Recomendaciones urgentes de COVID-19 con respecto a los pueblos indígenas que viven en aislamiento voluntario
Grupo de Trabajo Internacional sobre Pueblos Indígenas en Situación de Aislamiento y Contacto Inicial en la Amazonía y en el Gran Chaco – GTI PIACI El Grupo de Trabajo Internacional sobre los Pueblos Indígenas en Situación de Aislamiento y Contacto Inicial en la Amazonía y Chaco – GTI PIACI, que congrega 20 organizaciones indígenas y aliadas de siete países de América del Sur, ante la pandemia de Covid19 considera necesario orientar a la población internacional y a los Estados sobre los procedimientos necesarios que deben ser adoptados ante la Pandemia del Covid19. La sociedad global está viviendo un “aislamiento involuntario” ante la pandemia. Por ello, se espera que al menos, luego de esto, esta sociedad occidental- los no-indígenas, comprenda el significado real de lo que implica ser vulnerable ante un virus para el que no existe vacuna. Los PIACI llevan siglos experimentando esta situación de vulnerabilidad y ahora es cuando podemos comprender uno de los motivos que los llevan a ejercer su autodeterminación al aislarse y, por ello, no aceptar ningún tipo de contacto con personas ajenas a su grupo. Este “aislamiento geográfico” es una medida de protección que les garantiza sobrevivir. Ante este cuadro de pandemia del Covid19 el GTI PIACI recomienda lo siguiente: Los PIACI son altamente vulnerables a virus que provocan enfermedades infectocontagiosas. Estos pueblos no tienen memoria inmunológica para enfermedades infectocontagiosas; tal y como los occidentales no la tienen en este momento ante el COVID19. Debido a este tema los pueblos indígenas vivieron, debido a la colonización europea, un genocidio producto de las enfermedades traídas por los colonizadores. Estimaciones más conservadoras indican que la población indígena en América del Sur (Amazonía) se redujo en 25% entre 1492 y 1650. Bajo la perspectiva de la autodeterminación, los Estados-Nación deben tomar medidas inmediatas para implementar un cordón/aislamiento sanitario que impida que extraños y agentes del Estado puedan ingresar a los territorios de estos pueblos. Sería contradictorio, en un momento de aislamiento social, que el Estado, usando como pretexto la diseminación del COVID19, flexibilice la política de no contacto, tal y como se observa en la orden publicada por la FUNAI (Orden No 419/pres, de 17 de marzo de 2020), que contradice su propio Reglamento Interno. Además, esta misma orden flexibiliza y traspasa la disposición a otras instancias, en lugar de hacerlo a la Coordinación General de Indios Aislados y de Reciente Contacto, la cual es, según el orden legal establecido, la instancia responsable de todo lo que tenga que ver con el tema. La alta transmisibilidad demostrada por el Covid-19 en otros países (R0 = 2,74), mayor que la del H1N1, su comprobada transmisión a través de objetos, de las manos, así como las costumbres y las condiciones de vida en las comunidades indígenas demanda especial atención por parte de las autoridades sanitarias. El momento es de suma urgencia y aún es posible adoptar medidas que impidan la transmisión. Se vuelve imperativo que los órganos e instancias de cada Estado, responsables por las políticas de protección de los PIACI, implementen las siguientes medidas: a) Intensificar las acciones de vigilancia y protección de territorios, ya que muchos de ellos han sido invadidos por mineros ilegales, narcotraficantes, madereros, colonos, misioneros, turistas, etc. Usar todo aparato estatal para hacer frente a estas acciones ilícitas. b) Entrar en diálogo con los indígenas contactados del entorno o que comparten territorio con los PIACI, para crear conciencia entre ellos de la importancia de no entrar en contacto con los PIACI. Con respecto a la población indígena con historia de contacto que comparte territorio o limita con los territorios de los PIACI recomendamos: Prevención primaria – buscar formas de evitar la entrada del Covid-19 en las aldeas. – Tener control riguroso de la entrada de personas en los territorios indígenas , incluyendo profesionales de salud, visitantes y de personal de instituciones sociales que deberán hacer el test para el Covid19 y pasar por evaluación médica antes de entrar en los territorios indígenas. – Llevar