Ten days ago a brutal attack on civilians occured in Bagua, Peru, when the government of Alan Garcia decided to end a peaceful Indigenous protest, and as a result of this tragic event hundreds of people died. The clashes between Peruvian Police forces and the Amazon Indigenous protesters in northern Peru, were witnesses by a couple of European witnesses.Art by Favianna Rodriguez
Thomas Quirynen and Marijke Deleu are volunteers of CATAPA, a Flemish organisation supporting local communities affected by mining in Peru, Bolivia and Guatemala.
Marijke and Thomas were working in Jaen a city nearby Bagua, when they got a call from one of the protesters, requesting their help. They rushed to the Curva del Diablo road and took these photographs that have been seeing around the world.
In this interview over the phone- recorded today Tuesday June 16, 2009- Marijke Deleu talks about her experience witnessing the attacks:
1st Part
2nd. Part
2nd. Part
Images can be so powerful. Perhaps that is why blogging is such a fascinating task. By using internet media we all can create awareness of what happens around us: instantly, directly, undeniably truthful.
Art for justiceAn interesting and refreshing detail to mention: these photos inspired so many people in the world to take actions of solidarity with our Indigenous peoples - I got them in my email inbox almost everyday from different countries- and artist Favianna Rodriguez (American of Peruvian heritage) decided to design the poster you see here and some others. Please check them out and thank her!
In their own words: Read more about CATAPA and the story behind these photos, told by Marijke and Thomas.
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This is great, thanks for the interview... I thought it was very compelling and the way she describes this event is the proof we need to let the world know that Peru is massacring its Indigenous peoples. Here in the U.S. the media talks so much about Iran, but they seem no to care about the Amazon people of Peru. We must change that.
ReplyDeleteI lived 2 years in Peru and about 6 years in Brazil , Bolivia and Ecuador...I have always supported the indigenous cause.
ReplyDeleteJust 2 days ago I wondered why the Flemish paper De Morgen did not comment anything about this genocide???
I sent emails around from Survival International and Change.org about it and got no response but for one..from a Peruvian barowner of Los Perros- He told me to fuck off, I had no idea what poverty is, he sneered. Couldn't understand his reaction...and now my compatriots have brought this shame to daylight.
Thanks to both of them
bedankt jongens...goed gedaan!!!
Ik woon nog steeds in Ecuador, en ga naar Peru, dus blijf ik anoniem
I got the same response, I sent many emails in my city and a peruvian replied insulting me, that I didn't know what I was talking about, only 2 peruvians showed at our protest. Hope that this is not the case of all peruvians living overseas.
ReplyDeleteI think Peruvians in Peru and the world are now becoming more aware of the lies of our government. I left Peru when I was 15 y.o. and looking back now I see that Peruanista is right in most of his statements, no matter how radical he might seem, he makes a lot of sense.
ReplyDeletePeru is a fucked up country because Peruvians have allowed injustice and corruption. But like I said, more Peruvians now are awakening, I hope my generation will change things in such a great country, we deserve better!