Peru summons back ambassador to Bolivia

Tuesday, 16 June 2009 17:49 Press TV
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Bolivia, June 16 (Press TV) Peru has recalled its ambassador to Bolivia after President Evo Morales described as "genocide" the recent killings of indigenous Amazonians by Lima.
Peruvian Foreign Minister Jose Garcia Belaunde said on Monday that the measure was "a redress manifestation for the continued intromissions of the Bolivian government on internal issues of the country."
Peru's Ambassador to Bolivia, Fernando Rojas, said that comments made by the Bolivian President on the recent developments in Peru were a "totally false assessment", and he was leaving Bolivia in the afternoon that same day.
Earlier on Saturday Morales, referring to the recent showdown between the Peruvian government and indigenous people, said that the native Amazonians had fallen victim to the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and were subjected to definite genocidal intentions.
"What is happening in Peru, I'm convinced is the genocide of the indigenous people through the FTA (free trade agreement); privatization; the handing over of South America's Amazonian jungles to transnational corporations, Morales said.
Clashes have taken place between the native Amazonian people and government forces in recent weeks over the ownership of northern territories that have claimed lives on both sides.
Based on a Presidential decree signed in 2007 and 2008, Lima is eyeing to ease restrictions on mining, oil drilling, wood harvesting and farming in the Amazon rainforest regions claimed by the Indians.
The native Indians want the government to revoke the decrees.

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