UA: 343/09 Index: AMR 46/019/2009 Issue Date: 23 December 2009

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 4 FEBRUARY 2010 .
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

Two men were shot dead by police on 2 December, in their village in north-western Peru, during a search for another man. Other people in the area are in danger of being killed by police in similar operations, unless the government orders the police to review their use of lethal force.

According to a local NGO, the two men were shot in the back and another eight villagers received gunshot wounds. The wounded are now in hospital, and one may need to have his leg amputated.
Around 30 police had arrived mid-afternoon at the village of Cajas-Canchaque, to detain one of seven men wanted for questioning about a 1 November arson attack that killed three mining company employees and burned down the Rio Blanco Copper encampment at "Henry's Hill," near the village.

Police had tried to detain the man that morning, but had been turned away when they could not produce an arrest warrant. They arrested two other men in neighbouring villages that morning, for the same reason, but did not tell either that there was a warrant for their arrest. According to a local NGO, villagers confronted the police, and told them they could not come in. The police tried to force their way in, pushing people aside, including a 70-year-old woman. When the woman pushed back, a police officer shot her, wounding her badly. The police continued shooting, leaving two villagers dead and eight wounded.

The two men arrested in the morning of 2 December were released two days later after a judge ruled that there was no need to keep them in custody.

PLEASE WRITE IMMEDIATELY in Spanish or your own language:

-Expressing concern that excessive use of force by police led to the killing and wounding of unarmed civilians in the village of Cajas-Canchaque on 2 December and that people living in the villages within the Community of Segunda y Cajas may be at risk of further excessive use of force.

-Reminding the authorities that Article 3 of the UN Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials states that they "may use force only when strictly necessary and to the extent required for the performance of their duty" and that Principle 9 of the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials states that "intentional lethal use of firearms" should only be used "when strictly unavoidable in order to protect life."

-Calling on the authorities to carry out a thorough and impartial investigation into the events of 2 December, and bring those responsible to justice.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 4 FEBRUARY 2010 TO:
Please check with your section office if sending appeals after the above date.

Attorney General
Dra. Gladys Margot Echaiz Ramos
Fiscal de la Nación /
Ministerio Público
Av. Abancay cdra. 5 s/n
Lima 1
PERU
Fax: + 511 426 2474
Salutation: Sra. Fiscal

Minister of the Interior
Tnte. Gral. PNP Octavio Salazar Miranda
Ministerio del Interior
Plaza 30 de Agosto s/n
Urb. Córpac
San Isidro / Lima 27
PERU
Fax: +511 4758820
email : ministro@mininter.gob.pe
Salutation: Sr. Ministro

And copies to:
NGO
Fundación Ecuménica para el Desarrollo y la Paz
Trinidad Morán 286 - Lince
Peru

Also send copies to diplomatic representatives accredited to your country.
Ambassade de la République du Pérou
AV. DE TERVUEREN / TERVURENLAAN,179
1150 WOLUWE-SAINT-PIERRE
eMail: info@embaperu.be
Fax 02.733.48.19

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The village of village of Cajas-Canchaque is in the community of Segunda y Cajas, in the district of El Carmen de la Frontera, Huancabamba department, Piura province.

The Peruvian security forces have a long history of failing to comply with the UN Basic Principles on the Use of Force and Firearms by Law Enforcement Officials, of which Principle 5 states that "when force is used, states must exercise restraint in such use and act in proportion to the seriousness of the offence and the legitimate objective to be achieved," and "minimize damage and injury." On 5 June 2009 in the Amazon region, the security forces made excessive use of force to break up a road blockade that indigenous peoples had been maintaining for 50 days, protesting against decree laws that they claimed violated their right to land and livelihood. On 5 June 33 people died, including 23 police officers, and at least 200 Indigenous people and others living in the area around the towns of Bagua and Bagua Grande, in the provinces of Bagua and Utcubamba, were seriously injured.

UA: 343/09 Index: AMR 46/019/2009 Issue Date: 23 December 2009