Disagreements split Peru Investigation Committee (Bagua)

[Judi Lynn]

Disagreements split Peru Investigation Committee
By Renzo Pipoli, Today correspondent

Story Published: Jan 29, 2010

(Story Updated: Jan 29, 2010 )

A Peruvian Native as well as a religious representative that were part of a six-member committee that investigated the causes of June violence in the Amazon that left 34 dead refused to sign a final report to protest the findings as they found them biased.

Awajun tribe member Jesus Manaces and religious groups representative Maria Gomez said they didn’t sign because they didn’t agree with the other four members findings; a single authority was not found responsible for opening fire against a group of 4,000 Natives to clear a road blockade.

The report, which looked into the causes of the violence that also left some 200 injured, many from AKM-assault rifle bullet wounds, just blamed authorities for “rush and a lack of tact” in their decisions and this only because they hurried to approve laws without explaining their benefits.

Manaces and Gomez said investigators, instead of searching for those officials who authorized the use of AKM-assault rifles against civilians, tried to blame politicians and other groups for allegedly manipulating Natives into violence.

Manaces and Gomez did not agree with efforts by the committee in their final 87-page report, presented at the end of December, which also claimed that journalists and church officials were responsible for helping set up a confrontation by misinforming Natives.

Natives, led by leader in exile Alberto Pizango, have right from the start blamed the attack order on Peruvian President Alan Garcia, his Cabinet Chief Yehude Simon and Interior Minister Mercedes Cabanillas.

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http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/global/83026377.html