Digital press conference: Amazonian Indigenous Organisations demand that Peruvian State takes urgent actions to address territorial and health emergency

13 July 2020, Yarinacocha, Peru

Peruvian organisations held an online press conference this week to discuss issues affecting the Shipibo and other Amazonian peoples, including the impacts of COVID-19 and the activities of extractive and agro-industrial companies in Indigenous territories.

The host organisations included the Federation of Native Communities of Ucayali and Tributaries (FECONAU), the Shipibo Konibo Xetebo Council (COSHIKOX), the Regional Organisation AIDESEP Ucayali (ORAU), the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Forest (AIDESEP), the Coordination of Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), the Network of Indigenous Communicators of Peru (REDCIP) and the Comando Matico.

Miguel Guimaraes, president of FECONAU, shared information on the deforestation taking place in the Shipibo community of Santa Clara de Uchunya. He discussed the federation’s actions during the pandemic, such as the criminal complaint it filed against the company Ocho Sur P SAC for crimes against public health and freedom to work.

Berlin Diques, president of ORAU, also mentioned Santa Clara de Uchunya and how third parties are taking advantage of the pandemic to continue to profit from Indigenous territories. In addition, he raised concerns surrounding the virtual prior consultations that the Ministry of Economy and Finance intends to implement in order to promote Peru’s economic recovery, highlighting how these online consultations risk violating the rights of Indigenous Peoples.

“Prior consultation in person was never effective; rather, it has amounted to manipulation by civil servants, as in the case of Lot 200, which has created communal conflicts. This will not be tolerated; the Indigenous movement will take more radical actions if this initiative is continued,” said Berlin Diques.

Meanwhile, Ronald Suarez, president of COSHICOX, stressed that in the context of the pandemic, the Peruvian State has made a minimal effort to provide a timely and effective healthcare response. He recalled the case of the first Indigenous community with coronavirus in the Peruvian Amazon, Puerto Bethel, where only three COVID-19 tests were carried out in a population of 120. Suarez also noted the Regional Government of Ucayali’s lack of interest in assisting the Indigenous population at present, and in prioritising post-pandemic actions, despite the precarious living conditions of the Indigenous population – some of whom face the risk of famine.

The Shipibo people’s traditional health system  has responded to the State’s absence through the Comando Matico. This initiative was created on the basis of Indigenous experiences and traditional knowledge, in order to mitigate the serious health effects of COVID-19 on both rural communities and the urban Indigenous population. The initiative, led by young volunteers in the city of Pucallpa, began sending medicinal plants to the city of Lima, as an act of solidarity among Indigenous peoples based on the motto, “the people help the people.”

The Comando now applies traditional medicine at home, too, and in its base in Pucallpa, using plant-based steam baths, giving massages, and sharing motivational messages to the Indigenous and non-Indigenous population affected by COVID-19. According to the sub-coordinator of the Comando Matico, Mery Fasabi, “This virus can also be attacked psychologically.”

Lizardo Cauper, president of AIDESEP and Gregorio Mirabal, general coordinator of COICA, emphasised the importance of Indigenous Peoples’ demands at the regional, national and Amazon Basin levels, reflecting on the collective mourning for the loss of Indigenous elders, knowledge-holders and leaders in recent months. They also talked about the reasons why the national Indigenous movement has declared an Indigenous emergency and permanent mobilisation since 9 July.

Finally, the organisations presented a statement calling out those activities which are damaging Indigenous territories, such as in the case of Ocho Sur P SAC, and demanding the following from the Government of Peru:

• Install a National Dialogue Commission between Indigenous Peoples – represented by their organisations – and the Government of Peru, with the aim of implementing urgent actions and demands of a multisectoral nature (health, education, agriculture and others). This commission should be binding in nature, represented by rights-holders and accompanied by a technical team;
• Call on human rights bodies (UN, OAS, WHO, ILO, EU) to establish a platform for a broad dialogue with Indigenous organisations to review their policies and commitments concerning forests, climate and Indigenous Peoples;
• Inform the World Bank that its loans to the Peruvian Government have only supported an economic recovery for big business in the areas of mining, oil and palm oil; but not to protect the forest and the rights of Indigenous Peoples;
• Take Indigenous Peoples into consideration as part of the economic reactivation of the country, prioritising the financing of community-based organic agriculture and sustainable management of natural resources;
• Ratify and declare the State of Emergency and permanent mobilisation taking place from 13 and 15 July 2020, as adopted by Peruvian Indigenous organisations.

“Mr. President, WE WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY MORE DELAYS, EXCUSES OR BUREAUCRACY that impede the implementation of the requested measures to prevent our peoples and families from continuing to die, not only from a virus that seriously affects our communities, but also from the indifference, slowness and corruption that continues even in times of crisis. We live in a system that has always relegated us and made us invisible, but today we say: enough is enough, no more, it is time for change, justice and equality.” – closing declaration of the statement.