Prensa Latina: "Doubts on Peru Death Toll," Message from Evo, "Peruvian Minister Resigns"

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Doubts on Peru Death Toll

Lima, Jun 9 (Prensa Latina) Doubts on the death toll in the recent
violent incidents in the Peruvian Amazonian region persist on
Tuesday, amid insistent versions, holding that there are many more
civilians dead than the number announced.

Prime Minister Yehude Simon ratified the official figure of 24 dead
police agents and nine civilians, and said the different versions are
just speculation, because they have been verified by the Ombusdman's
Office and no other corpses have been found.

"We wish there are no more deaths," said Simon, and accepted the
possibility that other victims could be found.

Foreign Minister Garcia Belaunde is said to have ordered that
Peruvian embassies and consulates report properly on the incidents,
because versions about a large number of deaths have been published
by the international media.

Television Chanel 2 published on Monday testimonies by citizens of
the northern Bagua jungle area, saying they had seen dozens of
corpses after the disturbances unleashed on Friday, when the police
cleared a road blockage.

The television station visited several indigenous villages, in which
it said to have verified that most the town's males had not returned,
although it was possible that they had hidden in the jungle.

Radio Nizkor de Bagua station agreed with that version and published
testimonies by Ricardina Ramos, a religious woman who works with the
indigenous communities, who says that the death toll is at least 60.

"A number of corpses have been thrown to the river and others burned.
Many corpses lie in the closest hills. The indigenous people have
been shot and chased," held the mentioned radio station.

The Peruvian Junge Inter-Ethnic Association (AIDESEP), which is in
charge of the protest started two months ago, accused the government
of exacerbating the tension, highlighting the death of police agents,
including some of them who were executed, and concealing information
about dead indigenous people, which is in the dozens.

The Peruvian Team of Forensic Anthropology (EPAF) demanded that the
government creates an independent investigative commission to clarify
the violent incidents and the real number of dead and wounded people.

The AIDESEP had previously demanded the creation of an impartial
commission, led by institutions of civil society, with foreign
observers and the same objective.

Expert in Amazonia, Roger Rumrril, proposed the creation of a
Commission of the Truth to investigate what happened, faced with a
media offensive that is trying to release the government from any
guilt, and blame it on the indigenous people.

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Bolivia Indigenous Dignity

La Paz, Jun 9 (Prensa Latina) Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia
said that a letter sent to a recently held indigenous meeting in Peru
by President Evo Morales carried a message in favor of dignity.

During a press conference Tuesday, Garcia added that the message was
addressed to the people of the world, the workers, indigenous,
exploited, marginalized and humiliated.

In this regard, he denied that the text made any reference to violent
incidents in the Amazonian town of Bagua, resulting in dozens of
people killed, including several farmers, as asserted by legislators
in Lima.

"However, we won't tolerate any slanderous allegation whatsoever," he
stressed.

In Garcia's opinion, Morales letter, read during the 4th Continental
Summit of Nationalities and Indigenous Peoples of Abya Yala (Latin
America), May 27-31, is a call to defend life.

It does not defend death or confrontation, on the other hand, it is a
letter defending coexistence with nature, with all the exploited
bearing the same rights and obligations.

It is important to note that words and papers do not kill, and those
thinking otherwise can be tempted to an attitude similar to that of
the fascists in the 1930s.

Garcia said that the Bolivian government is open to dialogue with the
neighboring nation (Peru) to discuss this tense situation in
bilateral relations.

"Conflict, violence, death and revolt are not triggered by letters or
documents but rather by internal problems in each society, the
injustices, abuses and discrimination leading the people to struggle,
resist and revolt," he said.

"We are ready to talk and discuss this issue with ideas, not with
insults or prejudices or disgrace, ideas are discussed with ideas,"
he concluded.

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Peru Minister Resigns Amid Crisis

Lima, Jun 9 (Prensa Latina) Peruvian Minister for Women, Carmen
Vilodoso, resigned on Tuesday amid a serious political and social
crisis, based on the deaths of dozens of people in a recent
demonstration of indigenous communities from the Amazon.

Vilodoso confirmed her resignation early in the morning on Tuesday
and only explained that it was based on political reasons, although
the media said the situation in the Amazon is the origin of her
resignation and that it could unleash a greater ministerial crisis.

Asked if she supported President Alan Garcia in the present
situation, she just said her resignation from government is an
irrevocable decision.

Vilodoso is not member of the governing Partido Aprista party and had
assumed the post in October, 2008, together with Prime Minister
Yehude Simon, also not a part of the governing party, in a hasty
reshuffle, caused by a serious corruption scandal.

The minister communicated her resignation to President Alan Garcia,
after a rather stormy and long presentation by Simon and Interior
Minister Mercedes Cabanillas, before the congressional Defense
Commission.

For several hours, with intervals of intensive discussion, the
ministers presented the official version, saying that those
responsible for the recent disturbances are the Peruvian Jungle
Inter-ethnic Association (AIDESEP) leaders, in charge of the protest
started two months ago.

During his appearance in court, Simon announced that the president of
AIDESEP had sought refuge at the Nicaraguan embassy and that the
situation had been accepted by the Peruvian Foreign Ministry.

Nicaraguan Ambassador Tomas Borge said his government is studying
whether or not to grant political asylum to Pizango, although he
announced his personal opinion, which is that he should be granted
protection.

The version of foreign intervention, put forward by Alan Garcia, was
also denied by AIDESEP Vice president Daysi Zapata, who said the
Amazonian protest is genuine and comes from the communities.

Zapata demanded Simon and Cabanillas' resignation and also Defense
Minister Antero Flores Araoz', as those directly responsible for
police operations that resulted in 33 deaths, including police agents
and civilians.

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