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Title: UNITED NATIONS: Indigenous peoples demand right to self-rule
new york, dec 11 (ips) -- indigenous groups from latin america
have asked the united nations general assembly to recognise their
right to self-rule and to their ancestral lands during the start
of activities for the international year of the world's indigenous
peoples this week.
during the celebration, which began on dec. 10, u.n.
secretary-general boutros boutros-ghali stressed the need to help
the world's 300 million indigenous peoples who now suffer from
social and economic discrimination.
"the right to decide on all affairs relating to our political,
economic, social, spiritual and cultural life will help us," the
ethnic groups said in a joint declaration.
the document denounced the economic development practices of u.n.
member-states which destroy the natural resources protected within
indigenous territories.
the more democracy is talked about in the world, the more
repression, genocide and misery the indigenous peoples of the
americas have to go through, it added.
the groups also asked u.n. member-states for a "sincere
compromise" through concrete projects of technical and financial
cooperation and more respect for indigenous education, culture,
religion, philosophy, science and sacred objects.
"human rights, land and the environment are the keys to
understanding the situation of brazil's indigenous groups," said
brazilian ambassador ronaldo mota saldenberg, who also noted the
need to promote health education and preserve these peoples'
cultural patrimony.
chilean ambassador juan somavia said nobody could know more about
poverty, unemployment and neglect by society than the ethnic
peoples living in the present world. they must be allowed to
participate directly in the united nations, he said.
he said the world could learn could learn much from these people
who are known for the historically harmonious relationship between
their methods of production and the environment.
but some ethnic leaders present at the ceremonies were dubious of
the results which the declaration would bring. "a long time must
pass before at least 10 percent of the promises here will see
light," eusebio loreto of mexico's nahua community said.
cristina menguez, of argentina's coya indians, said she doubted
that governments would grant the the ethnic groups' demands for
land and recognition of their cultural rights.
(end/ips/trd-sp/mg/er/cir/92)