Communications sent, December 2012- February 2013. Replies received, 1 February to 30 April 2013

14/12/2012

AL

 

 

 

 

Alegaciones sobre los posibles efectos del proceso de reforma del código civil y comercial sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas. Según la información recibida, en junio de 2012, el poder ejecutivo presentó ante el Senado de la Nación un anteproyecto de reforma de código civil y comercial. No obstante el hecho de que la reforma del código civil y comercial es ampliamente reconocida como un proceso necesario, las disposiciones del anteproyecto relativas a los derechos de los pueblos indígenas, en particular respecto a la regulación de la propiedad comunitaria indígena, han generado preocupaciones entre los pueblos y organizaciones indígenas de Argentina. La información recibida indica que las principales preocupaciones relacionadas con el contenido del anteproyecto de reforma del código civil y comercial giran en torno a los criterios utilizados para el reconocimiento de la propiedad comunitaria indígena, la caracterización y alcance de los derechos de los pueblos indígenas sobre sus tierras y recursos naturales tradicionales, y posibles limitaciones en el reconocimiento de las formas propias de organización y representación de los pueblos indígenas. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28/12/2012

UA

 

Colombia 

 

 

Supuesto desplazamiento de cinco comunidades del pueblo Awá a raíz de un operativo militar en el resguardo Awá de Magüí. Según la información recibida, el día 2 de diciembre de 2012 un contingente del ejército, con apoyo de la fuerza aérea, realizó un ataque en contra de un campamento de las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC) que se encontraba dentro del resguardo indígena Awá de Magüí, municipio de Ricaurte, Nariño. El bombardeo militar resultó en daños a las viviendas de la población y de la infraestructura vial, y se produjo el desplazamiento masivo de cinco comunidades del resguardo, representando un total de 219 familias o 807 personas indígenas Awá. Las comunidades desplazadas se encuentran en una zona de difícil acceso debido a los enfrentamientos entre el ejército y la guerrilla y a la presencia de minas antipersonal instaladas por la guerrilla. Esta situación ha causado que los miembros de estas comunidades no puedan regresar a sus hogares o acceder a sus tierras de cultivo. Ello también ha dificultado la entrega de ayuda humanitaria suficiente para la población desplazada. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28/12/2012

AL

 

México 

 

 

Alegaciones de posibles impactos negativos sobre los derechos humanos del pueblo indígena ikojts (o huave) a raíz de la construcción de un parque eólico en San Dionisio del Mar, Oaxaca. Según la información recibida, en años recientes, el Gobierno federal mexicano y el gobierno estatal de Oaxaca han promovido un proyecto eólico que afectaría las tierras tradicionales de la comunidad de San Dionisio del Mar y de las demás comunidades que conforman el pueblo ikojts, las cuales son formalmente reconocidas como tierras comunales bajo el régimen agrario nacional. Se alega que el proyecto eólico en San Dionisio del Mar no fue debidamente autorizado por la asamblea comunitaria, la cual es la principal entidad representativa compuesta por miembros de la comunidad. La principal preocupación expresada por miembros del pueblo ikojts en relación con el proyecto eólico gira en torno a los posibles impactos ambientales que generaría la construcción del proyecto eólico sobre el mar, las lagunas, las áreas costeras y los manglares de los que dependen para sus actividades tradicionales de pesca a lo largo del Golfo de Tehuantepec y el complejo lagunar Huave.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

28/12/2012

JUA

 

 

 

Alleged continued wave of harassment, stigmatization, threats, and killings of human rights defenders, in particular environmental and indigenous rights defenders, many of whom are women human rights defenders and indigenous leaders. According to the information received, human rights defenders in the Philippines continue to be subjected to increased number of killings, threats, harassment and stigmatization. Reportedly, those individuals and organizations who work to defend the right to the enjoyment of a clean, safe, healthy and sustainable environment and those working to defend indigenous and land rights, including women indigenous leaders, are particularly targeted. In particular those human rights defenders who campaign peacefully against large scale mining projects which infringe on the rights of communities, who are allegedly accused by the Armed Forces of the Philippines as being supporters, sympathizers or members of the New People‘s Army or other armed groups face stigmatization.   

