In Peru, like in many Latin American countries, this kind of abuses are directly treated by a military court, which usually ends up leaving the reports unpunished.

“All this is an attempt against the Peruvian citizen’s right to protest and to freedom of assembly”, said last week the National Confederation of Communities Affected by Mining of Peru (CONACAMI).

The organization has questioned the policy of “systemic criminalization” of the indigenous peoples rights by Alan Garcia’s right-wing administration, which has led to the prosecution of hundreds of community and regional leaders in ordinary courts for defending their territories, water sources and natural goods.

CONACAMI filed the reports within the Indigenous Peoples Forum on Mining, Climate Change and Good Living, held at the Museo de la Nacion in Lima, Peru.

Lawyers of the organization criticized the constant amendments made to the law in order to persecute social movement leaders, according to CONACAMI’s website.

All these warnings happen as there is a strong increase in the social protest. The aim of groups like CONACAMI is that the government promotes mining free zones and they also demand other policies linked to the preservation of natural areas.

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