Message-ID: <01I8RRX6I8NA000BOU@TrentU.ca> Date: Tue, 27 Aug 1996 13:00:00 -0400 From: DANIEL POWELL <mailto:DPOWELL@TRENTU.CA> Subject: FYI and action To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
Dear colleagues and friends,As I write hundreds of aboriginal children, women and men from the Chaco region of NW Argentina are peacefully occupying land next to a recently built international bridge on the Pilcomayo River between Argentina and Paraguay.
The people are protesting the lack of movement on the part of the Government of the Province of Salta to grant them a collective title over the public lands that they have lived in since long before colonization. They are also protesting against the breach in the Government's commitment to consult with the aboriginal communities in the area before launching any new infrastructure projects.
The following is a letter that I was asked to translate and issue at this time by the leaders of the communities. Their hope is that you will support and publicize their grievances and help them attain their goals.
R. Daniel Powell Trent University
Association of Aboriginal Communities
LHAKA HONHAT
San Luis, Sta. Victoria Este, Rivadavia B. Norte CP 4561, Pcia. de Salta, Argentina ________
FOR THE TITLE TO OUR LANDS: OCCUPATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL BRIDGE OVER THE PILCOMAYO(LA PAZ)
For many years we have asked the GOVERNMENT of SALTA to give us the title to the land where we have always lived. We sent letters. Meetings are set, new laws and decrees are issued, and more studies. We are now through the fourth Government. But we receive no response. Years go by and our lands are impoverished, because the people who have come from outside to occupy them do not know how to care for them. Years go by and we become poorer. Though we now have Argentine documents we are not respected. They do not respect the fact that this land is ours. We are mocked by saying "wait a little more...". But while we wait, they continue with their projects: they occupy our lands, build their roads, fences and towns; and now they build their bridge in La Paz and say that we have to move to leave room for them. We are not little animals that are on the loose. We are not dogs whose owner chases them when he comes to sit by his fire. We are the flower of the earth that God himself sowed to grow and live in these places. We have asked that the Authorities insure that we have the title to our lands before launching great projects where we live. They are public lands and the laws recognize our right to their possession and ownership. They talk about Mercosur, but for us land is more secure. Given the lack of response and the looming inauguration of the bridge, the thirty-five communities in our Association, have decided: to peacefully occupy the lands next to the bridge on August 25. We will remain there until the Government of Salta gives us a concrete response to our request. Let us take this step of hope. We ask you that you cooperate, sending supporters to accompany us in our just claim and observers to insure that acts of violence against our families do not occur. We ask that you be at Mision La Paz the day before, that is on August 24. Once the occupation is under way, we ask you that you send letters in our support to the Governor of Salta, Dr. Juan Carlos Romero, FAX 54-87-360400 and to the President of the Argentine Republic, Dr. Carlos S. Menem, FAX 54-1-343-2249 o 54-1-331-7976.
July 30, 1996 (Signed by: Humberto Diaz, Coordinator; Hilario Dixon, Secretary; Francisco Perez, Treasurer.) _________________________________________________________________ PEOPLES: Mataco (Wichi), Chorote (Iyojwaja), Chulup¡ (Niwakle), Toba (Kom'lek) and Tapiete (Tapy'y)