a cabo pruebas de Covid19 a los indígenas en tránsito, que estén retornando a sus comunidades. En caso de que den positivo, deben llevar a cabo la cuarentena antes de entrar en el territorio indígena. – Buscar el diálogo con los líderes indígenas de las comunidades y con el movimiento indígena organizado para la búsqueda conjunta de alternativas para enfrentar la pandemia. Esos diálogos pueden llevarse a cabo por medios virtuales como radio e internet o personalmente, teniendo cuidado de evitar la transmisión del Covid19. – Priorizar la información para las comunidades indígenas considerando a los indios como aliados fundamentales para enfrentar a la pandemia, produciendo información en lenguaje adecuado en forma de videos, podcasts, mensajes y redes sociales abordando: Mascarilla respiratoria Lavado de manos Uso compartido de utensilios Evitar aglomeraciones- reuniones/fiestas Postergar eventos ya planificados Evitar la circulación entre las aldeas y las ciudades (Covid19 está en las ciudades/ se beneficia de que haya mucha gente aglomerada) Posibilidad de aislamiento (acampar en la “selva”) Control riguroso de acceso a las Tierras Indígenas Cuarentena para viajantes Suspensión de cultos religiosos en las aldeas Prevención secundaria- detección precoz de casos – Test masivos antes del ingreso a territorios indígenas. – Tests en las comunidades donde hubiese casos de síntomas respiratorios. – Preparación de los agentes indígenas que trabajan en el área de salud. – Sistema de alerta temprana /Registro de casos. – Abastecimiento de agua adecuada para las comunidades. – Insumos (alcohol gel, máscaras, jabón,
Cultural Survival and Land is Life Stand in Solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en in Canada
Cultural Survival and Land is Life stand in solidarity with the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs in demanding respect for their right to self-determination and to protocols of Free, Prior and Informed Consent as recognized in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Unist’ot’en Camp leadership explain, “Our clan is occupying and using our traditional territory as it has for centuries. Our free, prior and informed consent protocol is in place at the entrance of our territory as an expression of our jurisdiction and our inherent right to both give and refuse consent.” Today, all Wet’suwet’en territory is unceded. This means the traditional Indigenous legal systems remain intact and still govern the people and the lands. The Unist’ot’en Camp was founded in 2010 by Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs to protect their lands. The Camp sits in the “energy corridor” for pipelines in Canada and is under perpetual threat from oil and gas spills resulting in devastating destruction of the environment and Indigenous lifeways. Most recently, they have been fighting the construction of a 416 mile (670 km) liquified natural gas pipeline, known as Coastal GasLink, which would cross through Wet’suwet’en territory without their consent. On December 14, 2018 the provincial court in BC granted an injunction to oil and gas company TC Energy (formerly TransCanada) – granting access to the land to construct their pipeline. The decision was further enforced by BC Supreme Court injunction on December 31, 2019, allowing construction of the pipeline and unlimited access to Wet’suwet’en lands. However, Wet’suwet’en territory in BC was never ceded by treaty and Hereditary Chiefs retain authority over their lands. Following the courts’ decisions, land protectors camped out for weeks in bitter winter conditions at barricaded checkpoints to prevent pipeline construction vehicles from entering the territory of the Wet’suwet’en. On January 13, 2019, the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs submitted a formal request to the United Nations to monitor the RCMP and Coastal GasLink actions on their territory. This request follows the recent directive from the UN Committee on Racial Discrimination requiring Canada to halt the CGL pipeline and withdraw RCMP from the territory in order to avoid further violations of Wet’suwet’en, constitutional, and international law. Instead, on January 19, 2019, heavily armed Royal Canadian Mounted Police raided the camp and arrested 14 Indigenous land defenders. Since