2006

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Peru: Indigenous Amazonian people score rare victory against oil company November 2006 By taking drastic action, the Achuar people of the Amazon have forced an oil company to finally start cutting back on pollution. Read the article on Taipei Times


Mexico: The popular uprising in Oaxaca intensifies November 2006 The crisis in Oaxaca, Mexico has intensified over the last week. The popular uprising, which began with teachers' strikes and has now extended into a wider revolt, and open confrontation with the Mexican state. The vast majority of Oaxaca's 3.2 million people are indigenous. Read the article


Peru: People in voluntary isolation under increasing pressure October 2006 Increasingly, people in voluntary isolation have come under threat from loggers and oil companies who are seeking new lands for exploitation. International explorers and religious organizations have also moved into territory that was once a safe haven for these peoples. Read the article


Peru: Protest against oil extraction procedures October 2006 Indigenous communities have surrounded three oil facilities in the Peruvian Amazon to protest about water pollution. Read the article


Argentina: Indigenous people to meet on communication and technology October 2006 A regional conference scheduled for October 18 to 20 in Buenos Aires, Argentina plans to help Latin American indigenous communities work together to improve local communications projects. See the advertisement

Mexico: Civil unrest in Oaxaca continues

October 2006

The civil unrest continues in Oaxaca, Mexico, which started in May when tens of thousands of teachers seized the capital's leafy central plaza to demand wage increases and improved school conditions. Over half of the Oaxaca's 3.2 million people, most of whom are indigenous, live in poverty, and 21.5 percent of those over 15 are illiterate.

Read the article "Fox Urged Not to Send Federal Troops to Oaxaca"

The website 'Americas' provides background information about the unrest


Colombia: Indigenous cry for help October 2006 Indigenous people's organisations in Colombia presented an international mission with a document protesting human rights violations and urging that they be supported as an especially vulnerable group in the armed conflict that has been going on for over four decades. Read the article


Peru: Epidemics within Matsés communities ignored September 2006 The Peruvian government is ignoring epidemics of hepatitis and malaria within Matsés communities that if occurred elsewhere, would receive appropriate medical support. Read the press release by MATSES


Peru: Amazonian tribe protests at oil pollution September 2006 Indigenous communities of the Peruvian Amazon are stepping up their campaign against oil companies. Read the article by BBC


Bolivia: President gives land titles to indigenous representatives August 2006 In a public gathering president Evo Morales handed over land titles represented over 7.5 million acres of land to indigenous communities. The government has promised to redistribute 48 million acres, nearly a fifth of Bolivia. Read the article "The New Agrarian Reform in Bolivia" on upsidedownworld.org

Chile: Indigenous New Year and the rebirth of hope

June 2006

Native people throughout South America celebrated Indigenous Peoples New Year during the week of June 21 - 24. In Chile, June 24 has been declared by the State as "National Day of the Indigenous Peoples" and it also the day on which the conclusions of a 100-day dialogue aimed at introducing changes in State policy relating to indigenous peoples should be presented.

Read the article by José Aylwin Oyarzún

Read the article in Indian Country Today


Colombia: Indigenous peoples are in danger of disappearing May 2006 In a report the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) calls the national and international attention to the serious human rights situation of the indigenous peoples Nukak Makú, Guayabero, Sikuani and Tucano. Read more

Guatemala: Special Rapporteur to revisit Guatemala

May 2006

Four years after his visit to Guatemala, the Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights and fundamental freedoms of indigenous people, will revisit Guatemala from 15 to 18 May to hold talks with Vice President Eduardo Stein and other Government officials, indigenous representatives, civil society organizations and members of academia and institutions dealing with the issue.

Peru: Critical comments regarding the establishment of the Sierra del Divisor nature reserve

May 2006

The recently established Sierra del Divisor nature reserve is superimposed on territory inhabited by the indigenous Pano-speaking peoples in isolation, who refuse the establishment of contact with agents who are foreign to their environment. Furthermore, they are highly vulnerable to diseases from outside, particularly infectious diseases.

Read the article by Beatriz Huertas

Colombia: Violations of International Humanitarian Law against civilians

April 2006

The International Secretariat of the World Organisation Against Torture (OMCT) has been informed about the continuing grave violations of human rights against the civil population in the region of Arauca. Among the last grave violations is the killing of town councillor Mr. José Manuel Roa Montañes, who was also the President of the 'Corporation of the Council of Arauquita' (Corporación del Consejo Municipal de Arauquita), by, according to the source, members of the guerrilla of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), on 3 April 2006. OMCT previously informed about the assassination of two well-known indigenous persons from the indigenous community of "Caño Claro" in the municipality of Tame.

See OMCT's request for action

Brazil: More violence in the State of Mato Grosso do Sul

April 2006

April 2, 2006 the Brazilian public was shocked because of the death of two policemen and the serious wounds of a third policman at the hands of indigenous guaraní-kaiowa from Porto Cambira, Municipality of Dourados. This situation gave rise to severe condemnations and threats against the indigenous community. But, according to the indigenous leaders, it is necessary to clarify the ocurred incident, since Porto Cambira has a special history of violence and discrimination against the indigenous peoples.

Peru: Constitution of the Network of Indigenous Communicators of Peru April 2006 On March 24, 2006 the Network of Indigenous Communicators of Peru was constituted. The organization will connect indigenous communicators to defend and promote the right of communication of indigenous peoples and communities of the coast, the Andes and the Amazon region of Peru. Read more about the Network of Indigenous Communicators of Peru		Photo: Servindi

Bolivia: Evo Morales becomes first indigenous president

January 2006

On 22 January 2006, Evo Morales Aima, Aymara leader and head of the Movement to Socialism (Movimiento al Socialismo - MAS), was proclaimed President of the Republic of Bolivia for a 5-year term, thus becoming the country's first indigenous premier in its 180 years of independence.

Read extracts from the new Bolivian president's inaugural speech