Talks with Peruvian Government Haven't Yielded Results - Protests Continue

According to news accounts, talks have resumed between the Peruvian government and indigenous groups after a violent crackdown on protests left 10 injured and aprroximately 20 under arrest. So far the talks have not brought results. Demonstrations against decrees that affect indigenous lands and the rainforest continue. The tate of emergency remains in place in several Amazon regions.

Alberto Pizango, president of the Peruvian Rainforest Inter-Ethnic Development Association (AIDESEP) - a coalition of 28 federations of indigenous peoples and which is leading the roadblocks and demonstrations by some 2,000 indigenous protesters -- was circumspect with regard to the outcome of the meeting with representatives of the administration of Alan García.

However, other native leaders who took part in the talks were impatient and angry. Since early April, indigenous people have blocked roads and riverways to protest decrees that open up their land to oil, mining and logging companies.