Several indigenous groups and human rights organisations have expressed their disappointment at President Alan García’s refusal to enact the so-called Law of Consultation (Ley de Consulta) which would give indigenous communities greater say in the development of either oil or mining projects on their lands.

The law was approved by Peruvian Congress in May; however, President García sent the text of the law back to the Congress at the last moment on 21 June with eight observations. The president maintained that he could not let indigenous communities stop development that would benefit all Peruvians.

Although the law was not considered perfect by indigenous and human rights groups, it had been subject to consultation by many political and civil society actors and was seen as a positive step forward in the aftermath of the Amazon violence in Bagua last year. The law now has to be reviewed by Congress and will then go back to the government to be enacted.

One year since the ‘Baguazo’
In June last year, 33 people died in confrontations between police and indigenous groups who live in the Peruvian Amazon and who were protesting against oil projects in the region. In order to avoid future violence and to move forward on the reconciliation process, the government committed to developing the above mentioned law of consultation with indigenous and civil society groups.

The Peru Support Group held a public meeting in Westminster (London) on 28 June 2010 to consider what has happened in Peru one year on from the violence seen in Bagua. For more information, see the news item on this website, “The Outcomes of Bagua: The Peruvian Amazon One Year on from the Violence”.