then resistance to the pipeline has grown and conflict continued. There have been international calls to action and solidarity actions taken around the world. On January 7, 2020, the Hereditary Chiefs issued an eviction notice to the CGL pipeline company, effective immediately. Since 2017, Cultural Survival has partnered directly with Unist’ot’en Camp through its Keepers of the Earth Fund, and Land is Life continues to support several grassroots Indigenous organizations across Canada and the Arctic through its Indigenous-Led Grantmaking initiative. We join together to echo the calls of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs to support their movement in defense of their territory and sovereignty. We call on the Canadian government, RCMP, and TC Energy to halt illegal construction and development, and cease unlawful and violent responses against Indigenous land protectors. Ways to Support: Wet’suwet’en Supporter Toolkit 2020 Support Us Solidarity Statements Photo by Jason Hargrove on Flickr. “We Stand With The Wet’suwet’en” – Wetsuweten Solidarity Event – Rail Yard near Pioneer Village Station Blockaded – Vaughan, Toronto, Ontario – February 15, 2020
REPUDIO A LA NOMINACIÓN DE MIEMBROS DE LA MNTB PARA GESTIONAR LA POLÍTICA DE PROTECCIÓN DE LOS PUEBLOS AISLADOS
REPUDIO A LA NOMINACIÓN DE MIEMBROS DE LA MNTB PARA GESTIONAR LA POLÍTICA DE PROTECCIÓN DE LOS PUEBLOS AISLADOS Rechazamos enérgicamente el nombramiento de un pastor misionero vinculado a las actividades de proselitismo de la Misión Nuevas Tribus de Brasil (MNTB) para asumir la Coordinación General de Pueblos Aislados y del Contacto Reciente de Funai. Las consecuencias nocivas de las actividades de proselitismo en pueblos indígenas aislados en territorio brasileño son conocidas a lo largo de la historia. Existen numerosas situaciones en las que el contacto forzado provocado por el proselitismo de grupos misioneros, incluidos los vinculados a la MNTB, tuvo como rápida consecuencia un alto número de muertes por enfermedades, trastornos socioculturales y perdida de territorio que, en muchas ocasiones, condujeron a situaciones evidentes de genocidio o etnocidio. Además, que para asumir las responsabilidades de dicho sector, la persona indicada debe tener experiencia trabajando en el tema, capacidad técnica para esto y, sobre todo, tener un historial laboral alineado con los preceptos constitucionales y el respeto por la autonomía de los pueblos indígenas. Las creencias y visiones del mundo de las culturas económicamente dominantes e históricamente violentas, como es el caso de las promovidas por grupos e iglesias proselitistas, no necesariamente deben superar, a través de técnicas de cooptación, sumisión y violencia, las propias opiniones y creencias de los pueblos indígenas. Creemos que tal indicación podría poner fin a una política correcta y una referencia internacional para respetar las decisiones de los pueblos indígenas de vivir en aislamiento. Es otra situación propensa a la violación de los derechos humanos causada intencionalmente por el gobierno actual, que podría conducir a la muerte física, sociocultural y espiritual de los pueblos indígenas aislados y recientemente contactados que viven en Brasil. Atentamente, los abajo firmantes: Portugués REPÚDIO À INDICAÇÃO DE MEMBRO DA MNTB PARA GERIR A POLÍTICA DE PROTEÇAO DOS POVOS ISOLADOS Repudiamos veemente a indicação de um pastor missionário ligado às atividades proselitistas da Missão Novas Tribos do Brasil (MNTB) para a assumir a Coordenação Geral de Índios Isolados e de Recente Contato da Funai. São conhecidas as nefastas consequências das atividades proselitistas sobre os povos indígenas isolados em território brasileiro ao longo da história. Há inúmeras situações onde o contato forçado provocado por grupos missionários proselitistas, inclusive ligados à MNTB, teve como rápida consequência elevado número de mortes por doenças, desestruturação socio-cultural e desterritorialização o que, muitas vezes, acarretaram em situações evidentes de genocídio ou etnocídio. Para além disso, acreditamos que para assumir as responsabilidades por tal setor, a pessoa indicada deve ter experiência de trabalho no tema, capacidade técnica para tal e, acima de tudo, ter história de trabalho alinhada com os preceitos constitucionais