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WORLDWIDE FOREST/BIODIVERSITY CAMPAIGN NEWS

Indigenous Peoples and Maroons in Suriname Meet to Condemn Logging & Mining

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Forest Networking a Project of Ecological Enterprises

http://forests.org/

1/29/97

OVERVIEW, SOURCE & COMMENTARY by EE

The World Rainforest Movement reports on the Suriname Gran Krutu meeting of

indigenous peoples in November 1996. There, opposition was voiced to the

Surinamese government's policy of handing out their ancestral lands in

concession to multinational mining and logging companies. The meeting

demanded that their rights to own and control their lands and territories

be recognized in Surinamese law in accordance with international human

rights standards. Suriname, unlike most other Western states, does not

recognize legal rights of their indigenous population. They "questioned

how the government found it so easy to grant hundreds of thousands of

hectares of land to a mining company but refused to recognize even one

hectare of their land rights." Updates are provided concerning logging

concessions in Suriname, including the suspension of one very large

Indonesian project. The text of the declaration from the meeting is also

provided. This item was posted in econet's rainfor.general conference.

g.b.

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** Topic: SURINAME: GRAN KRUTU REJECTESS tncT **

** Written 5:29 PM Jan 27, 1997 by gn:wrm in cdp:rainfor.genera **

From: Forest Peoples Programme <wrm>

Subject: SURINAME: GRAN KRUTU REJECTESS tncTNCs

______________________________________________________________

FOREST PEOPLES PROGRAMME

______________________________________________________________

27 January 1997 Information Update

SURINAME: Indigenous Peoples and Maroons in Suriname Hold a Second Gran

Krutu (Great Gathering)

Indigenous and Maroon leaders in Suriname held a second Gran Krutu (Great

Gathering), November 20, 21 and 22, 1996 in the Indigenous community of

Galibi. The first Gran Krutu was held in the Maroon community of Asindon-

Opo in August 1995. The main purposes of the Gran Krutu were to strengthen

cooperation and unity amongst Indigenous and Maroon peoples, to voice

opposition to the policy of the Surinamese government to hand out their

ancestral lands in concession to multinational mining and logging companies

and to demand that their rights to own and control their lands and

territories be recognized in Surinamese law in accordance with

international human rights standards. In addition to the Surinamese

delegates, the Second Gran Krutu was attended by a representative of the

Amerindian Peoples Association of Guyana and by a coalition of

organizations from French Guiana.

At the outset the participants reaffimed the conclusions and results of the

first Gran Krutu and asserted their fundamental right to self-

determination. They stated that they do not wish to separate from

Suriname, but that their rights to autonomy and self-government must be

respected and recognized in the Constitution of Suriname.

The legal recognition of land rights was the most discussed issue.

Suriname, in contrast to most other states in the Western Hemisphere does

not recognize that Indigenous peoples and Maroons have any land or other

rights under law. It was pointed out that land rights for Indigenous and

Tribal peoples are internationally recognized human rights, fundamental to

their survival as culturally distinct peoples, and that the Surinamese

government is in violation of international human rights treaties which it

has signed. The Indigenous and Maroon leaders stressed that this failure

to recognize their rights has taken on additional significance and urgency

given the policy of the government to grant concessions to multinational

mining and logging companies that encroach on or encompass their ancestral

lands and territories. These concessions are granted without any

consultation with the affected communities, in most cases even without

their knowledge, and with little or no environmental controls in place.

It was noted that the contracts for the inconceivably large logging

concessions, totaling between 3-5 million hectares, to Berjaya Berhad,

Suri-Atlantic and MUSA of Indonesia had been suspended by the government.

