Conflict on deforestation along Route 86, in the province of Salta
Below a translation of three newspaper articles on the deforestation that affects indigenous Wichí communities that live along route 86, in the North of Argentina. Source: Nuevo Diario de Salta
23 November 2008
Because of deforestation, the government has been denounced for attempted genocide
Authorities of three indigenous communities in the San Martin department filed a complaint against the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the province of Salta for "attempted genocide" because of the continuing "massive deforestation endorsed" by the Ministry, which threaten the livelihood of the indigenous inhabitants.
The complaint was made the 20th of this month in the Police Station number 42 of Tartagal and was signed by Juan Vega, Eduardo Rivero, Jose Rivero, Roque Miranda and Florentino Pérez, on behalf of the Wichí communities of Sopfwayuk (Kilometer 14), Chowayuk (Kilometer 12) and Hoktek T `oi (18 kilometer), located at the side of the national route 86 in the jurisdiction of the city of Tartagal. "Our traditional territory on the western band of the Itiyuro river basin is subject to a massive deforestation program conducted by third parties endorsed by the Ministry of Environment of Salta," says the complaint in which it detailed that at the moment "new deforestation activities are taking place within our ancestral habitat, covering an area which we estimate at 10,000 hectares. The affected area includes the land between Paraje Alcoba and the Wichi community of Tonono, on the axis of Route 86", with registration numbers 17,214, 28,438, 28,984, 28,985 and 1897. The indigenous authorities recalled that since 2004 they have denounced the deforestation that was pretended to be carry out in these plots, "while at the same time we have contested in the former Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Salta the administrative procedures relating to the requests for deforestation permit. " The indigenous, who ratified their "resounding rejection of the claims of those who want to liquidate the native forest that constitutes our way of life and the foundation of our cultural identity," accused the provincial government of having ignored "coolly" their voice, "in open violation of our constitutional and legal rights.” "The environmental authorities are fully aware of our legitimate opposition to the destruction of the environment that sustains us - and that traditionally and rightfully (by law) belongs to us - as well as the negative impact that the deforestation has for our physical and cultural existence. Yet these environmental authorities approved -illegally- everything that goes against environmental sustainability and the survival of those who inhabit it, thereby incurring the crime of attempted genocide", they stated. The presentation is based on the Argentine Constitution, the Constitution of the province of Salta and international treaties such as ILO Convention 169 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
26 November 2008
Because of deforestation, the government has been denounced for attempted genocide
Authorities of three indigenous communities in the San Martin department filed a complaint against the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of the province of Salta for "attempted genocide" because of the continuing "massive deforestation endorsed" by the Ministry, which threaten the livelihood of the indigenous inhabitants.
The complaint was made the 20th of this month in Police Station number 42 of Tartagal and was signed by Juan Vega, Eduardo Rivero, Jose Rivero, Roque Miranda and Florentino Pérez, on behalf of the Wichí communities of Sopfwayuk (Kilometer 14), Chowayuk (Kilometer 12) and Hoktek T `oi (18 kilometer), located at the side of the national route 86 in the jurisdiction of the city of Tartagal. "Our traditional territory on the western bank of the Itiyuro river basin is subject to a massive deforestation program conducted by third parties endorsed by the Ministry of Environment of Salta," says the complaint in which it detailed that at the moment "new deforestation activities are taking place within our ancestral habitat, covering an area which we estimate at 10,000 hectares.
The affected area includes the land between Paraje Alcoba and the Wichí community of Tonono, on the axis of Route 86 ", with registration numbers 17,214, 28,438, 28,984, 28,985 and 1897. The indigenous authorities recalled that since 2004 they have denounced the deforestation that was pretended to be carried out in these plots, "while at the same time we have contested in the former Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Salta the administrative procedures relating to the requests for a deforestation permit.” The indigenous who ratified their "resounding rejection of the claims of those who want to liquidate the native forest that constitutes our way of life and the foundation of our cultural identity," accused the provincial government of having ignored "coolly" their voice, "in open violation of our constitutional and legal rights." "The environmental authorities are fully aware of our legitimate opposition to the destruction of the environment that sustains us - and that traditionally and rightfully (by law) belongs to us - as well as the negative impact that the deforestation has for our physical and cultural existence. Yet these environmental authorities approved -illegally- everything that goes against environmental sustainability and the survival of those who inhabit it, thereby incurring the crime of attempted genocide", they stated. The presentation is based on the Argentine Constitution, the Constitution of the province of Salta and international treaties such as ILO Convention 169 and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights.
28 November 2008
Deforestation: Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development proposes a plan of containment for Aborigines
The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, Julio Nasser, said yesterday that the provincial government should "organize an important plan of containment” to meet the needs of Aboriginal communities whose livelihoods are threatened by the continuing deforestation. Nasser was consulted by FM Ya, the Radio of Nuevo Diario, on the complaint of attempted genocide by communities of the Wichí. People located in the Itiyuro river basin, along the national route 86, are running out of space to practice hunting and to collect fruits and medicinal plants. Last week FM Ya denounced the resurgence of deforestation.
The Minister said that a commission was supposedly sent yesterday, "to check and monitor the authorisation” of this deforestation. , which he understood “was made in a timely manner and followed official procedures, therefore generating the rights acquired to the owners."
He said that according to the results of this survey and control he will take "appropriate decisions".
"What has to prevail is the democratic order and responsible ways of doing things," replied Nasser when objections were raised about speaking of acquired rights of the holders of the land titles. The Minister gave the impression that these land titles should prevail over the provisions of the Constitution and international treaties that recognize ancestral rights.
"What we have to do is to seek an integral solution to this whole procedure. (...) It is absolutely not the case that the need for communities and peoples are not recognized," he added.
- “Are the ancestral rights of Aboriginal people abstract or do they exist in valid law?” – was then asked to the Minister.
The Minister ratified that the ancestral rights are safeguarded by law, but that the provincial government gave rights to the owners of private plots of land as well. Following the Minster, the provincial government has to exercise power from the viewpoint of monitoring environmental norms.
When he was asked about the arrangement that his Ministry offered to the Communities affected by the deforestation, like the Communities in the department of San Martin, Nasser argued that they should move forward with the survey of indigenous community properties (under Act 26,160). Following Nasser, his Ministry should make a combined effort with the Ministry in charge of the portfolios of Justice and Human Development, "basically" to offer a plan of social containment. "Link, he said, the social with the environmental".
"You have to build social containment in the sense of on-going support; the localization of the communities; and ensure them the possibility of having the practice of hunting and gathering through the biological and ecological corridors. This in order to sustain these communities and to give them governmental attendance, for example through the supply of drinking water and other situations that are minimum conditions of life," he added.
The communities argue that before making a zoning plan for the forests, land tenure should be regularized. Law 26,160 [Law of emergency in the matter of possession and property of land traditionally inhabited by indigenous communities] became effective two years ago and has not even started the forecast survey.
