Controversy-prone Indian minister for environment and forests Jairam Ramesh has now decided to review the forest clearances granted to Posco and Vedanta Resources. Both the giant Korean firm (Pohang Steel Company) and the UK-based Vedanta Resources have been pressing to start mining operations in Orissa. Their efforts have been stalled by protests launched on the ground by different indigenous tribal groups. Mr Ramesh has however decided to take the bull by the horns and stated categorically in a recent press interaction, “No mining or construction can start till such time as both Posco and Vedanta receive stage two clearances which the government has not granted so far. They have violated the guidelines under the Forest Conservation Act.”

The minister said, “No project will be allowed in tribal areas without rights of tribals being first settled in forest areas. This has not happened in the Niyamgiri areas,” which are home to the Dongria Kondh tribes.

See http://epaper.asianage.com/Asian/AAge/2010/02/28/ArticleHtmls/28_02_2010_003_011.shtml.

The President of Peru’s Amazon Indian organisation AIDESEP was forced into exile. Alberto Pizango sought refuge in the Nicaraguan embassy in Peru’s capital Lima after a warrant was issued for his arrest. Nicaragua granted him asylum. Pizango was charged with ‘sedition, conspiracy and rebellion’. See http://www.survival-international.org/news/4650?utm_source=E-news+(English)&utm_campaign=501c55f142-Enews_Special_Peru_Protests6_10_2009&utm_medium=email.

Peru’s President Alan Garcia has now acknowledged that he made ‘errors’ in his bid to open the area to extractives industries. Peru’s Congress has voted to revoke the two laws which led to the conflict. See http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fg-peru-amazon19-2009jun19,0,7934644.story.