e respeito à autonomia dos povos indígenas. As crenças e visões de mundo de culturas economicamente dominantes e historicamente violentas, como é o caso daquelas emanadas pelos grupos e igrejas proselitistas, não devem sobrepujar forçosamente – através de técnicas de cooptação, submissão e violência – as visões próprias e crenças dos povos indígenas. Acreditamos que tal indicação poderá levar ao fim uma política acertada e referência internacional de respeito às decisões dos povos indígenas em viverem em situação de isolamento. É mais uma situação propensa à violação de direitos humanos provocada intencionalmente pelo atual governo, que poderá levar à morte física, sociocultural e espiritual dos povos indígenas isolados e de recente contato que vivem no Brasil. Signatários
Indigenous People of the Philippines Call on Duterte Government to Stop Attacks
(The following message was developed by Land is Life Asia Program Director and Secretary General of the Cordillera Peoples Alliance Bestang Dekdeken). Indigenous leaders from various parts of the Philippines called on the government of President Rodrigo Duterte to stop the worsening attacks against indigenous peoples during a press conference which culminated the national consultation of indigenous human rights defenders held on November 6-7, 2019 in Quezon City, Philippines. They expressed strong condemnation to the attacks and the continuing reign of a culture of impunity, which are demonstrative of an undeclared nationwide martial rule. This year, Global Witness has named the Philippines as the most murderous country in the world for environmental and land rights defenders. To date, 63 indigenous peoples have been extrajudicially killed since Duterte assumed the presidency in July 2016, while 130 indigenous peoples have fallen victim to extrajudicial killings. The attacks against indigenous peoples arise from the government’s “indigenous people-centered” and “whole of nation” approach to end local insurgency (Executive Order 70 issued by Duterte in December 2018). This approach specifically targets legitimate organizations, activists and communities that are asserting their rights to their ancestral lands and self determination from plunder and destruction by State and corporate mining, energy and other so-called development projects. These attacks also come in the form of development aggression or the government’s continuing treatment of indigenous territories as a resource-base for plunder and profit through large-scale mining as in the Pantaron Range in Mindanao and the Cordillera region, mega dams and other energy projects such as the China-funded Kaliwa dam project, agri-businesses in Mindanao, and commercial infrastructures such as the New Clark City project. Indigenous peoples’ resistance to development aggression, however, is not only met with State violence such as extrajudicial killings but is also treated by the government these days as “terrorism”. Various indigenous peoples’ organizations and leaders have already been labeled by the State as “communist terrorist” groups and enemies of the State. These include the Cordillera Peoples Alliance, a known organization for advancing indigenous peoples’ rights at local, national and international level. Indigenous peoples fear that by constantly labeling indigenous leaders and organizations as communist terrorist groups, filing trumped-up charges against indigenous activists, destroying schools that were put up by the indigenous Lumad people, sowing terror in indigenous communities, and implementing numerous mining and energy projects in indigenous lands, the Duterte regime is intensifying its direct attacks not only to the lives of many indigenous peoples but to the very existence of their organizations, communities, culture and identity. If unhampered, this could lead to ethnocide. Amidst the attacks, Philippine indigenous peoples persist in their struggle to defend their ancestral lands and resources, human rights and self determination. No amount of injustice and tyranny will stop them from protecting and nurturing their culture and especially the land and environment for future generations.
DECLARATORIA DE LIMA ENCUENTRO REGIONAL SOBRE PUEBLOS INDÍGENAS EN AISLAMIENTO: TERRITORIOS Y DESARROLLO EN LA AMAZONÍA Y EL GRAN CHACO.
