Native Groups Protest Land-Selling (um stealing) Law

From Inter Press Service News Agency

Native Groups Protest Laws Facilitating Sales of Land

Milagros Salazar

LIMA, Aug 19 (IPS) - Defending the state of emergency declared in three provinces in Peru to crack down on protests by indigenous communities against a law facilitating the sale of their community-owned lands, Prime Minister Jorge del Castillo said the government was safeguarding "the rights of the great majority of Peruvians."

Since Aug. 9, indigenous demonstrators have been demanding the repeal of two decree laws that promote private investment in their territory, and the reestablishment of a clause from the 1979 constitution -- which was replaced by the new constitution in 1993 -- which stated that communally owned land in indigenous territory could not be sold or embargoed.

They are also demanding that the government and Peruvian legislation comply with International Labour Organisation (ILO) convention 169 (which was ratified by Peru), that makes it obligatory to consult with indigenous communities prior to any project or works undertaken in their territory.

Over the past 10 days, protesters in several provinces have blocked roads and oil and gas installations and reportedly took police officers hostage.

The 30 day state of emergency declared Monday in parts of the northern Amazon jungle provinces of Amazonas and Loreto and in Cusco in the south bans public gatherings and suspends free transit. In addition, the army can be sent in to break up protests.

In a late Monday press conference, Prime Minister del Castillo responded to criticism of the decision to declare a state of emergency. "We are not provoking native communities but safeguarding areas that are of strategic importance for the country," he said, referring to a gas pipeline in northern Peru and the Camisea gas project.

After talks between the administration of Alan García and protesters stalled on Friday, the government announced that it would not engage in dialogue again until the protests were called off. But native leaders said Monday that the demonstrations would continue.

"The government has declared open war on indigenous people and the demonstrators will stay there until the problem is solved. They prefer to die there, they aren’t afraid," said the president of the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), Alberto Pizango, accompanied by several "apus", or indigenous chiefs.

Environment Minister Antonio Brack alleged that the indigenous protesters were being manipulated by an "international movement" that he said is inciting Aguaruna Indians in Peru and Ecuador to try to form their own independent territory.

"They are being stage-managed by a group of lawyers who are deliberately misinforming them," said Brack, who was sent to Loreto for talks with native leaders on Friday, but failed to secure results.

Pizango said his association is urging Congress to revoke the decree laws that were approved by the executive branch under special powers granted by the legislature for the implementation of the free trade agreement signed with the United States.

Under one of the decrees, a mechanism created in the 1990s, which allowed indigenous communities to sell or lease collectively-owned land to third parties if approved by two-thirds of the members of a community assembly, was modified to permit sales with the votes of just 50 percent plus one of the assembly members.

Roger Nájar, the new chairman of the parliamentary committee on Andean and Amazon peoples and the environment, told IPS that on Tuesday, in the first session of the new legislature, lawmakers would study two draft laws aimed at overruling the decrees in question.

"We want to provide a solution to the fair demands of these communities, because the government continues to act arrogantly, without any ability to dialogue," said the legislator.

Nájar said he had received no response to two letters he sent to the Council of Ministers asking that the indigenous peoples’ demands be addressed.

Pizango, meanwhile, said that if Congress showed a willingness to take up the issue, the groups would study the possibility of calling off the protests.

On Sunday, an Aguaruna Indian and a police officer were seriously injured in clashes between protesters and the police at the Aramango Hydroelectric Plant in the province of Amazonas, according to the local La República correspondent. Other press reports mentioned 12 people injured -- eight police officers and four demonstrators.

"The underlying problem is that the government is attempting to portray indigenous people as just another group of poor people, without admitting that they have a different way of life, a different cultural viewpoint," anthropologist Oscar Espinosa at the Pontificia Catholic University of Peru told IPS.

"The authorities think they can calm the demands of indigenous people by building schools or medical clinics, but the pending debt to the indigenous population is much more complex than that," he added.

"They should not be seen as inferior because of their attempt to block the influx of private investment into their territories," said Espinosa. "The problem is that Peru has a hard time seeing cultural differences as something positive, as part of the country’s wealth. Peruvian society sees them instead as an obstacle."

Vice President Luis Giampietri argued that "some non-governmental organisations that are active in these issues are inciting people to do these kinds of things, which in the end are subversive activities, because they are undermining the foundations of democracy.

"How have they achieved the miracle of being able to bring together, in one place at the same time, communities so widely dispersed as the jungle peoples? That will have to be investigated," said Giampietri.

But the protests did not come out of nowhere. Indigenous communities have repeatedly expressed their opposition to the two decree laws.

And while the two decrees are the main irritant, indigenous associations have a list of 38 laws and provisions that they would like to see repealed on the argument that they undermine indigenous rights.

"Peru, which in past decades (in the 1970s) was in the vanguard with respect to indigenous issues, is now in last place on the list," said Espinosa.

In the professor’s view, the country has been backsliding on the question of indigenous rights, to the point that there isn’t even a specific law on the issue, only one 1978 provision on native communities that should incorporate, for example, the latest international instruments safeguarding indigenous peoples’ rights.