These concessions has been vigorously opposed by the Indigenous and Maroon

peoples and the international community since they were announced. The

Second Gran Krutu stated that suspension of these contracts was not

enough, rather they should be thrown out all together. Perhaps in response

to this statement, President J. Wijdenbosch announced in January 2, 1997,

that the large concession would not be granted; the largest concession that

will be permitted will be 150,000 hectares. Berjaya's President, Surrendre

Mungra, who is brother of the Minister of Finance and former legal counsel

of Berjaya, Atta Mungra, appeared pleased that his company could officially

start working in Suriname: previously they were working illegally through a

front company.

However, the President's statement leaves many questions unanswered, for

instance, can the same company hold more that one concession at a time? -

the answer would appear to be yes, and it is also the case that the entire

area proposed under the original 3-5 million hectare concessions applied

for by Berjaya, MUSA and Suri-Atlantic is available for concession again.

Also, the government's forestry service is still incapable of monitoring

logging operations in existing concessions, how will it also monitor what

presumably will be a large number of 150,000 hectare concessions?

The conclusion to be drawn from this is that the only lesson the government

has drawn from the fiasco of the large timber concessions is that they were

too big and that this was the only problem.

One multinational, Canadian gold mining company, Golden Star Resources

(based in Denver, Colorado), was singled out by the Gran Krutu, which

demanded that its activities be suspended until the implications thereof

were better understood and Indigenous and Maroon lands rights were legally

recognized and the boundaries of their territories had been demarcated.

They also questioned how the government found it so easy to grant hundreds

of thousands of hectares of land to a mining company but refused to

recognize even one hectare of their land rights. A representative of the

Amerindian Peoples Association of Guyana also informed the Gran Krutu about

Golden Star's activities in Guyana and the disregard of Indigenous rights

associated with them.

Golden Star is best known for its involvement in the OMAI mine disaster in

Guyana, which released approximately 4 million cubic litres of cyanide

laced effluent in the Essequibo river and for its ongoing dispute with the

Maroon community of Nieuw Koffiekamp in Suriname. At Nieuw Koffiekamp,

Golden Star security personnel and the police working with them have be

implicated in threatening and harassing community members by using live

ammunition to frighten them away from areas in which the company was

exploring for gold. Villagers also complain that they have been denied

access to their agricultural plots and hunting grounds by the security

force and by barriers that the company has erected.

In a September 26, 1996 press release, Golden Star stated that it is

"inevitable" that the people of Nieuw Koffiekamp will be relocated to make

way for their operations. This community was relocated once already in the

mid-1960's to make way for a hydroelectric dam constructed to power the

bauxite refining operations of another multinational mining company, US

based ALCOA. The Gran Krutu expressed its solidarity with the people

of Nieuw Koffiekamp and stated its opposition to any effort to relocate the

community without its free and informed consent as required by

international human rights law. Participants from other communities who

now find themselves in a concession held by Golden Star, expressed the fear

that they may be subjected to the same treatment as the people of Nieuw

Koffiekamp or that their rivers may one day be full of cyanide.

The Indigenous community of Kwamalasemutu stated that they had been

pressured into signing an agreement with Golden Star, who had gone so far

as to bring ex-military dictator, Desi Bouterse (and present Chairman of

the ruling National Democratic Party) to the village twice to convince them

that if they didn't sign the agreement they would never get "development"

in their village. The village leaders had previously said no to Golden

Star's demands four times, before signing an agreement in November. The

Indigenous community of Casipora also indicated that Golden Star's

employees had threatened them, including bring Bouterse over to talk to

them, after they had objected to Golden Star's presence on their land.

At the last meeting in Kwamalasemutu the headman's translator was not

present and the company used their own translator, who by some accounts

painted a very rosy picture of Golden Star and the impact of its

operations. Ironically, the community and its land had been part of a

concession, which also includes a national park, held by Golden Star's

Surinamese partner, NaNa Resources, dating back to the period of military

rule when it was granted by Bouterse to NaNa Resources. The community came

to the Gran Krutu to repudiate the agreement and request support from other

communities. The Association of Indigenous Village Leaders in Suriname

(VIDS) has promised to investigate and take action on this matter.

