in the Amazon regions, ending protests led by
indigenous groups (ref). Many observers accused the
government of imposing decrees on indigenous populations
without consulting them first, while government officials
warned that congress's actions could generate more protests
in the future. Some data show that social conflicts have
increased markedly over the past year. End Summary.


2. (SBU) Peru's Congress on Friday, August 22nd, voted
overwhelmingly -- 66 votes to 29 -- to nullify two
presidential decrees governing Amazonian land ownership that
had provoked nearly two weeks of protests and roadblocks in
Peruvian jungle regions (rep). Opposition parties along with
parties normally aligned with the governing APRA party united
to strike down the decrees, leaving the government with
little outside support. In response to Congress's actions,
indigenous leaders temporarily suspended the strikes. (Note:
The decrees reduced from two thirds to a simple majority the
percentage of local community members required to approve
changes in the status of community-owned land. The President
issued the decrees using powers temporarily granted to him by
Congress in order to pass PTPA implementing legislation and
to "promote competitiveness". End Note.)


3. (SBU) Many observers have criticized the government for
issuing decrees that could affect indigenous land tenure
without first consulting with impacted groups. Some have
attacked the government for hubris and argued that this
latest episode fits a pattern ignoring the needs of common
people to focus on the needs of the wealthy. In a
representative reaction, former President (and future
aspirant?) Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006) said of the conflict:
"Arrogance is a dangerous political ally ... I think
President Garcia's support in the polls has fallen, because
he has decided to govern only for the rich."


4. (SBU) The government and private sector groups have
criticized Congress for creating incentives to protest, and
argued that the presidential decrees only aligned rules
governing Amazonian landholding with rules governing costal
landholdings. Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo has also
warned that the government would block the Congressional bill
nullifying the presidential decrees. In addition, he has
announced plans to travel to the jungle to dialogue with
indigenous leaders.


5. (C) Comment: Over the past two years, the Garcia
administration has attempted to respond to strikes with tough
talk, minimal concessions, and emergency negotiations. With
the political temperature rising, it is unclear whether this
has been or will continue to be a successful strategy. The
Human Rights Ombudsman's office (Defensoria del Pueblo)
recently concluded that active social conflicts -- including
minor ones -- rose from 28 in July 2007 to 97 one year later.
End Comment.
NEALON