Advancing Indigenous Peoples'
rights and cultures worldwide
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Belize: Maya Leaders
Arrested As They Peacefully Protect Sacred Site
Maya leaders of Southern Belize
were arrested on Wednesday in a gross violation of their
rights. On the early morning of June 24th, traditional leaders of
the Maya people of Southern Belize were violently awoken in their
homes by police on the charges
of unlawful imprisonment. The charges were brought
against 12 people, including the Village Chairman, and the
Second Alcalde, elected by their communities according to
traditional practices. Also arrested was Maya Leaders
Alliance (MLA) spokesperson, Cristina Coc, a peaceful and well-respected
advisor to the traditional leaders and mother of two.
|
Guatemala: Indigenous
Activist, Political Prisoner
In Santa Cruz Barillas in Huehuetenago, Guatemala,
another prominent voice in the fight against Hidralia Energia -
Hidra Santa Cruz, was detained as a political prisoner by
Guatemalan officials without evidence. Bernardo Ermitaño López
Reyes, known as Don Taño, is a valiant advocate for Indigenous
rights, willing to confront those who oppose the village's
plights face-to-face. He has been a strong voice and force
against the past three years of violence, repression,
unconstitutional arrests, military presence, and violations of
human rights in the village. Don Taño was
arrested while accompanying three previously detained
advocates, Arturo Pablo, Adalberto Villatoro and Francisco Juan,
to a hearing regarding their arrest. He was taken as a political
prisoner while outside of Barillas, and was transferred to the
jail at Torre de Tribunales in Guatemala City, where he had to
spend the night without food. He was detained in an arbitrary
arrest without evidence, where his constitutional and human
rights were not respected.
|
Honduras: Miguel
Facussé Dies, Threat to Communities Continues
Miguel Facussé, one of the richest men in Honduras,
died on June 22 at age 90. There is no doubt that he will leave
behind an impressive legacy. Dinant, Facussé's multi-million
dollar company that manufactures and markets snack products,
detergents and biofuels such as African Palm oil, announced
Facussé's death and praised his creation of economic
opportunities in Honduras. The true legacy of Miguel Facussé,
however, is felt not in the economic opportunities he created,
but in the danger and harassment that his business
operations. Locally he is known as "the palm plantation
owner of death," reports Democracy Now.
|
Passamaquoddy and
Penobscot Withdrawal from the Maine Legislature
On May 26, 2015, the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot
Tribal delegates-Matthew Dana II and Wayne Mitchell,
respectively-withdrew from the Maine legislature. Their reasons
for doing so were a long list of grievances against the state of
Maine involving fishing rights and, by extension, rights to
Tribal sovereignty. These violations of Penobscot and
Passamaquoddy rights undermined what should have been an equal,
not subordinate, relationship with the state. The
Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
are allocated one seat each in the Maine House of
Representatives.
|
Forced Closures of
Aboriginal Communities in Australia Continue
In December of 2014, new funding laws in Australia
began to threaten the existence of 150 remote aboriginal
Australian communities throughout the country, with the largest
concentration in Western Australia. The federal government
claimed that it could no longer support the communities and as of
June 30, 2015, no federal funding would be available for the
maintenance of rural outback communities. State governments were
offered one time funding deals from the federal government,
giving them money to fund communities for one to two years. $90
million was offered to Western Australia, enough money to keep
communities open through 2017; South Australia rejected a payment
of $10 million on the basis that it was insufficient for the
obligation being created. In March, Prime Minister Tony Abbott
inflamed tensions surrounding the closures when he claimed that
aboriginal peoples living in rural communities were making a
"lifestyle choice" and that taxpayers had no obligation
to support their "choice."
|
Cultural Survival Launches
Indigenous Rights Radio website!
Our Indigenous Rights Radio program
has been busy producing new radio series on Indigenous Peoples'
rights and how they are being implemented around the world. Our
programs, designed for broadcast on community radio stations,
including Public Service Announcements, interviews, and documentaries
about internationally recognized rights and the strategies
communities are using to make those rights a reality. Listen and share today!
|
Standing
Strong from the Ground
CSQ 39-2, June 2015
Get
it on the newsstand near you!
|
Cultural Survival advocates for Indigenous
Peoples' rights and supports Indigenous communities'
self-determination, cultures and political resilience since
1972. We envision a future that respects and honors
Indigenous Peoples' inherent rights and dynamic cultures, deeply
and richly interwoven in lands, languages, spiritual traditions,
and artistic expression, rooted in self-determination and
self-governance.
Learn More
To read about Cultural
Survival's work around the world, click here. To
explore 43 years of information on Indigenous issues use our
Search function.
Do More
For ways to take action
to support Indigenous communities, click here.
Donate
We take on governments
and multinational corporations -- and they always have more
resources than we do -- but with the support of people like you,
we do win. Your contribution is crucial to that effort. Click here to do your part.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
PO BOX 38156 Cambridge, MA 02238· 617.441.5400
|
|
|
|
No comments:
Post a Comment
I have a few simple comment rules:
(a) No
1. rudeness
2. falsehood
3. deception
4. unfair tactics
5. comment spam
6. shilling or trolling
(b) stay on topic; and
(c) anonymous comments are okay, but sign with a handle so we'll know which "Anonymous" you are.
Thanks for commenting.
Ray