The Center for Democracy and Development in the Americas (CDDA) concluded in a research published this month that the “illegal and unsustainable practices” of the Maduro regime endanger the lives and cultures of Venezuela’s indigenous communities.
The CCDA prepared this report, entitled “Report on the State of Indigenous Peoples in the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela,” in order to join the tribute to the resilience of indigenous groups in the American continent on October 12th.
“The Maduro regime in Venezuela has violated the rights of the indigenous communities by systematically repressing indigenous political actors, discrediting their legislative representatives, and shooting members of their community. It has also created economic conditions that make it difficult for indigenous groups to have access to clean water, food, and medicine,” the report says
This implies, CCDA points out, that Maduro is violating “the progressive Constitution in force in Venezuela,” as it recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples – the right to their ancestral land, to political representation, to an adequate quality of life, among others – in 19 articles.
The CDDA elaborated this report based on reports by the local human rights organization Foro Penal, the report on Venezuela by the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, a report by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on the forced displacement of indigenous Venezuelans, and an article on Yanomami in the journal Science.
Based on the Foro Penal reports, CDDA refers to the increased repression against indigenous groups in the state of Bolívar, bordering Brazil to the south, in the state of Amazonas, also to the south, and in the state of Delta Amacuro, to the northeast of the country.
Last February, Venezuelan police shot and killed four Pemon people and wounded 17 others. They arrested at least three Pemon people and six others had to flee to Brazil to avoid persecution.
Two months later, on April 29th, Bolivarian National Guard officials shot a group of at least 20 Warao from the Mariusa community of Delta Amacuro. They killed a six-month pregnant woman, a six-year-old, and injured another person.
Then, on May 22th, two unidentified officers broke in the community of Curripaco in Amazonas and killed indigenous captain and pastor Eduardo Garrido with a shot in the face. They entered the houses without warrants and stole some belongings.
On the other hand, the CDDA report refers to the findings of the High Commissioner for the United Nations: “Mining, particularly in Amazonas and Bolivar, including in the “Arco Minero del Orinoco” region, has resulted in violations of various collective rights, including rights to maintain customs, traditional ways of life, and a spiritual relationship with their land. Mining also has grave environmental and health impacts, such as increased malaria, and contamination of waterways. The presence of mining operations has had a differentiated impact on indigenous women and girls, who face an increased risk of human trafficking. The failure to consult indigenous peoples regarding these activities amounts to a violation of their right to consultation.”
The impact of mining has particularly affected the access to food and health of indigenous communities, such as the Yanomami, who are more vulnerable to contracting foreign diseases with very limited vaccine availability. And other groups such as the Warao, Wayúu, Bari, and Yukpa had to leave their territories and migrate to other countries in search of food, shelter, health care and documentation.
As a context, the CCDA report recalls that in December 2015, when the current National Assembly won the elections with a large majority, the Venezuelan Supreme Court of Justice – favorable to the regime – ruled that the election of three opposition indigenous legislators for Amazonas were invalid. This implied calling for new elections in that region. In July 2016, the electoral body had not yet called for the elections, so the National Assembly incorporated the three legislators, against the ruling of the TSJ. With these three seats, the opposition obtained the absolute majority in the National Assembly. Those are the two thirds of votes required for important reforms in Venezuela.
Recently, Romel Guzamana, legislator for Amazonas and Apure, addressed the U.S. Congress to denounce the presence of guerrillas in the Venezuelan territory and violation of indigenous rights in the country.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YdBCSIN_PqA&feature=youtu.be
A letter to Debra Haaland
The CDDA is a non-profit organization that promotes the empowerment of Latino leaders in the United States, Ibero-America and the Caribbean through collaborative research, training, international cooperation and exchange of best practices among NGOs.
CDDA and IQ Latino founder Leopoldo Martínez addressed a letter to U.S. Representative Debra Haaland, requesting a meeting at which he could present the report on Venezuelan indigenous peoples to her and other champions of indigenous rights. Haaland is one of the first elected Native American women in Congress and has been a tribal administrator.
“Indigenous communities in Venezuela are vulnerable and demand our attention. The regime in Venezuela has systematically attacked their human rights and also those prescribed under the progressive Venezuelan Constitution,” the letter says.