***********************************************
WORLDWIDE
FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS
Venezuela's
Violations of Indigenous Rights
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Forest
Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises
October
7, 1995
OVERVIEW
& SOURCE
The
World Rainforest Movement reports on a new publication which
documents
" intensifying pressure on Venezuela's indigenous
peoples." The Venezuelan policy of promoting rapid
development of
the
interior of the country is leading to the takeover of
indigenous
lands as well as increased epidemics and violence.
This
item was posted in econet's rainfor.general conference.
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Written 6:33 PM Sep 29, 1995 by gn:wrm in igc:rainfor.genera
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---------- "VENEZUELA: VIOLATIONS OF INDIGENOUS" ---------- */
From:
Forest Peoples Programme <wrm>
Subject:
VENEZUELA: VIOLATIONS OF INDIGENOUS RIGHTS
______________________________________________________________
WORLD RAINFOREST MOVEMENT
_____________________________________________________________
PRESS
INFORMATION 29
SEPTEMBER 1995
VENEZUELA: NEW REPORT DETAILS VIOLATION OF
INDIGENOUS RIGHTS
A
shocking new report from the World Rainforest Movement
documents
the intensifying pressure on Venezuela's indigenous
peoples.
Based on detailed field investigations and the testimony
of
local indigenous and environmental organisations, the report
shows
how the Government's policies of rapid development in the
interior
are leading to the wholesale takeover of Indian lands
by
ranchers, loggers, miners, hydropower schemes and eco-tourism.
Conflicts
with indigenous communities are increasing, with
numerous
instances of violence and killings of Indians, including
by
members of the security forces. Epidemics ravage groups
deprived
of health care but exposed to invading miners. Foreign
mining
companies have been given free access to Indian lands.
The document,
prepared as a submission to the International
Labour
Organisation, documents serious violations of Venezuela's
obligations
under international law, as well as a disregard of
the
Constitution and laws of the country.
The
present Government is now intensifying its efforts to open
up the
interior and has adopted an aggressive policy of frontier
occupation
which is indifferent and even hostile to the Indians.
Further
abuses are inevitable without a change of policy.
Marcus
Colchester, author of the report, notes:
'The situation is deplorable. The
Venezuelan State is
imposing its authority and sovereignty on
the indigenous
inhabitants of the territory to which it
claims
jurisdiction, yet it is failing to uphold
their rights both
as indigenous peoples and as Venezuelan
citizens.'
The
report calls on the ILO to send an investigative mission to
Venezuela
to verify the situation and advise the Government on
how its
laws and policies should be revised in line with
international
standards. It calls on the Venezuelan Government
to
freeze the handout of logging and mining concessions on Indian
lands
and a halt to other projects, such as road-building,
colonisation,
frontier garrisons and hydropower.
'Venezuela:
Violations of Indigenous Rights' by Marcus
Colchester,
Forest Peoples Programme, World Rainforest Movement
with
Survival International.
For
copies contact: Forest Peoples Programme, World Rainforest
Movement,
8 Chapel Row, Chadlington, OX7 3NA, England
Tel:
01608 676 691 Fax: + 44 1608 676 743 Email: wrm@gn.apc.org
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