PERU: Indigenous Groups Challenge Private Investment Decree

PERU: Indigenous Groups Challenge Private Investment Decree
By Milagros Salazar

LIMA, May 29 (IPS) - More than 5,000 indigenous and peasant communities in Peru launched a petition drive this week with the aim of getting President Alan García’s decree promoting private investment in communally owned land declared unconstitutional.

Legislative decree 1,015, approved by García on May 20, makes it possible for indigenous communities in the country’s highland and jungle regions to authorise the sale or lease of communal land to private investors with the votes of just 50 percent plus one of the members of the community assemblies.

The new law modifies legislation on private investment that required the consent of two-thirds of the qualified members of the village assembly to sell or lease land.

Now the votes of only a simple majority in village assemblies, who no longer must be duly qualified members, are needed.

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