Via NY Transfer News Collective * All the News that Doesn't Fit
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
August 20, 1993
GUARANI PEOPLE OF ARGENTINA TO MARCH AGAINST APARTHEID
On September 15th, 1993, some 400 Guarani men, women, and children
will leave their villages and begin a nearly 300-kilometer march
to Posadas, the capitol of the province of Misiones, in northern
Argentina. When they arrive, they will set up camp in the Plaza 9
de Julio, in front of the main government building, and begin a
hunger strike. They plan to remain there until the government
repeals Law 2727, which institutes a system of apartheid, and is
being used to fracture the Guarani culture and destroy the unique
rainforest ecosystem in which they live.
There are approximately 6,000 Guarani people living in the
province of Misiones. Despite heavy pressure by the enveloping
society, they have maintained their traditional political,
economic, cultural, and social systems. Since the 1980's, the
government of Misiones has steadily intensified the exploitation
of natural resources on Guarani territories; with logging, mining,
tourism and the construction of hydroelectric dams. The land that
the Guarani depend on for food, shelter and medicine is being
destroyed at an alarming rate. This has produced a dramatic rise
in child malnutrition and outbreaks of non-native illnesses to
which they have no immunity.
In an effort to defend their territories and their culture, the
Guarani have been urging the government to recognize their rights
as indigenous peoples, and develop their lands in a rational and
sustainable manner. In 1986, indigenous leaders proposed the
sanction of a law (Law 2435) that would recognize the land rights
of the Guarani and give them a degree of autonomy and
self-determination within Argentina. In June 1987, in a
progressive act of legislation, Law 2435 was sanctioned by the
Parliament of Misiones. But lamentably, 7 months later, there was
a change in the political authorities in Misiones. The new
Governor, Dr. Julio Humada, acting solely on behalf of business
interests, immediately deregulated Law 2435, and in June 1988
stopped all emergency assistance to Guarani communities. As a
result, over 35 children and several elders died of malnutrition.
In December 1988, the Parliament of Misiones passed Law 2727, or
the 'New Law of Aborigines', which put all Guarani communities
under direct control of the state, without respect for their
traditional social structures. It is the politic of apartheid.
For the Guarani, Law 2727 has meant deforestation, colonization,
violence, displacement, poverty, malnutrition, and disease.
Although the situation has recently been denounced at The United
Nations, and in the European Parliament, the government of
Misiones continues to destroy the Guarani, and force them off
their ancestral lands. Logging companies are encouraged to
illegally clear-cut Guarani territories, communities have been
burned to the ground, and communal gardens are being destroyed.
Those who try to speak out against this violence are threatened,
beaten, or illegally jailed. At present, an outbreak of
tuberculosis is sweeping through several Guarani communities; at
least 19 children have died. In spite of appeals made by Guarani
leaders to the governmental authorities- the provincial government
of Misiones, the Ministry of Public Health, and the Office of
Guarani Affairs- medical assistance has been denied. (As one
functionary pejoratively noted: "Those who have died are only
Indians").
Feeling that they have exhausted the possibility of a negotiated
settlement, and fearing for their future, the Guarani have decided
to march on the capital. It is critical that the international
community bear witness to this march, as death threats have been
issued against Guarani leaders. International attention will
pressure the Argentinean government to repeal Law 2727 and restore
Law 2435, ensuring the Guarani's human rights, and the protection
of their rainforest from exploitation and destruction.
-30-
Campaign assistance requested, in the form of publicity,
petition-distribution, fundraising, and observers.
For more information, contact e-mail:
Brian Keane, Rainforest Defense Fund
mzurkow@igc.apc.org
tel/fax: (508) 229-2660
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