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Greenpeace activists could face extradition over protest in Peru Greenpeace activists could face extradition over protest in Peru
(35 minutes later)
Peru will seek to extradite the Greenpeace activists whom it accuses of causing “irreparable damage” to the Nazca lines during a publicity stunt meant to send a message to the UN climate talks delegates in Lima, the country’s vice minister for culture said on Tuesday. Peru will seek to extradite the Greenpeace activists whom it accuses of causing “irreparable damage” to the Nazca lines during a publicity stunt meant to send a message to the UN climate talks delegates in Lima, the country’s vice-minister for culture said on Tuesday.
“We will extradite them and bring them to face their penal and civil responsibility,” Luis Jaime Castillo told state media.“We will extradite them and bring them to face their penal and civil responsibility,” Luis Jaime Castillo told state media.
“Our heritage has been tarnished by this action. Now everyone wants to go the Nazca lines, but to see the area affected by Greenpeace’s actions,” he added.“Our heritage has been tarnished by this action. Now everyone wants to go the Nazca lines, but to see the area affected by Greenpeace’s actions,” he added.
Castillo told the Guardian that Peruvian authorities had identified six members of the group who participated in the protest at the Unesco world heritage site last week, adding that prosecutors have filed charges of attacking archaeological monuments - a crime punishable by up to six years in prison.Castillo told the Guardian that Peruvian authorities had identified six members of the group who participated in the protest at the Unesco world heritage site last week, adding that prosecutors have filed charges of attacking archaeological monuments - a crime punishable by up to six years in prison.
But the minister said Greenpeace had refused to name all the protesters – leaving Peru no choice but to pursue it “through our legal means.” But the minister said Greenpeace had refused to name all the protesters – leaving Peru no choice but to pursue it “through our legal means”.
“Greenpeace says it wants to take responsibility but in not giving us the names so that those responsible can appear before a judge in Peru it is refusing to do that,” he told The Guardian. “It’s a contradiction in terms.” “Greenpeace says it wants to take responsibility but in not giving us the names so that those responsible can appear before a judge in Peru it is refusing to do that,” he told the Guardian. “It’s a contradiction in terms.”
“It makes you wonder if they really are as ashamed as they say they are.”“It makes you wonder if they really are as ashamed as they say they are.”
As UN climate talks began in Peru’s capital last week, around 20 activists entered a restricted area to leave sign reading “Time for Change! The Future is Renewable” beside the giant figure of hummingbird scratched in the desert ground more than 1,000 years ago.As UN climate talks began in Peru’s capital last week, around 20 activists entered a restricted area to leave sign reading “Time for Change! The Future is Renewable” beside the giant figure of hummingbird scratched in the desert ground more than 1,000 years ago.
Archaeologists say footprints left by the activists could remain in the arid desert ground for decades. Castillo said that footage of the protest showed the activists acting as if they were on a “picnic.” Archaeologists say footprints left by the activists could remain in the arid desert ground for decades. Castillo said that footage of the protest showed the activists acting as if they were on a “picnic”.
“Peru is not asking for money, first we want to know what happened and for those responsible to face justice,” he said.“Peru is not asking for money, first we want to know what happened and for those responsible to face justice,” he said.
“It’s not a matter of money. The destruction is irreparable,” said Ana Maria Cogorno, president of the Maria Reiche Association, named after the German archaeologist whose groundbreaking research on the Nazca Lines from 1940 onwards saw them gain recognition and protection. “It’s not a matter of money. The destruction is irreparable,” said Ana María Cogorno, president of the Maria Reiche Association, named after the German archaeologist whose groundbreaking research on the Nazca lines from 1940 onwards saw them gain recognition and protection.
The hummingbird etching on which the Greenpeace stunt was laid was the “only one of the lines which was completely untouched and perfectly conserved,” she said. “It’s one of the symbols of Peru,” she added.The hummingbird etching on which the Greenpeace stunt was laid was the “only one of the lines which was completely untouched and perfectly conserved,” she said. “It’s one of the symbols of Peru,” she added.
After a meeting with Greenpeace’s executive director Kumi Naidoo on Monday, Peru’s minister for culture, Diana Álvarez-Calderón, said the group’s failure to reveal the protesters’ names amounted to a “ kind of cover-up.” After a meeting with Greenpeace’s executive director, Kumi Naidoo, on Monday, Peru’s minister for culture, Diana Álvarez-Calderón, said the group’s failure to reveal the protesters’ names amounted to a “ kind of cover-up”.
She said Naidoo had asked for 30 days for Greenpeace to carry out an internal investigation.She said Naidoo had asked for 30 days for Greenpeace to carry out an internal investigation.
The activists have all returned to their home countries - believed to include Germany, Colombia and Argentina. The activists have all returned to their home countries – believed to include Germany, Colombia and Argentina.
Last week a Peruvian judge rejected prosecutors’ request to keep the activists in the country to face questioning, citing incomplete information.Last week a Peruvian judge rejected prosecutors’ request to keep the activists in the country to face questioning, citing incomplete information.
“We respect the judiciary but we don’t agree with how they acted on this occasion, Álvarez-Calderón told reporters later, adding that while Greenpeace had apologised it “did not repair the damage to our heritage.” “We respect the judiciary but we don’t agree with how they acted on this occasion, Álvarez-Calderón told reporters later, adding that while Greenpeace had apologised it “did not repair the damage to our heritage”.
“We have to continue the process when a person is not in Peru - extradition if the judge decides so or civil reparation,” she said. “We have to continue the process when a person is not in Peru – extradition if the judge decides so or civil reparation,” she said.
She also said that an activist who appeared on a promotional video released by Greenpeace had been located and was expected to reveal who had been part of the team, as well as the identity of the archaeologist who took them to the site.She also said that an activist who appeared on a promotional video released by Greenpeace had been located and was expected to reveal who had been part of the team, as well as the identity of the archaeologist who took them to the site.
In a blogpost on Tuesday John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, made clear his disapproval of the stunt, which was apparently organised to highlight the slow progress of the United Nations climate talks in Lima.In a blogpost on Tuesday John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, made clear his disapproval of the stunt, which was apparently organised to highlight the slow progress of the United Nations climate talks in Lima.
“For many years, Greenpeace offices around the world have been making concerted efforts to reach out to and collaborate with communities everywhere. We understand the importance of being a respectful ally who can learn from our partners and ensure the work we do reflects and supports all communities. This action did not measure up to that commitment. But this activity is not who we are. It is not what we believe in, and this is not what I believe in,” Sauven wrote.“For many years, Greenpeace offices around the world have been making concerted efforts to reach out to and collaborate with communities everywhere. We understand the importance of being a respectful ally who can learn from our partners and ensure the work we do reflects and supports all communities. This action did not measure up to that commitment. But this activity is not who we are. It is not what we believe in, and this is not what I believe in,” Sauven wrote.
Kyle Ash, a Greenpeace spokesman, said that the group had taken “every care” to avoid any damage. “The surprise to us was that this resulted in some kind of moral offense. We definitely regret that and we want to figure out a way to resolve it.” Kyle Ash, a Greenpeace spokesman, said that the group had taken “every care” to avoid any damage. “The surprise to us was that this resulted in some kind of moral offence. We definitely regret that and we want to figure out a way to resolve it.”