Another important point of discussion revolved around the establishment of

a governmental Commission, under the Ministries of Natural Resources and

Regional Development, to examine the "problem of land rights in the

interior of Suriname." This Commission takes the place of the Redan

Commission which was installed a number of years previously to examine the

same question - it did not submit any public conclusions and

recommendations. The Gran Krutu stated that it was entirely unclear about

the purpose and mandate of this Commission and expressed its outrage that

the government could discuss their rights without the full participation of

their legitimate representatives. They said that "this once again

demonstrates a lack of respect for our human rights" and demanded that all

and any future discussions relating to Indigenous and Maroon lands and

resources must take place with the participation and consent of

representatives of the interior.

However, this Commission, which consists of first and foremost loyal

members of the National Democratic Party, continues its work and has held a

number of hearing. These hearing are private and to date the Association

of Indigenous Village Leaders has been excluded. The second phase of the

Commission's work will be to travel into the interior to hold hearings in

Maroon and Indigenous villages and then, presumably, to present a report

with conclusions and recommendations. The prospects for meaning dialogue

are limited and one has to question the credentials of the committee

members to address the subject. Public statements indicate that they know

next to nothing about land rights and appears to show that they see no

reason to change existing law or to recognize collective rights.

Undoubtedly this issue will become more contentious as time passes and

Indigenous and Maroons are already mobilizing in opposition to the

Commission.

FULL TEXT OF THE RESOLUTIONS OF THE MEETING CAN BE FOUND ON THE

EMAIL CONFERENCE gn:conf:rainfor.general

For further information contact: Forest Peoples Programme,

1c Fosseway Business Centre, Stratford Road,

Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9NQ, England.

Tel: 01608 652893 Fax: +44 1608 652878 Email:wrm@gn.apc.org

______________________________________________________________

** End of text from cdp:rainfor.genera **

/** rainfor.genera: 159.0 **/

** Topic: SURINAME: GRAN KRUTU RESOLUTIONS **

** Written 5:29 PM Jan 27, 1997 by gn:wrm in cdp:rainfor.genera **

From: Forest Peoples Programme <wrm>

______________________________________________________________

FOREST PEOPLES PROGRAMME

______________________________________________________________

We reproduce below the final resolutions from the 'Gran Krutu' the second

great gathering of Indigenous and Maroon peoples of Suriname held in

November 1996:

GRAN KRUTU OF INDIGENOUS AND TRIBAL PEOPLES

GALIBI, 20, 21 AND 22, November 1996

We, participants of the Third Gran Krutu of the Indigenous Peoples and

Maroons, assembled at Galibi on November 20, 21 and 22, 1996, as Indigenous

Village-Leaders, Basia's and representatives of Indigenous women's

organizations, being the descendants of the first inhabitants of Suriname -

and the Maroons, tribal peoples since the 18th century, being the

descendants of those who fought themselves free from the oppression of

slavery;

We are pleased that we have succeeded, after our gatherings in Gransanti

(1994) and Asindon-Opo (1995), for the third time , to confirm and deepen

the unity between our peoples, the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples;

We are convinced that the unity between our peoples is of the greatest

importance to achieve peace, sustainable development in our territories and

the recognition of our human rights;

We first want to state that we have not gathered with the intention to

divide the territory of the Republic of Suriname or to secede ourselves

from the central government and that this has never been or could have been

our intention;

However, we are fully convinced that we have the right to assemble and to

demand the recognition of our right to self-determination and the right to

express our concerns about the failure of the government to recognize our

rights, in particular the right to own and control our lands and natural

resources, and that this is a violation of our fundamental human rights and

dignity as Indigenous and Maroon Peoples;

We are convinced that our human rights are violated by the granting of

concessions without our consent, to multinationals and others in our

territories, and that this presently forms a threat to our cultures, our

rights, the welfare of future generations and the graves of our ancestors;

