Peru elects first indigenous lawmaker [View All]

[Judi Lynn]

Peru elects first indigenous lawmaker
Wednesday, 20 April 2011 11:41

LIMA: Peru has elected the first congressman of indigenous descent in its history, with Eduardo Nayap Kinin winning a seat in Congress for the northern Amazon region, officials said.

According to final results from the National Office of Electoral Processes, 55-year-old Nayap Kinin, with the Gana Peru party, beat out rival Jose Maslucan with 100 percent of votes tallied -- 17,556 to 16,051.

"I am not only representative of the people of Wampis and Awajun, but I am a representative of the entire Amazon region," he said, quoted by the website peru.com.

One of his major goals once he arrives in Congress, he said, is to investigate the violent June 2009 clashes between authorities and native groups protesting for indigenous rights, which saw 10 locals killed along with 24 policemen.

More:
http://www.brecorder.com/world/south-america/11837-peru-elects-first-indigenous-lawmaker.html

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Rep. Eduardo Nayap Kinin