Since last Friday tensions have been high in the city of Bagua, located in the northwestern part of Peru. The PNP (Peruvian National Police) and the Amazonian natives have been in conflict over a government decision to take land that is considered to be rich in natural resources (oil). What started as a roadblock protest by hundreds of natives turned into a massacre as both civilians and police were killed when the protest broke out into violence. In total it is estimated that 33 people, 22 of them police have been killed in the violence. Other sources claim that the death toll could be much higher. Here are a few links to stories that discuss in more depth what went down:

• CNN
• El Comercio

Today the remains of a friend of the family who was killed in the conflict, has been returned to Lima. Now I don't have all the details but from what I have dug up from reliable sources, Comandante Miguel Montenegro Castillo was killed when he was chosen or voluntereed to go into negotiations with the natives. It appears that during the negotiations things went south and the Comandante and his two escorts were attacked. The two escorts were killed on the scene from receiving several stab wounds from the natives spears. The Comandante was also speared several times but was left alive for two more days before he was finally shot and killed. It would be days later before the bodies were recovered by the police.

My condolences go out to the family of Comandante Montenegro Castillo, may he rest in peace.