Después de dos días de reuniones en Lima, Perú, 21 organizaciones de toda la Amazonía y el Gran Chaco han decidido formar un Grupo de Trabajo sobre Pueblos Indígenas en Aislamiento Voluntario y Contacto Inicial. Este anuncio llega tras el lanzamiento del “Informe Regional Sobre Pueblos Indígenas en Aislamiento“. Territorios y Desarrollo en la Amazonía y el Gran Chaco, el cual es la culminación del trabajo de 11 organizaciones en los últimos dos años. El informe se presentará formalmente hoy en la reunión de la UICN III en el Congreso de Áreas Protegidas de América Latina y el Caribe. El informe regional se presentó formalmente durante la reunión de la UICN III en el Congreso de Áreas Protegidas de América Latina y el Caribe. Land is Life fue nombrada para ser la Secretaría del Grupo de Trabajo y se complace en compartir la Declaración de Lima, firmada por 21 organizaciones participantes: DECLARATORIA DE LIMA ENCUENTRO REGIONAL SOBRE PUEBLOS INDÍGENAS EN AISLAMIENTO: TERRITORIOS Y DESARROLLO EN LA AMAZONÍA Y EL GRAN CHACO. Las organizaciones indígenas, organizaciones no gubernamentales, líderes indígenas, investigadores, académicos y defensores de derechos de los pueblos indígenas de Bolivia, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Perú, Venezuela y Suriname, suscriptoras de la presente declaratoria, nos hemos reunido en Lima, Perú entre el 10 y el 11 de octubre de 2019, para analizar y discutir la situación de los pueblos indígenas en aislamiento y contacto inicial (PIACI) y conocer los resultados del Informe: “Pueblos Indígenas en Aislamiento: Territorios y desarrollo en la Amazonía y el Gran Chaco”. El Informe ha recogido el esfuerzo de más de 11 organizaciones en 8 países de la región donde existen PIACI, arrojando como resultado el registro de 185 poblaciones o grupos indígenas en situación de aislamiento; señalando las presiones y amenazas a las que se encuentran sometidos sus territorios, y estableciendo, de manera pionera, una visión regional de la situación de los PIACI en la Amazonía y el Gran Chaco. Tras nuestra reunión, las organizaciones, líderes e investigadores emitimos la presente declaratoria en relación a nuestras reflexiones y conclusiones: 1. Observando y respetando integralmente el derecho a la libre determinación de los pueblos indígenas, nos ratificamos en el principio de no contacto como principal directriz y derecho fundamental de los pueblos indígenas en aislamiento, consagrado en los estándares internacionales del derecho de los pueblos indígenas. Rechazamos las acciones e iniciativas que promueven el contacto forzado con estos pueblos. 2. Nos encontramos sumamente preocupados por las regresiones experimentadas en la región en lo relativo a la protección de los pueblos indígenas en aislamiento y en general respecto a los derechos territoriales de los pueblos indígenas. En este sentido, pensamos que el caso de Brasil resulta paradigmático y representa el giro más radical en relación a la reorientación de políticas que tienden a generar regresiones con respecto a los marcos internacionales y estándares de protección de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas. 3. No obstante, los retrocesos a las políticas de protección de los PIACI no constituyen un hecho aislado en la región, en Bolivia, también se han producido retrocesos normativos y políticas de afectación a los pueblos indígenas y pueblos en aislamiento que han revertido los avances legales, aplicando planes extractivos, megarepresas y expansión de las fronteras agrícolas. En Perú y Ecuador, donde se habían registrado avances progresivos en las legislaciones, normativas y directrices relacionadas a la protección de los PIACI, se constata que existen una serie de medidas políticas destinadas a esquivar la responsabilidad de protección y garantía de los Estados respecto a la intangibilidad de los territorios. Entre otras, se pueden mencionar la recategorizaciones de los territorios para debilitar su protección, excepcionalidades hechas a la protección de PIACI en aquellos casos donde existen intereses extractivos, incremento de las áreas concesionadas y cedidas a la explotación, desmantelamiento institucional y reducción de los recursos fiscales destinados a la protección de los PIACI, así como la exclusión de las poblaciones indígenas que comparten territorio con los pueblos en aislamiento en los procesos de toma de decisiones y acciones monitoreo y control social. 4. En Venezuela no existen normas específicas de protección para los PIACI. De allí que consideramos importante urgir a la Asamblea Nacional Constituyente a adoptar las recomendaciones que han hecho las organizaciones indígenas, sus aliados y la Defensoría del Pueblo en el sentido de estipular un artículo constitucional para la protección de los PIACI. 