Nor is there any strong state institution that represents them, he added.

The National Institute for the Development of Andean, Amazon and Afro-Peruvian Peoples (INDEPA), which would normally be in charge of indigenous affairs, has been partially dismantled and is still in the midst of a process of "reorganisation" by the government, two years into García’s term.

"These protests might end in dialogue, but the problem will continue, because there are no government policies that value and respect indigenous people," said Espinosa.

The government ordered military overflights of the protest zones and deployed some 1,500 army troops to Bagua. (END/2008)

And another article on BBC

Why Protest the DNC?

Denver Spends 50 Million (of tax money) on DNC


Instead of that money going to social services to better the Denver community.
Instead of fighting against the free trade economic system that is economically and ecologically NOT sustainble, energy is wasted on a candidate that supports this very system.
Instead of fighting against xenophobia and racism, 'equality and progress' is seen as voting for a candidate that supports building a 700 mile long wall between the US and Mexico (and the has the audacity to ask for the Latino vote).

Because "compromise" means hierarchally determining who's rights we should sacrifice, and who should assimilate into the racistheterosexistcapitalistpatriarchy
Because liberation is far from happening when millions of people CAN'T vote
Because I refuse to accept any leader, especially one endorsed by prison guards (New York City’s Correction Officers’ Benevolent Association)
Because I stand in solidarity with people in New Orleans and oppose 'reform plans' that involve police expansions
Because we are smarter than that, and know that the current system in place will not bring real sustainable change
Because we won't be duped into supporting the state that oppresses us.

HAHAHAHA

Ex-Cop Kills Himself While trying to Shoot a Turtle

“From the upward trajectory of the bullet, it doesn't appear that this
was anything other than a truly sad accident,” said Bucks County Coroner
Joseph Campbell. “It looks like he was trying to shoot at the turtle,
when he slipped on some logs and accidentally shot himself in the chest.”





heee heee hee.

Hipsters Suck, BUT I/You Do Too.

Cool article about why hipsters are the dead end of western civilization
agreed, they pretty much are a bunch of white rich kid cultural appropriators whose entire subculture is founded on consumerism and some industry produced idea of cool.

BUT, disagree with the authors glamourizing of punk and hip-hop. both have prettty political origins, and I fucking insist, no matter what any bullshit punk-rock royalty warped tour asshole says, (ahem Nekromantix, lower class brats, etc *cough*) that punk IS political in origin and at heart. like the very act of reclaiming music as something you can do yourself and with your friends and not just rockstar corporate major label crap IS political. Pride in working class is political, there is a side being taken. that's not to say that every punk song's gotta be about politics or everyone's gotta believe the same shit, but like the ideals of being against authority, doing shit yourself, being proud and rejecting (not assimilating into ) mainstream crap , in itself is political.
anyway, got off on a tangent....lik yeah pre-hipster youth cultures have existed as a way to rebel against the mainstream. BUT both punk and hip hop, like hipster [suedo culture, have become mass produced and stand for fucking nothing nowadays.

like the author can't tell me the self-identified punk at hot topic that paid 30 dollars for a studded belt is resisting consumerism. or that G-unit is a way of suverting the dominant paradigim.
nowadays, punk and hip hop by and large are not political, so why does the end of western civilization end with hipsters?

I think 'the end' started as far back as Elvis and Hippies and also ends with Warped Tour and Hot 97.

WHAT THE FUCK

Apparently, if you shoo bears away, that means you are harrassing hunters

In a decision released today, the Appellate Division affirmed prior
rulings in Vernon Municipal Court and Superior Court in Newton that the
activists, Angela Metler, Albert Kazemian and Janet Piszar, had harassed
hunters, one of whom was an undercover police officer, by encircling
them and hooting and hollering to keep bears away.


The appeal argued their conduct did not constitute physical interference
with hunting and was free speech; that a defense of entrapment was
improperly barred in municipal court; and that the officer and hunters
should not have been viewed by the court as credible witnesses due to
their pro-hunting views. A three-judge appellate panel affirmed the
convictions.

The incident occurred in Wawayanda State Park in Vernon on Dec. 7, 2005,
when an undercover state park police officer was in the woods with two
hunters. There, they encountered five activists; Metler, Kazemian,
Piszar and Theresa Fritzges, and another unidentified woman who got away.

The activists were found guilty in Vernon Municipal Court in 2006 of
disorderly-persons offenses.

NYPD Pigs Beat up Political Rappers from Rebel Diaz

Early this Wednesday (6/18/08) Rodstarz and G1 of the group REBEL DIAZ were up in Bronx on Southern Blvd in Hunts Point, when they noticed the police were harassing a street vendor who was selling fruit. The two went over to witness the cops in action and when they saw the police being abusive they pulled out a cell phone to video tape the incident and asked for the officers badge numbers. Subsequently they were beaten, detained and taken to 41st Precint in the Bronx under the direction of Captain McHugh.

Rodstarz and G1 will be going to criminal court Thursday (6/19/08) and are being charged with obstruction of justice and assault.
Be there in front of Bronx Criminal Court 9AM
215 East 161st. Street Between Sheridan & Sherman Ave, East of the Grand Concourse. Take the 4, B, D to 161st Street Yankee Stadium Station.
See You There, Support Our Brothers!

