equipo peruano de antropología forense

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.

More than two weeks after the tragic events that occurred in Bagua on June 5th, EPAF is joining the United Nation’s Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, James Anaya, and the International Human Rights Foundation (FIDH) in calling for the immediate creation of an independent investigatory commission to determine the truth about the events that transpired. In addition to establishing a definitive chronology of said events, the commission would also have the important responsibility of:

-determining the actual number of dead and wounded;

-specifying the causes of death and the circumstances under which the victims were killed or wounded;

-investigating possible cases of forced disappearance and determining the number of the missing;

-examining the hill near the “Devil’s Curve” where the first confrontation between the police and indigenous activist’s occurred.

The commission’s findings should then be used to establish the criminal responsibility of those involved in these illegal acts of violence and prosecute them according to the requirements of the law.

Considering the animosity and lack of confidence the civilian population-especially the indigenous people of the region-has with relation to the state, it is recommended that any attempts to investigate be carried out by independent institutions or persons in order to ensure transparency in the process.

Finally, EPAF sends its condolences to all the victims of the violence and urges the country to reflect on the importance of protecting and preserving the lives of all Peruvians.