Considering that international organizations, such as the United Nations,

the Organization of American States and the International labour

Organization recognize the rights of Indigenous and Tribal peoples, and

also the fact that many countries all over the world are now changing their

laws and are signing treaties such as the International Labour Convention

No. 169 on the rights of Indigenous and Tribal peoples (`ILO 169');

We stress the international character of this Gran Krutu, taking into

consideration the presence of a representative of the Amerindian Peoples

Association of Guyana and a delegation of various organizations from

French-Guyana;

Finally, considering that our traditional leaders, authorities and

dignitaries, as in recognition of our right to self-determination, deserve

the respect and recognition due to them from the government;

WE RESOLVE, AFTER EXTENSIVE COLLABORATION AND BEARING IN MIND THE

ABOVE, THE FOLLOWING:

RESOLUTIONS ACCEPTED AT THE GRAN KRUTU HELD AT GALIBI

NOVEMBER 20, 21 AND 22, 1996

1. REAFFIRMATION OF THE CHARTER AND RESOLUTIONS ACCEPTED AT THE

GRAN KRUTU 1995 HELD AT ASINDON-OPO AND COOPERATION BETWEEN

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND MAROONS

We reaffirm our support of the Charter of the Indigenous Peoples and

Maroons in Suriname and the resolutions which were accepted at the Gran

Krutu held at Asindon-Opo in August 1995, in particular the resolutions

concerning the right to self-determination, opposition to multinationals,

compensation for the victims of the internal war, sustainable development

and recognition of the land rights of the Indigenous Peoples and

Maroons.

We, Indigenous Peoples and Maroons, reaffirm in particular our definite

intention to work together and support each other as brothers and sisters

in our collective struggle for a better future for our children and

children's children.

We also reaffirm the resolutions which were accepted by the Third

Conference of Indigenous Village Leaders, held at Galibi on August 29th,

30th and September 1st 1996.

2. THE RIGHT TO SELF-DETERMINATION

We reaffirm resolution no.1, which was accepted on the Gran Krutu held at

Asindon-Opo, concerning the right to self-determination.

The right to self-determination is, among others, recognized in the Draft

Declaration of the United Nations on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In

this the right on self-determination is described as the right of

Indigenous Peoples to freely determine their political status, as well as

their economic, social and cultural development. This right is also

recognized in Article 1 of the International Covenant on Civil and

Political Rights, which has been ratified by Suriname.

By self-determination we mean the right to maintain our own traditional

authorities, the use our own legal systems and the free determination of

the development of our communities within our territories. The exclusive

disposition, control and administration of our territories and natural

resources is a fundamental condition for the effective exercise of our

right to self-determination as well as for the development of our present

communities and those who will come after us.

3. LAND RIGHTS

We demand that our fundamental Human Rights, to own and administer our

territories as well as our natural resources, is recognized legally,

including in the Constitution of the Republic of Suriname.

Our lands are of fundamental importance for our survival as Indigenous and

Tribal peoples. Without the land, forests and rivers there are no trees,

birds, animals and fish and we as Indigenous and Maroon Peoples will not be

able to survive. This relationship between our Mother Earth and the

maintenance of our culture is recognized by, among others, the Inter-

American Commission on Human Rights, the Human Rights Committee of the

United Nations and the International Labour Organization.

Suriname, as a member of these human rights treaties, is obliged to respect

and guarantee these rights. Suriname is also obliged to recognize these

rights by law and to provide measures for protection against violations of

these rights;

We, Indigenous peoples, the first inhabitants of Suriname and we, Maroons,

who fought for this land and have signed treaties to live in peace and

freedom in our territories, have to say that until now no Surinamese

government has recognized our right to own and control our territories and

natural resources;

Taking into account that Suriname is the only state in the western

hemisphere which does not recognize the territorial rights of Indigenous

and Tribal Peoples, we make an urgent appeal to the government to end this

situation and to undertake definite and concrete action, with our complete

participation and consent, and to recognize our rights on the basis of

international human rights principles.

