Ric Francis

The Conflict

One month (July 2009) after a bloody clash between indigenous natives (Awajun), local migrants and the Peruvian national police, life outside the provincial city of Bagua, in Peru's north Amazon jungle, returned to normal.

On June 5, 2009 the Peruvian National Police, using tanks, helicopters, tear gas and firearms, attacked a roadblock approximately 450 miles north of the capital, Lima. Protestors had been blocking roads for two months to demonstrate their opposition to laws that gave logging, mining and oil companies access to their ancestral grounds - the Amazon.

According to Amnesty International more than 30 indigenous citizens and 22 police were killed. Some reports indicate 50 people were injured. The numbers are disputable depending upon who is questioned. Shortly after the mayhem, Peru's Congress repealed two key pieces of legislation that contributed to the protest.

The indigenous community commonly refer to the attack and the events that led up to it as El Conflicto (The Conflict). This is a portrait of the Awajun community and the way of life they sought to protect from outside commercial interests.

A memorial is setup to honor indigenous natives and local migrants killed in a clash with the Peruvian national police.
  
Paulo Bitap Lopez, 24, an Awajun, left, is surrounded by family and neighbors as he recovers from two bullets to his shoulder and side, in addition to one that grazed his head, which he said were fired by Peruvian police. Lopez indicated he has no access to a doctor or pharmacy so he's being treated with local plants that have healing properties. On June 5, 2009 the police, using tanks, helicopters, tear gas and firearms, attacked a roadblock approximately 450 miles north of the capital, Lima. Protesters, including Lopez, had been blocking roads for two months to demonstrate their opposition to laws that gave logging, mining and oil companies access to their ancestral grounds - the Amazon.
  
Paulo Bitap Lopez, 24, an Awajun, is recovering from two bullets to his shoulder and side, in addition to one that grazed his head, which he said were fired by Peruvian police. Lopez indicated he has no access to a doctor or pharmacy so he's using local plants with healing properties.
     
  
Lenin Jhon Wuepio Nunez, 25, an Awajun, is recovering from a bullet wound to his leg which he said was fired by Peruvian national police. "I can't stand or work and I don't have access to medical care," stated Nunez. He's using local plants with healing properties to treat the wound.
  
An Amazonian farmer, Lazaro Garcia, 49, unloads timber he cut in the nearby mountains.
  
Ana Egampash Wakiu, 35, an Awajun farmer, assists a friend who grows corn, bananas, yucas, mani and sachapapa in this area.
     
  
Awajun farmer and landowner Ricardo Apanu Nampin, 53, left, Ana Egampash Wakiu, 35, center, and Mirsa Wachapa, 40, prepare to cross the Chiriaco river with the day's harvest.
  
After a heavy rainfall, a group of Awajun men contemplate how to extract their vehicle from mud.
   
Gilmer Ugkaju Intakea Edad, 20, top, an Awajun, ferries passengers across the Chiriaco river.
     
  
Gilmer Ugkaju Intakea Edad, 20, bottom, an Awajun, ferries passengers across the Chiriaco river.
  
An Amazonian girl, Luz Yovani Villa Pena, 10, dries off in the sun after playing with friends in the Chiriaco river.
  
A young Awajun boy carries a papaya from his father's canoe.
     
  
Standing just outside the doorway of a shooting victim, Awajun citizens expressed animosity towards the government for not helping protesters injured by the police. They indicated that victims must use local plants with healing properties to treat gunshot wounds.
  
Arturo Kinin, an Awajun wearing warrior attire, works as a history teacher in the area. Kinin expressed disgust with the Peruvian government which he stated has not provided medical assistance or compensation to victims of a police attack on protesters. Local plants with healing properties are being used to treat gunshot wounds, according to Kinin.
  
Family members listen to Orfidia Mashigkash Apatiu, 43, an Awajun, right, as she describes her son, David Jausito Mashigkash, 19, who she said was killed by Peruvian national police.
     
  
Orfidia Mashigkash Apatiu, 43, an Awajun, with her husband, Moises Jausito Lucinda, 49, weeps at the grave of their son, David Jausito Mashigkash, 19, who they said was killed by Peruvian national police.
  
Amazonians gather at a memorial site whose grounds are charred as the result of a clash between indigenous natives, local migrants and the Peruvian national police.
  
Amazonians examine a tear gas canister found on charred grounds where indigenous natives and local migrants clashed with Peruvian national police. The bones they said were found on these grounds and are an Amazonian citizen killed by the police.
     
  
An Amazonian girl holds empty tear gas canisters and bullet shells she found on charred grounds where indigenous natives and local migrants clashed with Peruvian national police.
  
Mourners pay their respects to those killed in a clash with the Peruvian national police.