5. La implementación de megaproyectos, obras de infraestructura, hidroeléctricas, carreteras, concesiones forestales, hidrocarburíferas, y mineras en territorios indígenas – otorgadas con el aval de los gobiernos -generan un incremento de los conflictos sociales, la degradación de los ecosistemas, y las violaciones de los derechos humanos fundamentales para los PIACI. También, se constatan graves ausencias de la protección estatal en territorios de PIACI que han sido ocupados por actividades ilícitas e ilegales, debilitando la capacidad de control y protección de los Estados a los PIACI. La situación actual acarrea un riesgo real de genocidio. Las conclusiones del Informe Regional al respecto ilustran como estas políticas no son el resultado de dinámicas aisladas o encapsuladas en el espacio nacional, sino que reflejan un entramado regional que constituye un “modelo de desarrollo” en la Amazonía y el Chaco que se contrapone y contradice las principales normativas y estándares de protección de los derechos de los PIACI. 6. Adicionalmente, los impactos de este modelo de desarrollo y sus políticas coaligadas producen efectos en diversos ámbitos tales como las amenazas y criminalización de personas e instituciones ligadas a los derechos indígenas, el debilitamiento de los estatutos de protección de los territorios, así como la negativa de Estados y empresas para adoptar el principio de precaución y demás salvaguardas dirigidas a garantizar la intangibilidad de los territorios de los PIACI. 7. Este escenario demuestra la ausencia de voluntad política por parte de los gobiernos para implementar y observar las directrices de protección, al tiempo que la voluntad política para impulsar el modelo de desarrollo extractivo en la región se consolida. Los Estados tienden a congelar o
Declaration establishes Working Group on People’s Living in Isolation and Initial Contact following convening in Lima
Photos above of participants during regional convening taken by Jesús Sosa. Following two days of meetings in Lima, Peru, 21 organizations from across the Amazon and El Chaco have formed The Working Group on People’s Living in Voluntary Isolation and Initial Contact. This announcement follows the release of: “Indigenous People’s Living in Voluntary Isolation: Territories and development in the Amazon and El Chaco Regions — Regional Report“, which will be formally presented today at the IUCN III meeting on Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Protected Areas. Land is Life was appointed to be the Secretariat of the Working Group and is pleased to share the Lima Declaration, signed by 21 participating organizations: THE LIMA DECLARATION REGIONAL MEETING ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLES IN ISOLATION: TERRITORIES AND DEVELOPMENT IN THE AMAZON AND THE GRAN CHACO. This is the declaration of Indigenous organizations, NGOs, indigenous leaders, researchers, scholars, and advocates of the indigenous peoples of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Venezuela and Suriname who met in Lima, Peru between October 10-11, 2019. We met to analyze and discuss the situation of indigenous peoples living in isolation and initial contact (PIACI) and learn about the results of the Report: “Indigenous Peoples in Isolation: Territories and development in the Amazon and the Gran Chaco – Regional Report”. The report included the efforts of more than 11 organizations in 8 countries in the region where PIACI exist, resulting in the recording of 185 identified settlements or groups of indigenous people living in isolation. The report signals the pressures and threats that PIACI are under, and established pioneering regional vision of the situation of the PIACI in the Amazon and the Gran Chaco. After our meeting, the organizations, leaders, and researchers issued this declaration to capture their reflections and conclusions: 1. Observing and fully respecting the principle of self-determination of indigenous peoples, we ratify ourselves on the principle of no-contact as the principal guideline and fundamental right of indigenous peoples living in isolation, consecrated in the international standards of the rights of indigenous peoples. We reject the actions and initiatives that promote the forced contact made with these peoples. 2. We are extremely concerned about the setbacks experienced in the region in relation to the protection of indigenous peoples living in isolation and in general with respect to the land rights of indigenous peoples. In this sense, we think that the case of Brazil is paradigmatic and represents the most radical turning in relation to the reorientation of policies that tend to generate setbacks with respect to international landmarks and standards of protection of the indigenous peoples. 