4. SUPPORT FOR THE UNITED NATIONS' AND THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN

STATES' DECLARATIONS ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND THE DEMAND

THAT THE GOVERNMENT RATIFIES ILO 169

We support the Draft Declarations concerning the Rights of Indigenous

Peoples of the United Nations and the Organization of American states as

expressions of our human rights as Indigenous Peoples. We ask the

government to support these important documents and to give effect to these

rights in Suriname. We demand that the government starts a national

discussion on ILO 169, as promised in the Peace-Accord for National

Reconciliation in 1992, and that the government invites the International

Labour Organization and international Indigenous organizations to

participate in these discussions. We also demand that the government

ratifies ILO 169, as soon as possible, and starts with the implementation

with our full and meaningful participation.

5. PRESERVATION OF OUR CULTURE AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

We repeat our intention to preserve our culture in all its aspects, to

respect and develop it in such a manner that the needs of the present

generation are fulfilled, without endangering the needs of future

generations.

Despite the fact that our traditional ways of administering our natural

resources are sustainable, we still need information on environmentally

friendly and sustainable methods to achieve an income, as well as, in some

cases, technical assistance to execute these methods.

Considering that we have the right to development in accordance with our

cultural needs and wishes, we appeal to the Surinamese government and to

international organizations, to provide national and international,

technical and financial support in our pursuit to environmentally friendly

and sustainable development.

- RELATIONS WITH THE GOVERNMENT -

6. RECOGNITION OF THE HIGHEST AUTHORITY OF THE INTERIOR

We urge the government to recognize the Highest Authority of the Interior

as a legal representative of the Indigenous Peoples and Maroons and as

interlocutor in all discussions concerning our situation and rights, in

particular our land rights.

The Highest authority of the Interior consists of all Maroon Granman's, the

village heads of the Southern indigenous villages, as well as the chairman,

the vice-chairman and the secretary of the Association of Indigenous

Village Leaders In Suriname (VIDS).

We shall strive for the establishment of a supportive secretariat for the

Highest Authority, which will reside in Paramaribo, where all services are

available to facilitate the communication between the members of the

highest authority. We urgently insist on the government to make available,

for this purpose, an office space with the necessary provisions.

7. LEGAL STATUS AND TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES

AND MAROONS

As part of our right to self-determination, in particular the right to

freely determine our own forms of self-regulation, we demand from the

government that the status of our traditional dignitaries be recognized in

the law.

The Highest Authority of the Interior will appoint a commission, for this

purpose, which will bring forward proposals for the concrete completion of

such a law.

8. COUNCIL FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE INTERIOR

We give our full support to the Council for the Development of the Interior

and urgently appeal to the government to inaugurate, as soon as possible,

the Indigenous and Maroon representatives.

The Council for the Development of the Interior has to be a body, in which

representatives of the interior, together with the government, determine

the policy on the economic, social and cultural development of the

interior. The CDI should particularly engage in the legal recognition of

our land rights, which forms the basis for our development.

We demand that the CDI be located directly under the Cabinet of the

President and that the chair is occupied, on a two year rotating basis, by

Indigenous or Maroon representatives. The Indigenous members are chosen by

the VIDS and the Maroon members of the CDI are appointed by the Maroon

Granmans. As such the representatives of the interior in the CDI are

directly accountable to the Highest Authority and all decisions taken by

the CDI need the approval of the Highest Authority.

We make an urgent appeal on the government to make funds available in order

to enable the representatives of the interior to deliberate, on a regular

basis, with the Highest Authority.

9. COMMISSION DOMAIN LAND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND MAROONS

(Governmental Land Rights Commission)

During the Gran Krutu we were informed by the District Commissioner that a

`Commission Domain-Land Indigenous Peoples and Maroons' was installed by

the government.

