Peruvian rainforest clearing could lead to many trials

Environmental groups have been monitoring deforestation at Masisea Mennonite Colony since 2017. — Monitoring of the Andes Amazon Program Environmental groups have been monitoring deforestation at Masisea Mennonite Colony since 2017. — Monitoring of the Andes Amazon Program

Conflicting stories regarding the clearing of Peruvian rainforests for agricultural usage have resulted in criminal charges against nearly four dozen Low German Mennonite men and allegations of attacks and arson by local Indigenous groups.

Agence France-Presse reported Peruvian prosecutors charged 44 men from Masisea Colony with destroying 2,209 acres of forest and requested sentences of eight to 10 years each. Their lawyer, Carlos ­Sifuentes, said the land was already cleared when the colonists bought it. AFP says if the cases proceed it would be the first trial of Mennonite colonists for environmental crimes in Latin America.

Five Mennonite colonies have been established in the last decade in Peru, which welcomed the agriculturally focused immigrants after they fled a shortage of farmland and leftist government policies in neighboring Bolivia.

David Klassen told AFP that members of the Shipibo-Konibo Indigenous community attacked the colony in July with arrows and machetes. A shed and a barn show evidence of a fire. The Shipibo-Konibo accuse Mennonites of illegally occupying about 12% of their 19-square-mile territory.

Indigenous leader Abner Ancon told AFP his group’s guards did chase the Mennonites but did not resort to violence.

Monitoring of the Andes Amazon Program, an independent group that tracks deforestation, estimates Mennonites have cleared about 21,400 acres since 2017.

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