02/01/2013

UA

 

 

 

 

Alleged hunger strike carried out by the Chief of the Attawapiskat First Nation in protest of recent legislative developments as well as the social and economic conditions affecting indigenous peoples in Canada. According to the information received, Chief Theresa Spence of the Attawapiskat First Nation initiated a hunger strike on 11 December 2012 in Parliament Hill in Ottawa in order to protest recent legislative actions alleged to negatively impact indigenous peoples, alleged violations of treaty rights, and ongoing critical social and economic conditions in Attawapiskat and other aboriginal communities in Canada. Various demonstrations by indigenous peoples in Ottawa and other parts of Canada have also been carried out. The hunger strike and protests have been prompted in part by a federal omnibus budget implementation bill introduced by the Prime Minister, the ―Jobs and Growth Act, 2012‖ (Bill C-45), which was recently passed by the Canadian parliament in December 2012. The Attawapiskat First Nation was the subject of earlier communications (see A/HRC/20/30, case no CAN 3/ 2011 and A/HRC/21/49, case no CAN 2/2012).

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15/01/2013

AL

 

Costa Rica 

 

 

Carta de seguimiento en relación con el propuesto proyecto hidroeléctrico el Diquis. La carta da seguimiento al informe del Relator Especial sobre el proyecto hidroeléctrico de mayo de 2011 (A/HRC/18/35/Add.8). En la carta, el Relator Especial solicita información sobre los avances en relación con el propuesto proyecto el Diquis y el proceso de consulta correspondiente con los pueblos indígenas afectados, así como información acerca de cuestiones conexas tratadas en su informe, tales como las relativas a tierras y la autonomía indígenas. El Relator Especial también lleva a la atención del Gobierno información recibida respecto de los supuestos actos de violencia en la comunidad de Salitre a inicios de enero de 2013. Según la información recibida, indígenas de la comunidad de Salitre habrían sido atacados por personas no-indígenas que están ocupando tierras dentro del territorio demarcado a favor de la comunidad.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16/01/2013

JUA

 

Colombia 

 

 

Alegación relativa a la detención de un defensor de derechos humanos. Según la información recibida, Sr. Manuel Antonio Bautista Pequi, miembro de la Asociación de Cabildos Indígenas del Norte del Cauca (ACIN), fue arrestado el 4 de enero de 2013 en Santander de Quilichao por agentes de la policía. De conformidad con las informaciones recibidas, fue imputado del delito de rebelión, al parecer sin pruebas suficientes. Un grupo de indígenas que le acompañaban fueron heridos por elementos policiales del Escuadrón Móvil Antidisturbios (ESMAD). Según lo informado, 139 órdenes de captura contra dirigentes indígenas, incluyendo el Sr. Bautista Pequi, fueron expedidas debido a su participación en los actos de protestas por indígenas Nasa en contra de la presencia de actores armados en su territorio en julio de 2012. Esta última situación motivó una comunicación y una declaración pública del Relator Especial sobre los derechos de los pueblos indígenas en agosto de 2012. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/02/2013

AL

 

Botswana 

 

 

Allegations concerning the situation of the Basarwa and Bakgalagadi indigenous peoples in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. According to the information received, approximately 500 to 600 Basarwa and Bakgalagadi indigenous residents live in five communities within the Central Kalahari Game Reserve. Approximately 2,200 to 2,400 Basarwa and Bankgaladi people who were former residents of the Reserve, but have been evicted from their traditional lands, now live in the resettlement sites of Xere, New Xade and Kaudwane. In the Roy Sesana and Others v. The Attorney General decision of 2006, the High Court of Botswana held that the Government‘s refusal to allow the applicants in the case to enter the Reserve unless they were issued with permits was unlawful and unconstitutional. However, the Government has allegedly maintained the position that only the 243 applicants who were named in the Sesana case can return to the Reserve without obtaining a temporary entry permit. Further, indigenous residents in the Reserve have allegedly been criminally prosecuted, arrested, harassed, beaten and intimidated by police and park officials for engaging in their traditional subsistence hunting and gathering activities.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

12/02/2013

AL

 

Canada 

 

 