The installation of this Commission by the government, without the

participation, or even knowledge of the rightful representatives of the

interior, in particular the Highest Authority of the Interior, is

unacceptable and again demonstrates a lack of respect for our human rights.

Furthermore, it is completely unclear what the purpose, the tasks and the

authority of this Commission are. We demand that every discussion or

activity, which relates to our land or other rights, takes place with the

full participation and consent of the Highest Authority of the Interior.

10. RELATION WITH THE DISTRICTS- AND PROVINCIAL COUNCILS

From various village leaders we understand that the position, function and

competencies of the regional councils, which function within our villages,

is very unclear and leads to conflicts with the village-boards.

We emphasize that all social, cultural or political organizations reside

under the authority of the village-leader. We, therefore, demand that the

village-leaders have to agree with all decisions taken by the province-

councils in the villages. Before official documents are sent to other

governmental institutions they are to be signed by the village-leader.

- MULTINATIONALS -

11. SUPPORT FOR NIEUW-KOFFIEKAMP, CASIPORA, UPPER-TAPANAHONY,

KWAMALASEMUTU, KAWEMHAKAN, ADYUMAKONDRE AND ALFONSDORP.

During this Gran Krutu, our Indigenous and Maroon brothers and sisters

informed us about the struggle they are engaged in in their villages

against the multinationals. We support them completely and condemn the

activities of the multinationals. We also condemn the government which

gives these multinationals permission to operate in our territories.

We support, in particular, the people of Nieuw-Koffiekamp in their struggle

against the Canadian mining companies, Golden Star Resources of Denver,

Colorado and Cambior Inc. of Montreal. We oppose every effort to move this

community, without their free and informed consent, which can only be given

after all relevant information is made available to them by the companies

and the government. We strongly condemn the activities of Golden Star's

security and the police who intimidate the people of Nieuw-Koffiekamp and

deny them access to the areas where they undertake their traditional

economic activities.

We also express our support for our Southern brothers and sisters of

Kwamalasemutu and demand that their land rights are recognized and that all

the activities of Golden Star Resources and NaNa Resources are stopped,

until their land rights are legally recognized and their territory is

soundly demarcated. We condemn the strategies of Golden Star Resources and

NaNa Resources to put pressure on the dignitaries of Kwamalasemutu and to

interfere with the use of their own interpreters at the moment that an

agreement was signed. In connection with this we strongly doubt whether our

Southern brothers are fully aware of the contents and the intent of these

agreements and seriously dispute the legality of these agreements. After

deliberation it is decided that the VIDS will undertake an extensive

investigation into these distressing developments.

We have been informed that the entire Lawa area, in which Kawemhakan as

well as the Upper-Tapanahony territory, is threatened by activities of

Golden Star Resources. We are very concerned about that what is happening

in Nieuw-Koffiekamp and Kwamalasemutu is also taking place in these

territories and we, therefore, repeat that all activities of Golden Star

are to be stopped until the land rights of the communities in these areas

are legally recognized and their territories are soundly demarcated.

We again emphasize that we condemn all similar activities wherever they are

used, in particular in Casipora, where members of the village board were

threatened by employees of Golden Star. We therefore support the

inhabitants of Casipora in their refusal to admit Golden Star in their

territory.

Finally, we were also informed about the situation in the village

Adyumakondre and the problems they have with the bauxite company, Suralco

(a wholly-owned subsidiary of US company, ALCOA). We demand that the

government and Suralco negotiate with representatives of Adyumakondre as

well as with the Highest Authority of the Interior, and arrange a

settlement for this alarming situation, whereby the inhabitants of

Adyumakondre are compensated for all the disadvantages which they have

experienced up until now. Moreover, we are concerned that the same events

which took place in Adyumakondre, will happen with the village Alfonsdorp,

as Alfonsdorp is also situated in the concession of Suralco.

