Peru: Ollanta Humala asked not to consummate blow to the environment and indigenous people’s lives
While facing the coming COP 20, Peru must rectify the extractive model that exacerbates the global climate crisis.
The Unity Pact of National Indigenous Organizations of Peru called today on President Ollanta Humala not to enact the Bill 3627/2013-PE approved yesterday by the Standing Committee of Congress (Comisión Permanente del Congreso).
This new norm is titled: Establish tax measures, simplify procedures and permits for the promotion and revitalization of investment in the Country (Establecer medidas tributarias, simplificación de procedimientos y permisos para la promoción y dinamización de la inversión en el País).
The measures relating to environmental management contained in the initiative were approved with the vote in favour of only eleven lawmakers.
For the Unity Pact the decision represents “a huge environmental setback and a blow to the democratic rule of law because it violates the Constitution and also a number of principles and instruments that protect life and the environment.”
“Instead of strengthening the environmental institutions, management and monitoring, these measures promote the extractive activities, reward those who violate the law, reduce fines and relaxes the environmental standards,” the statement said.
The Unity Pact urges the President to understand that decisions made by the State and public policy should not be driven by private sector interests.
State decisions “must embody the common interest and welfare of all, under criteria that respect human rights, the rights of indigenous peoples and the national interest of present and future generations.”
For a development with identity, inclusion and sustainability
The pretext of addressing an economic slowdown does not justify “false and facile solutions aimed at maintaining growth rates at the expense of the environment and human rights.” This also violates “the right to consultation, participation and development of indigenous peoples.”
“The communities and indigenous peoples living in close relationship with Mother Earth once again will be affected by these measures favoring impunity and corporate irresponsibility, which is already causing widespread damage to water, soil, ecosystems and natural resources”.
“We urge the president to really promote inclusive and sustainable economic activities and not corporate irresponsibility!” Emphasizes the Unity Pact.
Facing the challenge of climate change with dignity and responsibility
Peru will be the host of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 20), to be held on December 2014 in Lima, an event that will be the focus of world attention.
Such an event should be an occasion to stimulate a national debate on the urgent need to overcome an export based economic model, dependent on the swings of the international economy.
Also highlight the importance of advancing our own path to development, diversifying our production based on sustainable agriculture that takes advantage of the diversity of our natural and cultural heritage.
The Unity Pact calls the President to reflect on his responsibility as head of State and to avoid following the path of the industrialized countries that prioritized economic growth without limiting their extractive activities, causing irreversible damage to Mother Earth and putting the planet in the greatest global crisis.
In this regard the Pact supports and calls for the recommendations made by the UN representative in Peru to be attended, who reminded the Peruvian government that “it is the duty of States to ensure the implementation of preventive and precautionary principles, fundamental to the environmental management at the global and national levels.”
Finally, the Pact also supports the statement of the resident coordinator of the United Nations, in holding that “a growth model driven by environment friendly investments is the only viable option for sustainable development in a country like Peru, one of the most vulnerable to the effects of climate change.”
About The Unity Pact
The Unity Pact is a strategic articulation of national indigenous organizations whose purpose is to strengthen the national indigenous movement and build joint proposals leading towards the exercise of self-determination, Buen Vivir and Full Life of the peoples and communities of Peru.
The generic name of indigenous or native peoples, groups various ways of organization expressed as: peasant and indigenous communities, rondas campesinas, agrarian federations and associations, among others, that recognize and identify themselves as indigenous.
It consists of the following organizations*:
- National Agrarian Confederation (CNA)
- Peasant Confederation of Peru (CCP)
- National Organization of Andean and Amazonian Indigenous Women of Peru (ONAMIAP)
- National Union of Aymara Communities (UNCA)
- National Federation of Peasant, Artisans, Indigenous and Native Women of Peru (FEMUCARINAP)
- National Unitary Center of Rondas Campesinas of Peru (CUNARC)
- The Unity Pact decided to organize – along with other civil society groups – an Alternative Peoples Summit – Indigenous and Peasant COP – as a common space for the indigenous delegations of the world that will attend the Conference of the Parties.
- In the Alternative Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change, scheduled from 9 to 12 December 2014, there will be meetings, seminars, conferences, debates, workshops, campaigns and a global mobilization in defense of Mother Earth.
- The Unity Pact will be host to many delegations of indigenous brothers and sisters of the world that will assist to advocate for their demands and proposals regarding climate change.
The Unity Pact and COP 20
- The Unity Pact decided to organize – along with other civil society groups – an Alternative Peoples Summit – Indigenous and Peasant COP – as a common space for the indigenous delegations of the world that will attend the Conference of the Parties.
- In the Alternative Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change, scheduled from 9 to 12 December 2014, there will be meetings, seminars, conferences, debates, workshops, campaigns and a global mobilization in defense of Mother Earth.
- The Unity Pact will be host to many delegations of indigenous brothers and sisters of the world that will assist to advocate for their demands and proposals regarding climate change.
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(*) The participation of the National Confederation of Peruvian Communities Affected by Mining (CONACAMI) was suspended until their internal difficulties of legitimacy and representation are autonomously resolved. The Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP) decided to formally renounce to the Unity Pact as stated ina letter dated January 20, 2014.
Tags: Global governance, Climate
