Indigenous communities in pain: Where is the respect of their rights?

Argentina is a beautiful nation, made of a mix of cultures. It is a beautiful place that grows fast, but sometimes, it struggles to find its way. Our society is open, friendly and smart :) Yes, we are ;) But the weak side seems to be its resistance to recognize our own roots, our native culture. And problems arise.

The indigenous Diaguitas community, suffers of continues violation of their rights. Since 2007 this community is victim of an aggressive campaign of forced evictions and threats of removal from their ancestral lands. In 2007, a violent intervention of the police displaced 22 families from their homes, leaving 15 burned houses, damaged structures, robbed locals belonging, and wounded people who peacefully resisted the evacuation, the police force used tear gas, shoot of rubber bullets, and hit indigenous women, children, and men-.

Until August 2009, the danger of an imminent forced evacuation of more than 60 families had stressed the community, creating fear and insecurity among the members. At the beginning of September of 2009, 16 families from the Los Cuartos de la Comunidad Indigena del Valle de Tafi were evicted from their lands and families from Comunidad Indigena Tolombon and from the El Nogalito community suffered the same destiny. On the 17th of September of 2009, 40 families from Indigenous community of Quilmes were evacuated and currently, the community of El Devisadero in Cafayate Salta is under an eviction process and 16 families will probably loose their homes. In total, more than 100 families have lost their homes, their hopes and their dignity.

Unfortunately local and national authorities resist accepting and respecting the rights of the United Nation of Diaguitas Community, while Huayra, the Cacique, had enquired the mediation of national and international bodies.

In the summer of 2009, I had the honour to meet some representatives of the aboriginal community near Cafayate, they told me their pains, and since then, we are in contact. I am also in contact with the lawyers who represent them; so all the information published here comes from reliable sources.

I could like to contribute, somehow. As Argentinean, I am proud of my native blood, my ancestors and I recognize myself as part of this suffering people.

If you are interested in following the case, you can follow the link  http://uniondiaguita.blogspot.com/. Shall I tell you a secret? I believe that we can make the difference, but we might need from each other to become stronger. You could also sign a petition on this site, that will be sent to the Argentinean government, in defence of the rights of the Diaguitas. Many thanks nice people.

Petition:

" We express our concern regarding the situation currently faced by the Diaguitas aboriginal community. It has come to our knowledge that there are continues threats and intimidations of evacuations to the members of this indigenous towns in the provinces of Tucuman and Salta.

If we understand correctly, there were extensive forced evacuations of families during 2007 and 2009. The following figures have been brought to our attention:

• 22 families from Tucuman (March of 2007);
• 16 families from Los Cuartos, the Indigenous Community of Tafi del Valle (Tucuman, September 2009);
• 1 family from the Indigenous Community Tolombon (Tucuman, September 2009);
• 1 family from the Community El Nogalito (Tucuman, September 2009);
• 40 families from Indigenous community of Quilmes (Colalao del Valle region, 17th of September of 2009
• 16 families from the community of El Devisadero in Cafayate, Salta, are under an eviction process and will probably lose their homes.

Trough this letter, we express our expectation that the relevant authorities respect the Argentinean laws that recognize indigenous property rights (Art. 75(17) of the National Constitution and Art. 149 of the Constitution of Tucuman Province), and thus take action to prohibit evacuations from indigenous traditional lands.

We extend our solidarity towards the Nation of Diaguitas communities. Unless this is already the case, it is of great importance that the Argentinean authorities move to establish the appropriate instruments required for:

- an immediate suspension of the removals from the territory of the Diaguita Nation, in particular from the provinces of Tucuman and Salta;

-the restitution of houses and lands of the removed people and the provision of compensation to the victims of these acts;

-the full recognition of the property rights of the Diaguita communities to the lands they have traditionally used and occupied;

-the protection of the lives and physical integrity of the members of these indigenous communities.

Hoping that authorities react positively towards the petition above described, we express our sincere regards."