12. GOLDEN STAR RESOURCES

We are very concerned about the activities of the Canadian company, Golden

Star Resources in the interior of Suriname. Each time more communities

experience the consequences of Golden Star's activities and that of her

partner, NaNa Resources. We do not understand how hundreds of thousands

hectares can be granted in concession to this company, while our land

rights are not recognized. If it is this easy for the government to grant

these concessions why is it so difficult to recognize our land rights;

We have heard of the disaster in the Omai-mine in Guyana, for which Golden

Star is partly responsible, where a hundred million liters of cyanide

flowed into the Essequibo river and of which the consequences for the

indigenous peoples, now, a year later, are still noticeable;

Furthermore a representative of the Amerindian Peoples Association from

Guyana has informed us that Golden Star violates the rights of the

Indigenous Peoples in other parts of Guyana and that the Consultation on

Mining and Indigenous Peoples, which was organized by the World Council of

Churches, has condemned the activities of Golden Star and Cambior in

Suriname and Guyana as violations of fundamental human rights;

According to the government, companies such as Golden Star will bring

development in our villages. However, on the basis of our negative

experience with these companies, as mentioned in the above mentioned

resolution no. 11, as well as on the basis of the experience of Indigenous

Peoples all over the world with comparable companies we arrive at a

different conclusion;

The entry of such companies leads in the best case to our employment as

low-paid labourers, whereas in the worst case our cultures, lands and our

possibility to live from and on our lands, are destroyed. Social problems

which we have never known come with them, such as prostitution, increased

alcoholism, the loss of respect for the elders, an increased workload for

women caused by the departure of men from the communities, internal

conflicts among villagers and the inflow of quest-labourers and gold-

diggers whenever research is being done on gold deposits;

We therefore demand that the activities of this company are stopped until

we are fully aware of the influence of these activities in our living-areas

and until our land rights are legally recognized and our territories are

soundly demarcated.

13. LOGGING CONCESSIONS TO BERJAYA, SURI-ATLANTIC AND MUSA

We are pleased with the message that the present government has suspended

the large concession-applications of Berjaya, Suri-Atlantic and Musa, until

a later date.

However, not all our concern is taken away by this, as these concept-

agreements not only have to be suspended but have to be declared invalid.

We repeat that we are against the granting of these and other concessions

in our territories without our consent and we repeat that such large-scale-

concessions are uncontrollable and will lead to the destruction of the rain

forest.

14. BORDER ISSUE INDIGENOUS PEOPLES AND MAROONS

On the basis of the U.N. and O.A.S. Draft Declarations as well as ILO

Convention No. 169 Concerning the Rights of Indigenous and Tribal Peoples,

we have the right to maintain relations, to engage in collaborative-

relations and to execute all activities for spiritual, cultural, political,

economic and social purposes, with peoples which reside beyond the border;

This especially applies for Indigenous and Tribal Peoples who are divided

by international borders, such as is the case with our brothers and sisters

living along the Marowijne river, the Corantijn river and the Brazilian

border;

We demand from the governments of Suriname, France, Brazil and Guyana that

the rights of our peoples, who have lived and worked in these territories

for centuries, are respected and guaranteed.

15. INTERNATIONAL FAMILIARITY RESULTS GRAN KRUTU

To diffuse our message world wide, we shall make sure that the results and

the resolutions of this Gran Krutu are sent to all our friends and

interested organizations abroad, as well as the United Nations, the

Organization of American States and the governments of our neighbouring

countries.

****************************

Approved and Signed in Galibi on 22 November 1996 by the Highest Authority

of the Interior:

Ends:

For further information contact: Forest Peoples Programme,

1c Fosseway Business Centre, Stratford Road,

Moreton-in-Marsh, GL56 9NQ, England.

Tel: 01608 652893 Fax: +44 1608 652878 Email:wrm@gn.apc.org

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