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LivinginPeru.com
Isabel Guerra

In an interview done by Peru21's journalist Daniel Yovera, indigenous leader Santiago Manuin remembers the events that took place last June in Bagua, and remarked that the police was aware of the fact that the indigenous were about to retreat on June 5th.

Manuin refers that the indigenous leaders, including himself,had a meeting with the police authorities (including General Javier Uribe) the day before: the General warned Manuin that they have received instructions to clear the road, and the natives decided to stop their protests on June 5th.

“We were tired and experiencing difficulties, so we decided to leave, and to bring more people instead. Some people had been on the road since May 26th,” says Manuin, remarking that their main issue was water supply.

“We decided to retreat to Station N° 6, since it we were more familiar with the place and there's a river nearby, where we could get water. If we had been allowed to retreat on June 5th, nothing would have happened,” remarks Manuin.

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