Peru’s President Ollanta Humala declared a state of emergency in La ConvenciĂłn province, following the abduction of workers from the Camisea Consortium by presumed guerillas of the Shining Path.
A Brazilian federal judge suspended the construction license of the Teles Pires hydroelectric dam in the Amazon rainforest, saying the permitting process violated the riights of the Kayabi, Apiaká and Mundurucu indigenous peoples.
Peru’s government is ignoring new UN guidelines on the protection of isolated indigenous peoples in the Amazon, Survival International charged last week. The landmark document was issued by the High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Presumed guerillas of the Shining Path seized a work camp of the Camisea Consortium in La Convención province, Cuzco region, holding captive the 30 workers there. Most were released, but seven remain hostage of the guerillas.
Leaders the Isiboro SĂ©cure National Park Indigenous Territory (TIPNIS) in Bolivia’s eastern lowlands voted to hold a new cross-country march on La Paz to oppose construction of a road through their territory.
The UN’s International Labor Organization released a report finding that the Brazilian government violated the rights of indigenous people by moving forward on the massive Belo Monte dam without consulting native communities.
A day of pitched street-fighting left three dead, some 35 wounded and 60 detained in Puerto Maldonado, Peru, as small-scale gold miners continued their civil strike.
Representatives of indigenous organizations in Peru met in Lima to announce that they have rejected proposed implementing regulations for the new Law of Prior Consultation for Indigenous and Original Peoples, and submitted proposals for improving it.
Peru raided an illegal logging site in ManĂş National Park, just days after the UK-based Survival International released the first detailed photos of the “uncontacted” Mashco-Piro tribe that inhabits the Amazon rainforest reserve.
Indigenous leaders in Bolivia have filed a complaint with the Inter-American Human Rights Commission over a new “consultation law” they say is designed to lubricate approval of the controversial Amazon highway that has already led to violence.
Hundreds of independent small-scale gold miners marched on the Venezuelan city of BolĂvar to protest the militarization of Manaima district, where security forces have been sent in to crack down on unlicensed operations following a violent clash in the area.
The Kichwa Confederation of Ecuador (ECUARUNARI) announced a national mobilization that will converge on Quito from points around the country next month to oppose what leaders call President Rafael Correa’s policies in favor of the resource industries.
