Minister makes promise on refugee uncontacted tribes
October 8, 2008
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Peru's Minister of Environment has spoken publicly about some of the world's last uncontacted Indians, fleeing for their lives from Peru to Brazil.
The Indians are fleeing to escape the illegal logging that is devastating their homes and forest. Logging has already led to violent conflict, deaths, and the tragic contact of one group of previously uncontacted Indians that left half of them dead.
Minister Antonio Brack Egg spoke about the Indians during an interview on Peru's 'Radio Nacional'. According to reports, he promised to coordinate with Peru's Ministry of the Interior to 'prevent the flight of uncontacted people' into Brazil – although it is not yet clear what that coordination will consist of.
Brack's promise comes after increasing press coverage in the Peruvian and international press of uncontacted tribes and the threats facing them. Just a few weeks ago, arrows belonging to Indians fleeing from Peru were found by the Brazilian government's Indian Affairs Department (FUNAI) in a remote part of the Brazilian Amazon, near the border with Peru.
Whether the government actually does anything about the logging remains to be seen. More than three months ago Peru's own Indian Affairs Department (INDEPA) promised a report on the issue, but to date no report has been published.
