GUARANI INDIANS MARCH TO SAVE THEIR CULTURE AND RAINFORESTS
On September 15th, 1993, some 400 Guarani men, women and children will leave
their villages and begin a nearly 300-kilometer march to Pasadas, the
capital 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
bldg; some will begin a hunger strike. The Guarani plan to remain camped in the
plaza until the government of Misiones takes the necessary actions to:
1. Repeal 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.
2. Re-enact Law 2435, which recognizes the human, economic, and cultural
rights of the Guarani people.
3. Consult with the "Asociacion de Comunidades del Pueblo Guarani" on the
planning and implementeation of all development schemes that affect Guarani
communities.
There are approximately 6,000 Guarani people living in the province of Misiones.
Their home is noe of the southernmost tropical forests in the world. Despite
heavy pressure by the surrounding 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 malnutrition and outbreaks of non-native
illnesses to which the Guarani 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 to 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 the Argentine state.
In June 1987, in a progressive act of legislation, LAW 2435 was sanctioned by
the Parliament of Misiones. Unfortunately, just seven months later, there was
a change of political authorities in Misiones. The new governor 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.
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 rights or traditional social structures.
It is the politics of Apartheid.
For the Guarani, Law 2727 has meant deforestation, colonization, violent
displacement, poverty, malnutrition, and disease. Although the situation has
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 territory. 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 communities;
to the governmental authorities--The Provincial Government of Misiones, the
Ministry of Public Health,a and the Office of Guarani Affairs--medical
assistance has been denied (as one government functionary noted: "Those who
have died
are only Indians").
In addition to the threats posed by the government and business interests in
Misiones, much of the reminder of the ancestral territories of the Guarani are
slated for development projects that are financed by the World Bank, IDB,
and the UN Development Programme.
"Hydrovia", a grand waterway scheme, will affect over 20.000 Guarani in
Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay. On the Parana and Uruguay rivers there are,
under construction or in planning, a series of large hydroelectric dams, many
of which will affect Guarani communities and territories. In recent years
many Guarani have suffered the effects of 'development' projects; none have
been fairly compensated; most are left landless and must migrate to the slums
outside of the cities. Without adequate laws to protect their rights, the
Guarani and their rainforests will soon disappear.
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 concerned international community bear witness to
this march, as death threats have been issued against Guarani leaders.
International attention can pressure the Argentinean government to repeal
Law 2727 and restore Law 2435, ensuring the Guarani's Indigenous Human Rights,
and the protection of their rainforest from exploitation and destruction.
Please send letters to:
Carlos Menem,
President of Argentina
Casa de Gobierno
Balcare # 50
1000 Buenos Aires, Argentina (Fax 54-1-331-6376
Dr. Julio Humada
President, Camara de Representantes
Palacio Legislativo
3300 Posadas, Misiones
Argentina
Dn. Federico R. Puerta
Governor, Casa de Gobierno
3300 Posadas, Misiones,
Argentina
Send copies of letters and responses to:
Rainforest Defense Fund
PO Box 38-2104
Cambridge, MA 02238
Petitions read:
TO: President Dr. Carlos Menem, President of Argentina; The Government of
Missines.
We, the undersigned, support the Guarani Peoples of Misiones and insistently
urge the Governments of Argentina and Misiones:
1. To re-enact Law 2435, which will restore the rights of the Indigenous
communities in Misiones.
2. To repeal Law 2727, which institutes a system of Apartheid.
3. To implement Law 2704, which gives Guarani communities legal title to their
lands
4. To respect the Human Rights of the Guarani Peoples; provide medical
assistance to communities in need, and put an end to the threats and
violence being used to force them off their lands
5. To consult with the "Asociacion de Comunidades del Pueblo Guarani" on the
planning and implementation of all development schemes that affect the
Guarani Communities.
Thank you