The South American country of Peru is in a state of emergency. For four days, National Police forces have engaged Amazonian Indians in the peasant town of Bagua Grande. On Sunday, nine more officers died in bloody clashes raising the total police killed to 22; including seven from spears.

Over 30 Indians died in shootouts with police. Among the dead included at least three children. About 200 others suffered injuries.

The state of Amazonas remained in complete disarray. Street fighting trapped thousands in their homes. Hundreds fled the chaos as police engaged the rebels. President Alan Garcia instituted a dusk to dawn curfew in the region.

Protest leaders accused the government of “committing genocide” against the Amazonian people. Apparently, the confusion started when military vehicles attempted to bust a roadblock by 5,000 dissidents.

The Peru government ordered the arrest of group leader, Alberto Pizango. They accused him of inciting violence and sedition. When officers came for Pizango, gunfire erupted.

Before the violence, Peruvian Jungle Inter-ethnic Development Association members demanded their government repeal laws that enabled foreign nations to exploit Peru’s natural resources. The laws opened the country to oil drilling, logging, water resources, mining and farming.

Unfortunately, Peru’s situation sounded just like the Congo’s and other Third World nations. Their economy depended how much foreign countries took from them. But, with the billions reaped from exports of raw materials, over half of the population lived in poverty.

The death toll climbed to 55 as of Monday.