It has become a recurring image in news coverage of Latin America: rainforest Indians resisting the designs of transnational corporations. Oft-repeated though it may be, however, the story line hasn''t held entirely true in Peru. When Royal Dutch-Shell and Mobil announced last July they were abandoning their effort to develop the Camisea gas fields here, representatives of local Indian groups were in no mood to celebrate. In a letter to Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori, they lamented the companies'' decision—and expressed concern the project might be entrusted to others. “We fear for the future of the region and our communities since we do not know how the new companies are going to receive our demands,” they said. That’s because for three years... [Log in to read more]