Demand Justice for 14 Murdered Indigenous Healers in Peru!

On the eve of Indigenous People's Day (a.k.a. "Columbus Day") I have learned of the brutal and systematic killing of fourteen shamans, allegedly at the bequest of the mayor of the local district, on the eve of the various local indigenous groups coming together to form a coalition.  The time has long passed in which the civilized world will tolerate such barbarity against indigenous people.

Please sign the petition, and take independent action, contacting the government officials identified below and demanding that those responsible be brought to justice.

Here is the original call to action:

We have just learned that over the last 20 months, 14 shamans have been murdered in Peru's northeastern jungle region of Loreto. According to the newspaper La República: The provincial prosecutor's office said that the murders were allegedly ordered by the mayor of Balsa Puerto, Alfredo Torres, and carried out by his brother, Augusto, locally known as "the witch hunter."  Only seven bodies have been found, however - either shot, stabbed or hacked with machetes. The seven other shamans have been reported missing. Roger Rumrrill, a leading researcher on Amazonian issues, said the murders are related to "protestant sects" that Torres and his brother belong to, the daily said. "For these protestant sects, the shamans are people possessed by demons, so they have to be killed," Rumrrill said. More details from the Peruvian Times.Take Action

Please ask authorities to immediately address these atrocities and prevent further murders. Contact one or more of the following:

 

Office of the President of Peru

President Ollanta Humala

Secretary General Luis Chuquihuara Chil

Minister of Justice Francisco Eguiguren Praeli

Email:  secretariageneral@presidencia.gob.pe

http://www.presidencia.gob.pe

The US ambassador to Peru in Lima

Her Excellency Rose M. Likins

Embassy of the United States

Avenida La Encalada cdra. 17 s/n

Surco, Lima 33, Peru

Phone: (51-1) 618-2000

Fax: (51-1) 618-2397

General email: LimaACS@state.gov 

 

The Peruvian ambassador to the US

His Excellency Harold W. Forsyth

Embassy of Peru

1700 Massachusetts Ave., N.W

Washington D.C. 20036

Phone: (202) 833-9860 to 9869

Fax: (202) 659-8124

http://www.peruvianembassy.us/en.html

Email: webadmin@embassyofperu.us

 

Assistant to the Ambassador

Ms. Sara Barboza

Phone: (202) 833-9860

Fax: (202) 659-8124

sbarboza@embassyofperu.us

Political Department

Head of Department

Mr. Pedro Bravo

Telephone: (202) 261-0269

Fax: (202) 659-8124

pbravo@embassyofperu.us

 

The Peruvian ambassador to the United Nations

His Excellency Gonzalo Gutiérrez Reinel

820 Second Avenue, Suite 1600

New York, N.Y. 10017

Phone: 212-687-3336

Fax: 212-972-6975

Email: onuper@unperu.org

 

United Nations Human Rights

Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)

High Commissioner Ms. Navanethem Pillay

Palais des Nations

CH-1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland

Email: infoDesk@ohchr.org 

 

Amnesty International

Secretary General Salil Shetty

Phone: +44-20-74135500

Fax: +44-20-79561157

1 Easton Street

London WC1X 0DW, UK

http://www.amnesty.org/en/contact (contact form on their website)  

Please let your voice be heard.
Thank you.

Susan Mokelke
Executive Director

On behalf of the Foundation for Shamanic Studies   
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