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img src=http://www.amnesty.org/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/imagecache/previewsize/sites/impact.amnesty.org/files/PUBLIC/Regions/AMR/peru-report-100.jpg alt= title= /br/The Peruvian authorities must conduct fair and impartial investigations into the deaths of all those killed during violence at a road blockade led by Amazon Indigenous peoples in June, Amnesty International said in a new report. br /
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The organisation urged full investigations into the deaths of 10 Indigenous and local people, alongside those already underway into the killings of 23 police officers during the incident. br /
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At least 200 people were also injured on 5 June after police intervened to end a peaceful protest by thousands of people over the use of land and resources on a road near Bagua in northern Peru. br /
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ldquo;Measures must be taken to bring all the alleged perpetrators of these serious abuses to justice and provide reparation to all the victimsrdquo;, said Guadalupe Marengo, Deputy Americas Director at Amnesty International. br /
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Thousands of Indigenous people had been peacefully blockading the road for over 50 days in protest against new legislation which they claim poses a threat to their livelihood. br /
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The report reveals that while protesters have been detained and charged in connection with the deaths of the police, none of those suspected of involvement in deaths and injuries of protesters have so far been charged br /
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Indigenous leaders have also faced intimidation and harassment from the authorities. br /
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ldquo;Harassment and intimidation of Indigenous leaders has to stop and the right of Indigenous Peoples to free, prior and informed consent on any decision which could affect their right to land and resources must be guaranteedrdquo;, said Guadalupe Marengo. br /
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During its investigation, Amnesty International spoke to witnesses and relatives of those killed, who revealed new details about the eruption of violence. br /
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One of the individuals that Amnesty International spoke to was Violeta Piitug Wampush, the widow of Felipe Sabio Ceacute;sar Saacute;nchez, an Indigenous leader from the small Indigenous community of Wawaacute;s and a reporter for a local radio station.nbsp; nbsp;br /
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He was shot dead on his way out of Baguarsquo;s hospital, where he had gone to report on Indigenous people killed and injured that day. br /
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nbsp;ldquo;Just as they are acknowledging the police officers [who died on 5 June] as servants of the state, they should acknowledge [my] husband too hellip; [he] fell in defence of the Amazon territoryrdquo; she told Amnesty International. br /
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Eleven of the 23 police officers were killed while they were held hostage by Indigenous protesters and the whereabouts of one police officer remain unknown. br /
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Flor de Mariacute;a Vaacute;squez, the wife of Comandante Miguel Antoacute;n Montenegro Castillo, one of the police officers killed on 5 June, is still waiting for answers to why the police didnrsquo;t send more reinforcements to help them.nbsp; nbsp;br /
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ldquo;This is a situation that could have been avoided beforehand, they could have rescued them, they could have saved them. Why didnrsquo;t they get there? Thatrsquo;s the explanation that they havenrsquo;t given us,rdquo; she told Amnesty International. br /
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strongBackground /strongbr /
In July 2009 Amnesty International visited the towns of Bagua, Bagua Grande, and some of the Indigenous communities who took part in the road blockade and protests. br /
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Amnesty International interviewed relatives of those who died, including relatives of police officers who were killed, as well as protestors, detainees and eye witnesses, and Indigenous and community leaders.

Amnesty International has welcomed the Peruvian Congress’ decision to stand by its proposal to decriminalize abortion in cases where women and girls become pregnant as a result of rape or incest.br /
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quot;We hope that the Commission’s proposal will soon become reality so that women and girls in Peru no longer have to face the suffering that the present legislation condemns them to,quot; said Guadalupe Marengo, deputy director of Amnesty International’s Americas programme.br /
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The Commission in charge of reviewing the penal code voted in favour of their original proposal on Tuesday. The bill is now due to be debated in Congress.br /
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Amnesty International said the Peruvian authorities should promote an environment with no restrictions on women’s access to sexual and reproductive health information and services. nbsp;br /
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The organization said it believes that in order to eliminate unsafe abortions and other violations of women’s rights, all laws which permit the imprisonment or imposition of any other criminal sanction on women for seeking or having an abortion must be repealed. br /
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quot;A woman or girl child who has already had her human rights violated as a result of rape, sexual assault or incest must not then have her rights further violated by being criminalized for seeking an abortion in the case of a pregnancy resulting from the original abuse,quot; said Guadalupe Marengo.

Amnesty International has called on the Peruvian authorities to step up recent efforts to decriminalise abortion in the country.br /
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Peru’s Congressional Commission last week issued a proposal to allow decriminalise abortion in certain circumstances, including when a woman or girl is pregnant as a result of rape.br /
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quot;The removal of criminal sanctions will hopefully contribute to preventing women and girls suffering the anguish and serious health risks of seeking an unsafe, illegal backstreet treatment with uncertain outcomes, no proper aftercare and the possibility of being imprisoned if found out,quot; said Guadalupe Marengo, Amnesty International’s Americas Deputy Director.br /
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Amnesty International has welcomed the Commission’s proposal and urges it to continue the debate it has begun on the issue. br /
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The Peruvian authorities should promote an environment with no restrictions on women’s access to sexual and reproductive health information and services. nbsp;br /
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Amnesty International believes that in order to eliminate unsafe abortions and other violations of womenrsquo;s rights, all laws which permit the imprisonment or imposition of any other criminal sanction on women for seeking or having an abortion must be repealed. br /
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A woman or girl child who has already had her human rights violated as a result of rape, sexual assault or incest must not then have her rights further violated by being criminalised for seeking an abortion in the case of a pregnancy resulting from the original abuse.
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