3. Nevertheless, the setbacks to PIACI protection policies are not an isolated trend in the region. In Bolivia, there have also been setbacks in policies that affect indigenous peoples and populations in isolation. These setbacks have reversed the legal advances of the previous years, applying extractive plans, mega-enterprise projects and expansion of the agricultural frontiers. In Peru and Ecuador, there had been a number of laws, regulations and guidelines for the protection of PIACI. However, there are policy measures that circumvent responsibility for the protection and intangibility of the indigenous peoples territories. Among other things, we can mention the recategorization of the territories to weaken their protection. Exceptions to the protection of PIACI are made where there are extractive interests, increase of granted areas for exploitation and institutional dismantling and reduction of fiscal resources intended for the protection of the PIACI. There has also been an exclusion of the indigenous peoples who share territory with the PIACI in the process of decision making, monitoring and social control. 4. In Venezuela, there are no specific protection rules for PIACI. Therefore we consider it important to urge the Asamblea Nacional Constituyente to adopt the recommendations that have been made by indigenous organizations, their allies and the Ombudsperson for stipulating a constitutional article for PIACI protection. 5. The implementation of megaprojects, infrastructure work, hydroelectric, roads, forestry concessions, hydrocarbons, and mining in indigenous peoples’ territories – granted with the endorsement of the governments – create an increase in social conflicts, degradation of ecosystems, and violations of fundamental human resources for PIACI. Also, there is a serious absence of state protection in PIACI territories that have been occupied by illicit and illegal activities, weakening the PIACI’s ability to control and protect their states. The current situation entails a real risk of genocide. The conclusions of the Regional Report illustrate how these policies are not the result of dynamics isolated in the national space, but a reflection of a regional scheme that constitutes a “development model” in the Amazon and the Chaco that contradicts the main normative and standards of protection of the PIACI rights. 6. Additionally, the impacts of this development model and its policies create consequences like threats and the criminalization of people and institutions related to indigenous rights, the weakening of Territorial Protection Statutes, as well as the refusal of states and companies to adopt the precautionary principles and other safeguards aimed at ensuring the intangibility of the territories of the PIACI. 7. This landscape demonstrates the lack of political will of governments to implement and observe the protection guidelines while the model of extractive development is consolidated in the region. States have been freezing their decisions on new demarcation for groups in isolation, which undermines the full recognition of their rights, as found in Peru and other countries in the region. While the number of PIACI records has increased between 2005 and 2019, as progress in research processes, official recognition of people in isolation and their territories continues to be a challenge in countries such as Paraguay, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela. In this Regional Report, we have information about 185 peoples living in isolation. From these, only 66 are confirmed by their governments. 8. We consider it indispensable to point out that indigenous peoples in isolation are found in a situation of vulnerability due to non-compliance and invisibility of their rights by the surrounding society. In conditions without these pressures and
Victory In Ecuador On Indigenous People’s Day!
Dear Land is Life Partners, Just yesterday, after 11 days of nationwide indigenous-led mobilizations that paralyzed the country, Ecuador’s indigenous movement compelled their government to prioritize their demands over those of the International Monetary Fund, an important victory for indigenous organizing and pluri-national democracy, and a powerful blow to a 4.4 billion IMF-backed loan deal that seeks to restructure the Ecuadorian economy towards privatization, resource-extraction, and other severe neo-liberal economic reforms. As the dust settles, the indigenous movement is taking stock of the high costs of this struggle, with at least 7 dead and thousands arrested or injured, as well as the road ahead to demand accountability for brutal human rights violations by the Ecuadorian government. What comes next will define the future of Ecuador and indigenous peoples for generations to come. We would like to send a special thanks to Amazon Frontlines and Amazon Watch for helping us with this joint campaign. Our friends at Amazon Frontlines have been a key partner in supporting legal cases and sharing messages of our Indigenous allies. In that spirit, they have created a photo essay to share the struggle of the past 12 days. While today marks the 527th year anniversary since the arrival of the conquistadors to the Americas – a day formerly known to many as Columbus Day is now rightfully known as Indigenous People’s Day. We send strength and congratulations to our partners in Ecuador as they celebrate a victory for indigenous peoples and self-determination. For more updates, please follow our partners CONAIE and CONFENIAE as they continue their work on the ground.
