21st century life
Native Peruvians protestors receive information in Bagua province,
Thursday June 11th 2009
before being transported back to their villages.
Photograph: Enrique Castro-Mendivil/Reuters
In Peru, dozens of people have died following clashes between security forces and indigenous tribes protesting against oil and mining projects in the Amazon jungle. Since April, 64 tribal groups have halted development projects by blocking roads, waterways and oil pipelines across the Amazon, and the government has ordered the arrest of indigenous leader Alberto Pizango on a charge of sedition. Antonio Iviche Quique, a longtime indigenous rights leader and president of the Native Federation of Madre De Dios, describes in a conversation with Stefana Serafina why his people are fighting global corporations and the government of Peru to protect their land.
