Peru's army on standby as tribal unrest grows

Peru is considering sending in its army to break up protests by Amazonian Indians who claim the government is preparing a massive land-grab in the country's remote jungles.

Indigenous groups have blockaded roads and a river and set up pickets at energy installations to protest against changes in the law which would make it easier for commercial interests to buy up collectively owned tribal lands in northern Peru.

Ministers responded to an appeal for talks by declaring a state of emergency in three states and threatening protesters with military action. "Indigenous people are defending themselves against government aggression," said Alberto Pizango, an Amazon Indian rights campaigner. "This is not an ordinary or everyday demonstration.

"The Indians have told us they are not afraid. If the government declares a state of emergency they prefer to die there and show that this government violates human rights."

Relations between tribal groups and President Alan Garcia have become increasingly hostile as the government has sought to exploit what are thought to be rich oil and gas deposits in lands owned by Amazon Indians. Energy companies have pushed deep into supposedly protected areas in the past year, leading to clashes with remote tribes.

The increasingly unpopular Garcia administration is under pressure because of soaring energy costs and its failure to translate Peru's economic growth into a general rise in the standard of living. It is actively courting outside energy concerns and this week agreed to sell a 2.5bn stake in the state oil company to China.

Ten days of protests have seen thousands of Indians from all over the Peruvian Amazon mobilised, with a small number of arrests. A clash between police and hundreds of spear-carrying Indians on Saturday led to eight people being injured, according to reports. Police claim two of officers have been taken hostage after being sent to a protest site over the weekend.

Protesters have also surrounded Peru's largest natural gas installation, the Camisea field, in the south of the country.

The Environment Minister, Antonio Brack, said the protesters had closed a bridge and a main road "and threatened to cut the supply of oil via the oil pipeline and gas through the Camisea gas pipeline". "The government of Peru cannot permit it," he added.

The protests are in response to new laws passed by the government. Under the old laws, the backing of a two-thirds majority of each community was needed before tribal land could be sold, but this requirement has beenchanged to a simple majority. Indians say the changes undermine their rights and make it easier for companies to take control of their territories.

Mr Pizango said the protests would end once the government showed a willingness to renegotiate.

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