The action taken by the indigenous of the Amazon, Loreto, Ucayali, Madre de Dios, Cuzco and Junin regions, was aimed at protesting against the pollution caused by the oil activities in the native peoples’ lands.

The protest also aims to repeal the new water and forest laws, which the natives consider damaging to their lands and their rights over land.

In their protest, the indigenous also reject the free trade agreement signed between Peru, Chile and the US. They are blockading the Napo and Corrientes rivers as part of their protest measures, Edson Rosales, spokesperson of the Interethnic Development Association of the Peruvian Rainforest, told Telesur network.

In statements to the National Radio Coordination of Peru, the chair of the association, Alberto Pizango, said the protest measures did not mean the native communities were not open to dialogue with the government. He claimed that they were willing to talk in order to move forward in the enforcement of their rights. However, he felt sorry about the government’s unwillingness to talk with them.

The indigenous carried out a march on Monday in Yurimaguas, the capital of Alto Amazonas province. They will organize another march on Wednesday along 20 kilometers in the Northern San Martin region.