Protests by indigenous peoples from Peru's Amazon jungle mount as political situation is getting worse day by day. Thousands of people have demonstrated today in several Peruvian towns to express solidarity with the demands of indigenous peoples, who revolted against Alan Garcia's government last April. Students, trade unions and other organizations from the civil society took to the streets of Lima and many other towns. In some cases, demonstrators confronted police forces.

President of the Peruvian government, Alan García, was forced to make concessions yesterday to appease the increasing popular uprising. He announced a 90-days suspension of two of the decrees that sparked off the protests, namely the decrees 1090 and 1064. However, the indigenous movement is pressuring for the full derogation of all decrees regulating the liberalization of mineral, water and oil resources in the Amazon rainforest.

As of today, a way out of the conflict remains unclear. While protesters have stopped blocking roads and river traffic, Alan García warned that police forces could be even "swifter and more contentious to impose law and order if road links are blocked again".

To protests over decrees it must be added rage over the death of dozens of people -members of indigenous communities and policemen alike- last week in Bagua, northern Peru. According to official sources, 24 policemen died as authorities resorted to force to break a road blockade. However, indigenous sources assure that more than 100 protesters died during the clashes and that government is trying to make dead bodies disappear to bring figures down.

Meanwhile, Alberto Pizango, the head of the Peruvian Jungle Inter-Ethnic Development Association and one of the leaders of the rebellion has been granted political asylum in Nicaragua after being charged with sedition by Peruvian courts.

Further information:

• ElPaís.com: Las protestas de la selva llegan a las ciudades en Perú
• IPS Noticias: PERÚ: Gobierno e indígenas velan armas
• Pachamama Radio: A los cuatro vientos rechazaron a Alan García