Please take action today

Indigenous peoples in the Amazon region of Peru are now five weeks into a mass protest and mobilisation to reject regressive new governmental decrees that seriously undermine their rights and promote the fragmentation of their traditional lands to facilitate private sector investments in agribusiness and large-scale commercial exploitation of oil, gas, minerals, forests and other natural resources (there are several indications that these destructive reforms may be closely linked to the Free Trade Agreement between Peru and the USA - this is now being verified by NGOs in Washington).

Last week the government sent armed forces, the navy and special police squads to the protest areas to suppress the demonstrations and break open road and river blockades. Meanwhile, the President of Peru has issued threatening public statements that "small groups" must not stand in the way of "development" of the Amazon.

Indigenous protesters have tried to secure dialogue with the government, but this has been shunned and there are reports that protesters have been beaten and detained and that one person is missing and feared dead. There are real dangers that the tense stand-off could escalate and more people could be hurt (see attached background brief compiled by Amazon Watch).

Please take time today to send the model letter below in the name of your organisation or as an individual.

Thanking you in advance for your solidarity and support.

Send letters and faxes to

Excelentísimo Señor Presidente Alan García Despacho Presidencial Jirón de la Unión S/N 1 cda Lima 1 PERU

http://www.presidencia.gob.pe/cartas_presidente.asp (Limited to 300 words)

To send the full model letter send the letter via your local Peruvian embassy or via fax to the Council of Ministers (click here for link to model letter)