Amazon Indians Call for Greater Say in Development Decisions
8/31/97
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Headline: Amazon Indians Call for Greater Say in Development
Decisions
Source: CNN
Date: 8/31/97
Copyright 1997: The Associated Press
Copyright 1997: Cable News Network, Inc.
BOA VISTA, Brazil (AP) -- Amazon Indian leaders
ended a five-day conference on indigenous rights
Sunday, calling for a greater role in regional
development decisions.
Seventy-one delegates from Brazil, Venezuela and
Guyana discussed large-scale international
projects and their impacts on Indian populations
and the environment at the Amazonian Tri-Country
Indigenous Summit.
The summit began Wednesday in Boa Vista, capital
of Roraima state 1,600 miles (2,500 km) northwest
of Rio de Janeiro.
"It's not the case that we don't want development.
But I'd like to see more consultation and consent
for these projects. The countries must also pay
due respect to the land rights of indigenous
peoples," said Jean La Rose, an Arawak Indian from
Guyana and one of the leaders of the Amer-Indian
People's Association.
During the conference indigenous leaders shared
information about development projects and heard
from government officials and representatives from
companies involved in such projects.
Brazilian and Venezuelan Indians were largely
concerned about adverse effects stemming from the
planned Guri transmission line that will pass
through the lands of several Indian groups and
transmit electricity from Venezuela to Brazil.
Brazilian Indians fear the transmission line will
provide more energy for mining operations in the
area.
Guyanan Indians were concerned by the increasing
onslaught of mining and timber companies, La Rose
said. The country has one of the world's largest
expanses of virgin rain forest.
During a larger summit in May, indigenous leaders
from nine Amazon Basin countries warned that
development had already caused severe
environmental damage, polluting prime fishing
areas and devastating hunting grounds.