Allegations concerning the situation of residents of the Lake St. Martin First Nation who were evacuated from their reserve by the province of Manitoba. According to the information received, more than 1,400 residents of the Lake St. Martin First Nation, an Anishinabe indigenous community, were evacuated from their reserve in May 2011 by the province of Manitoba in order to divert flood waters that were headed to the city of Winnipeg. The flood waters were diverted into several indigenous communities including the Lake St. Martin reserve. The homes in the Lake St. Martin reserve were destroyed by the flood waters and are currently uninhabitable. The Lake St. Martin First Nation leadership has attempted to negotiate with the province of Manitoba to have their permanent homes be in ―Site 9‖, a location they prefer for its location and potential for economic development initiatives. However it is alleged that neither the provincial government nor the federal government have adequately considered the community‘s requests with respect to Site 9 being the location of their new permanent reserve.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

18/02/2013

JAL

 

United States of America 

 

 

Reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA). According to information received, on 12 February 2013, the United States Senate approved Bill S.47, a bipartisan Bill that would reauthorize the VAWA. The Bill is now to be considered by the United States House of Representatives. The Violence against Women Act has steadily expanded funding to address domestic violence and, with each reauthorization, has included historically underserved groups. It has played a crucial role in providing guidance to State and local level governments, and in facilitating their adequate responses to violence against women. The Bill currently being debated contains key provisions that bolster indigenous tribes‘ ability to prosecute cases involving violence against indigenous women. The reauthorization of the Act is of upmost importance to continue improving the Government‘s ability to hold perpetrators accountable and provide protection to women victims of violence.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

19/12/2011

UA

 

Canada 

 

 

Alleged dire social and economic conditions of the Attawapiskat First Nation, northern Ontario, Canada, and the alleged poor living conditions in aboriginal reserves. According to the information received, many of the Attawapiskat First Nation live in unheated shacks or trailers, with no running water, posing severe problems in light of the impending harsh winter. Reportedly, the Government of Canada has agreed to provide emergency housing in Attawapiskat to address the crisis situation. However, this assistance has allegedly been made contingent on third party management of funds, which the Attawapiskat First Nation reject as not being responsive to their needs. The Band also reportedly continue to suffer from the effects of a number of disasters, including an oil spill in 1979 that destroyed the public schools and a massive sewage flood in 2009, allegedly caused by a DeBeers diamond mine located on Attawapiskat traditional lands. First Nations communities are reportedly systematically underfunded as compared to non-Aboriginal towns, and the federal government allegedly maintains a 2% cap on spending increases for core services for Aboriginal peoples and cities. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

06/07/2012

JAL

 

Other 

 

 

Alleged negative impacts on human rights of affected communities of a proposed Bangladesh domestic policy permitting the construction of an open-pit coal mine in the township of Phulbari. Concerns transmitted to GCM Resources plc, which through its subsidiary Asia Energy Corporation (Bangladesh) Pty Ltd works under a contract with the Government of Bangladesh on the Phulbari Coal Mine project. According to information received, the open-pit coal mine in Phulbari, if constructed, would have a significant impact on food production and access by destroying approximately 12,000 acres of productive agricultural land, and on water access by lowering the water table 12 to 25 metres and potentially poisoning water sources. The proposed mine would allegedly displace up to 220,000 people over time, 50,000 of whom are indigenous peoples belonging to 23 different tribal groups. Current plans reportedly do not provide adequate compensation or resettlement, and have not included consultations with affected communities. Finally, allegations have been raised concerning continued efforts to stop human rights defenders from protesting the Phulbari coal mine and the resulting infringements on their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21/08/2012

UA

 

United States of America 

 

 

Alleged imminent demolition by the United States Army War College, of one of the last standing structures connected to the former Carlisle Indian Industrial School, a site of deep historical significance to indigenous peoples throughout the country. According to the information received, the Carlisle Indian Industrial School, established in 1879 in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, was the first boarding school to house Native American children outside of their reservation homelands. After the school closed in 1918, the premises were reclaimed by the U.S. Army as part of the Carlisle Barracks, however certain parts of the school were subsequently designated as a National Historic Landmark. The farmhouse was excluded from this designation, despite being actively used for housing and educational purposes for indigenous children. Recently, the U.S. Army War College, located at the Carlisle Barracks, announced its plans to raze the farmhouse in August or September of 2012 in order to make way for four new housing units for its personnel. As the farmhouse was not designated as a National Historic Landmark the War College is allegedly taking the position that does not have to consult with the relevant state agency, nor with interested indigenous peoples. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

