Clashes, Peru’s Amazon

In Peru’s Amazon Basin, clashes between Amazonian indigenous groups and police have escalated, and on May 8 the Peruvian government declared a 60-day state of emergency in the regions of Cuzco, Ucayali, Loreto and Amazonas.

After protesters had blocked roads and waterways for weeks, the military was authorized to support the police and keep roads, airports and essential services operating.

The Peruvian government seeks to develop huge reserves of natural gas and oil, but the indigenous people are indignant that they have been given no say in the contract process with foreign companies. Protestors say 70% of the Peruvian Amazon is now leased for oil and gas exploration, putting at risk their livelihood and the biodiversity of the Amazon.