Everyday we hear news about indigenous men and women being jailed, tried, persecuted, accused of terrorism or sabotaged for resisting extractive megaprojects in Latin America.

Miguel Palacin Quispe told Real World Radio that nearly 1,500 were prosecuted under these circumstances in Peru. So far 25 people have been killed under Alan Garcia’s administration.

In Chile, the Mapuche movement faces the harshest accusations and the most severe reclusion conditions. In Ecuador the atmosphere is tense after the jailing without warrant of three Shuar leaders. Last weekend there were demonstrations in Arauca department, Colombia to demand the release of leaders accused of “rebellion and conspiracy”.

There are numerous cases, there is a long list of indigenous, environmental activists, workers, students who are criminalized both in so called neoliberal countries and in countries considered to be alternative or progressive by the international community.

CAOI believes that this is the result of the implementation of policies that aim to favor capital to the detriment of natural goods and local populations.
Miguel Palacin said it is necessary to strengthen unity between the organizations that face these accusations from the states, by organizing all the people who are being persecuted and criminalized.

He also said there will be a continental demonstration to expose this problem on June 21.

The movements will report the criminalization of the resistance before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, the United Nations and many other international bodies.

The Andean leader criticized Rafael Correa’s administration after the jailing of three leaders of the Interprovincial Federation of Shuar Centers earlier this month, for participating in demonstrations against mining and megaprojects.

Photo: radiolavozbaguagrande.blogspot.com