21/08/2012

UA

 

United States of America 

 

 

Alleged imminent sale of land located within the Black Hills, South Dakota, considered to be a site of great spiritual significance to the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota indigenous peoples. According to the information received the site known as Pe‘ Sla is located on the Reynolds Prairie in the Black Hills, which has been owned by the Reynolds family since the 1870s. Over the years, members of the owners of Reynolds Prairie had permitted Sioux peoples to enter the land and conduct their traditional ceremonies at Pe‘ Sla, however recently, the family recently announced its intention to sell some land during a land sale auction on 25 August 2012. The Lakota, Dakota and Nakota indigenous peoples fear the sale may result in restrictions on future access to Pe‘ Sla. There is also concern over the state of South Dakota‘s reported intention to pave a gravel road through Pe‘ Sla, in order to facilitate logging and recreational activities in the area. Reportedly the Lakota, Dakota and Nakota peoples have begun a fundraising effort in order to recover this sacred site. 

 

 

07/09/2012

AL

 

Peru 

 

 

Alegaciones sobre la situación de posibles riesgos que enfrentan miembros de los pueblos indígenas que viven en situación de aislamiento o contacto inicial en la Reserva Territorial Kugapakori, Nahua, Nanti y otros a raíz de la ampliación del proyecto de gas Camisea en la región amazónica del Perú. Según la información recibida, el Ministerio de Minas y Energía habría aprobado una evaluación de impacto ambiental para la expansión de actividades del proyecto de gas Camisea. Se alega que los pueblos indígenas en situación de aislamiento y contacto inicial que habitan la Reserva Territorial Kugapakori, Nahua, Nanti y otros han sufrido graves impactos a su salud, vidas, culturas y territorios debido a exploraciones hidrocarburíferas pasadas y actuales en la región, incluyendo el proyecto Camisea. Debido a los antecedentes de las actividades hidrocarburíferas en el territorio que comprende la reserva, se han expresado graves preocupaciones sobre los planes de expansión del proyecto de gas Camisea por parte del Estado peruano, especialmente dentro de la Reserva Territorial Kugapakori, Nahua, Nanti y otros. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

15/10/2012

JAL

 

Guatemala 

 

 

Alegaciones de actos de violencia y uso desproporcionado de la fuerza contra manifestantes pacíficos en el contexto de unas protestas en la cumbre de Alaska, jurisdicción de Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, Sololá. Según la información recibida, el jueves 4 de octubre de 2012, aproximadamente unos 15.000 a 20.000 miembros de comunidades indígenas habrían participado en unas protestas pacíficas para denunciar la reforma constitucional, la reforma de la carrera magisterial y el alto precio de la energía eléctrica. Se habrían producido serios enfrentamientos entre las fuerzas del ejército y los manifestantes, resultando en la muerte del Sr. José Eusebio Puac Baquiax, del Sr. Santos Hernández Menchú, del Sr. Jesús Baltazar Caxaj Puac, del Sr. Arturo Félix Sapón Yaxm, del Sr. Jesús Francisco Puac Ordóñez y del Sr. Rafael Nicolás Batz, y más de 33 personas fueron heridas, incluyendo por intoxicación de gases lacrimógenos.

 

 

 

 

 

 

27/11/2012

JAL

 

Russian Federation 

 

 

Alleged closure of the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North by Government authorities. According to the information received, the Russian Association of Indigenous Peoples of the North (RAIPON) is an organization formed in 1990 to promote the human rights of indigenous peoples in the North, Siberia and Far East regions of the Russian Federation. The organization represents 41 indigenous groups and around 34 regional and ethnic organizations, and has various regional offices throughout the Russian Federation. RAIPON‘s work has focused on issues related to the protection of indigenous traditional lands, self-governance and social, economic and cultural development. In November 2012, the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation ordered the suspension of RAIPON‘s activities until April 2013 reportedly due to noncompliance of the organization‘s charter and statutes with Russian federal legislation. RAIPON has previously attempted to adjust its internal statutes to meet the Ministry of Justice‘s requirements. However, it has been reported that those changes have not been considered acceptable by the Ministry of Justice.