Please call the 41st precinct 718-542-4771 or arresting Officer MacHugo @ 718-542-8745 to demand:
1. Drop All Charges
2. Release Rebel Diaz!

For more information contact La Peña del Bronx at the
following: e-mail: lapena2006@hotmail.com
Tel:718-292-6137

WWW.REBELDIAZ.COM
WWW.MYSPACE.COM/REBELDIAZ

Wow, well you sure got a lot of nerve.

So I got this email from an address i didn't recognize...which was really weird because i am NOT on the Chris McIntosh support list nor do I correspond or support him any longer.
Anyway, I don't want to support his cause by re-posting, however I feel that this shouldn't be tossed under the rug, especially if some people are convinced by this letter. I'd also like to add that this letter is not in response to something I have written...it was just mailed to me and from the list of addresses, it seems it was also mailed to Earth Liberation Prisoners Support Network
So this is the letter sent to me by what I assume is part of Chris's support:

"This is a hard letter to write as I don't know who I am writing to. I saw a request for support of a young man named Kevin,stating he is in a yard with other men serving 20 years and more. The article said Kevin is scared. Well, he should be. As you know Chris has made some statements that have been very upsetting to your community. You said his support campaign has not made a rebuttal to your decision to withdraw support for him. He has no support campaign.
For anyone who knows Chris, they would know he is not racist or sexist. He is impulsive and does do things and says things he regrets once he has had a cool down period. Interesting to me is that there seems to be no sensitivity for the perils of life in a maximum security prison and what it can do to a person who has no outside support. While Chris was in USP Hazelton, West Virginia 2 inmates where murdered, at least 2 guards were hospitalized all in separate incidents. Most of the tension is based on racism. Having never been in prison myself I can only relate second hand what I have been told. In order to survive, literally, you have to make an alliance with a group. Unfortunately many inmates do that based on skin color. Chris has had to fight more than once to not be physically harmed by people of other races, just because he is not the same color as they maybe.

Imagine if you will, living for extended periods of time in a closed community where you can not make eye contact or show any sign of weakness just to avoid being a target. Imagine doing that time for a cause or group of people who are quick to forget you and leave you alone to face the demons of loneliness and fear.
In your statement to withdraw support for Chris you referenced his " failed attempt to burn down McDonalds". Failed attempt? Was the purpose of the action to burn down a building or bring attention to a cause? If burning down a building was the purpose, than the attempt was failed, but if attention to the cause was the purpose I disagree with your evaluation of the outcome of his actions. Chris is serving 8 years for a cause he valued enough to put his personal freedom in jeopardy for. I would hope someone in your community would value individuals enough to find out what Chris is thinking and give him support through his time. Chris does need to be reminded that not all the world is racists and kindness and goodness do still exist, he needs someone who will take the time to reeducate and remind him that life in Maximum Security Federal Prison is not how all the world is. Someone who will take the time to look beyond isolated words and examine the overview of him and who he really is. What was going on in his world when those statements where made? What you will find is a caring, sensitive person, loyal to a fault, someone who can be counted on.
Chris is currently staring his 4th month in isolation. He made it one day on the yard in USP Atwater a maximum security facility 3000 miles from his family, and was jumped by a group of men just for being the new guy. He fought back. What would you do?
I don't know what you will do with this e-mail, I would ask you to post it just to give your community an insight into the reality of prison life, the emotional as well as physical pressures that can make anyone of us do and say things we regret. I hope that some few people would care as much about other humans, specifically Chris in this instance, as they do about animals and the Earth and be willing to invest themselves in the well being of another human. His current address is: Christopher McIntosh 30512-013
USP Atwater
US Penitentiary
PO 019001
Atwater, Ca 95301
Thanks! Kathryn McIntosh"
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
This argument reminds me so much of the argument in support of snitches, "you've never been in that situation, so what would you do?" as a form of excusing fucked up behavior. So no I've never been in prison, I don't know what it's like to detained for a long period of time. But I do know what it's like to be assaulted by someone who's had violent, mind fucking, disturbing things happen to them in their life. And the fact that they've had awful things happen to them, does not (although at the time it did) excuse the actions they took in harming someone else. Especially when there are a lot of people who have gone through traumatizing experiences as well and have chosen not to perpetuate violence. This goes both for snitches and racists. By supporting Chris McIntosh is not only saying but doing racist and sexist things is to turn one's back on women and people of color as a whole (who don't have the privilege of not being attacked by sexism and racism when confronted with it) but it's also a slap in the face to prisoners who are going through the same if no worse conditions than that and are still anti sexist/ anti-racist. Even within the Prison Industrial Complex Chris has white privilege, and has had had activist support, which is much more than many prisoners get.Yes he's a product of his environment and a horrible one at that, but it was still a choice he made, a choice to perpetuate racism, sexism and speciesm, and for that reason he does not have my solidarity.

and yes, I do think it;s justifiable to have more solidarity with the earth and animals, who do not perpetuate oppression instead are often the target of oppression than someone who is actively a part of it.