In response to the unfortunate events reported in Bagua; in the northeast corner of Peru, where some twenty police officers and a still undetermined number of civilians perished on June 5th as a result of violent confrontations between the National Police and indigenous groups, EPAF:

-expresses its solidarity with the relatives of each and every one of the victims for the unjust and unnecessary loss of their loved ones;

-insists that there are legitimate and legal strategies to resolve social conflict in Peru other than through more violence and bloodshed;

-manifests concern that the numbers of dead and wounded provided by the state and civil society organizations are distinct and in many cases contradictory;

-feels that the explanations given by the State regarding the intervention provide insufficient justification for the actions taken.

As a Result and For the benefit of the nation, EPAF demands:

-the formation of an independent investigatory commission to clarify the violent acts that have occurred;

-a comprehensive and conclusive report of the actual number of dead and wounded among police and civilians;

-a determination of the exact circumstances under which the victims were killed or wounded;

-an inquiry into possible cases of forced disappearances of civilians during these events;

-and that criminal responsibility for this case be determined based on the findings of the aforementioned investigations.

We all must understand that the loss of life is irreparable and that the pain of some should not be valued over the pain of others because, in the end we are all Peruvian.

We thank you in advance for the dissemination of this letter.