After coming to power in 2006, Peru’s president Garcia showed he was determined to open up as much of the Amazon as possible to oil and gas exploration.
More and more companies have signed contracts with Peru’s government and 72% of the Amazon is now under threat.
Many of these areas are inhabited by vulnerable uncontacted tribes.
Garcia publicly suggested the tribes do not exist. In a now notorious article published in Peru’s El Comercio newspaper, he wrote:
‘In opposition to oil, (environmentalists) have created the figure of an ’uncontacted’ Amazon native; that’s to say, unknown but presumed to exist.’
The president appeared not to realise his own government had already recognised the tribes’ existence.
His comments also came just six weeks after the publication of a photo of 21 uncontacted Indians on El Comercio’s front page.
Garcia’s policies met with outright condemnation from indigenous groups in Peru.
Uncontacted tribes of Peru
News: Uncontacted tribe pictures provoke public outrage
Uncontacted Tribes campaign