Humanitarian aid and legal support urgently needed for indigenous peoples in Ecuadorian protests
Tens of thousands of indigenous people have been marching across Ecuador since last week to protest a wave of neoliberal economic measures that threaten to lock the country in a deepening cycle of inequality, corruption, environmental degradation, and natural resource extraction. In response, the Ecuadorian Government has declared a State of Emergency, facilitating increased military and police violence, arbitrary detentions, and restrictions on freedom of association and mobility. Hundreds of indigenous protesters have been jailed, including Land is Life partner Marlon Santi, who was held overnight on Thursday of last week. We are alarmed by the deaths announced by CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador) and also by yesterday’s attack by governmental forces on the safe zones that were providing medical attention to the injured, and housing children and indigenous peoples. Human rights groups have issued reports citing widespread human rights violations. DONATE TODAY By making a donation now, 100% of your donations will go to: Medicine, food and blankets to the tens of thousands of people arriving in Quito Legal costs to defend and free hundreds of indigenous protestors detained arbitrarily
Land is Life Report: Peoples Living in Voluntary Isolation in the Amazon
Land is Life Releases People’s Living in Voluntary Isolation regional report at Lima Convening For over two years Land is Life has worked with 10 indigenous organizations and subject experts to support the development of a report on the situation facing Indigenous Peoples Living in Voluntary Isolation in the Amazon and El Chaco regions, as well as potential threats to their lands and territories. Today we are proud to release the results of this effort, the most comprehensive report on the topic in the past decade: Indigenous Peoples Living in Voluntary Isolation: Territories and development in the Amazon and El Chaco Regions – Regional Report. One of the report’s most critical findings is the identification and verification of more than double the number of indigenous groups living in voluntary isolation than previously formally recognized. Land is Life is dedicated to supporting these populations as they confront the issues that impact their right to self-determination and protection of their lands and territories. In order to follow up on the success of the report and the urgency of these issues, Land is Life has gathered over 60 stakeholders, including contributors to the report and experts on the subject in Lima, Peru. This gathering is being held in anticipation of the upcoming IUCN III meeting on Latin American and Caribbean Congress of Protected Areas on October 14-17, 2019. The report provides a clear overview of the status of land rights recognition for these groups, as well as maps that identify the extractive and development projects that threaten those lands and territories. It additionally offers an analysis of the existing opportunities to protect the lives of community members and the biocultural diversity of their lands and territories. We are pleased to share the final version of the report today and look forward to sharing the outcomes of the gathering this week, as well as supporting the working group as they begin to execute the agenda established together in Lima. Land is Life sincerely thanks all of our partners and contributors to this critical report. Read report: Land is life 25-septiembre-2019.
With Your Help, Indigenous Communities Are Fighting Back Against The Amazon Fires
Drone footage from historic Amazon fires taken in an Indigenous community of El Gran Chaco and Chiquitania in Bolivia. As cattle ranchers and agricultural interests continue to burn thousands of acres of forest across Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, I’m writing to you with an update on how your crucial support is helping frontline indigenous communities fight back against this crisis. Since late August, when images of the fires gripped world headlines, our joint-campaign with Amazon Frontlines has raised $180,442 from 4,318 online donors. Together, we have sent 100% of these funds directly to Indigenous organizations and communities affected by the fires. Your support is being used by Indigenous frontlines’ brigades to fight encroaching fires, while also rebuilding their communities, re-establishing crops, and re-constructing ceremonial houses. We are committed to keeping you informed about how your funds are being deployed to best serve indigenous peoples, who are risking their lives to protect their lands and livelihoods from this global assault on our planet’s most important rainforest. In the coming weeks, we will be organizing multiple trips for indigenous filmmakers from the Upper Amazon to document the perspectives and stories, and amplify the voices of indigenous peoples affected by these fires across Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. As the fires continue to rage across the Amazon rainforest during this dry season, urgent action and mobilization have never been so necessary. There’s still time to donate and show your support, if you haven’t already.