Uncontacted tribes activist wanted by police

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A warrant for the arrest of one of Peru's most prominent Indigenous leaders has been issued after accusations he was involved in burning down a regional government office.

The man wanted is Antonio Iviche Quique, president of Indigenous organisation FENAMAD and coordinator of a federation especially set up to defend uncontacted tribes in South America, CIPIACI. FENAMAD has won the prestigious Bartolemé de las Casas prize for its work defending uncontacted tribes.

Iviche is a member of the Arakmbut tribe who had their first contact with the outside world fifty years ago. More than 50% of the Arakmbut died as a result.

The government office was set alight during protests earlier this year against government plans to make it easier for companies to seize Indigenous land. The accusations against Iviche have been strongly rejected by FENAMAD.

'THERE IS NO PROOF. . . The burning of the regional government office was done by people who infiltrated a demonstration organised by the 'Alliance of Federations', which includes FENAMAD,' reads a statement by the organisation. 'FENAMAD's leaders had absolutely nothing to do with it.'