INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' CAUCUS

UN affirms Indigenous Peoples are not equal to all other Peoples

The Indigenous Caucus is shocked and outraged by the actions of the United Nations, who today failed to adopt the most important international instrument for the promotion and protection of human rights for Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which represents more than 20 years of work within the UN, constitutes the minimum standards for their survival, dignity and well-being.

The newly created UN Human Rights Council, which is the premier international body to deal with human rights, adopted the Declaration in June of this year. The Declaration was one of the substantial achievements of the Council. However, it was delivered a huge blow today by African States, most of whom had chosen not to participate throughout this standard-setting process. Africa took the lead in blocking the adoption of the Declaration, which strategy was supported and encouraged by New Zealand, Canada, Australia and the United States.

It is clear that these actions are a politicization of human rights that show complete disregard for the ongoing human rights abuses suffered by Indigenous Peoples. This betrayal and injustice severely impacts 370 million Indigenous people in all regions of the world, who are among the most marginalized and vulnerable.

On May 24, 2002, Secretary General Kofi Annan, had proclaimed that the world's Indigenous Peoples “have a home at the United Nations”.

However, today's vote by opposing States clearly demonstrates that this is not the case.

Indigenous Peoples Caucus At UN Headquarters, New York

Contacts:
Les Malezer, Chairperson, Indigenous Peoples Caucus - +1 917 774 7346
Mattias Ahren, Arctic Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +47 47 379161
Grand Chief Ed John, North American Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +1 604 219 1705
Jennifer Tauli Corpuz, Asian Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +1 520 461 2042

ONU: Comunicado del Caucus de Pueblos Indígenas en la ONU.

28 de noviembre de 2006.- El caucus indígena se siente sorprendido y ultrajado por lo sucedido en las Naciones Unidas, que hoy (ayer) se han negado a adoptar el instrumento internacional más importante para la promoción y protección de los derechos humanos para los Pueblos Indígenas. La Declaración de los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, que significa más de 20 años de trabajo en la ONU, constituye la norma mínima para su supervivencia, dignidad y bienestar.

El recién creado Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU, que es el más importante organismo internacional sobre derechos humanos, adoptó la Declaración en junio de este año. La Declaración fue uno de los mayores logros del Consejo. Pero hoy ha recibido un duro golpe de los estados africanos, la mayoría de los cuales habían decidido no participar en el proceso de elaboración de la Declaración. África tomó la iniciativa para bloquear la adopción de la Declaración, una estrategia apoyada y animada por Nueva Zelanda, Canadá, Australia y los Estados Unidos.

Está claro que estas acciones son una politización de los derechos humanos que muestran un total desprecio por las violaciones de los derechos humanos que sufren los Pueblos Indígenas. Esta traición y esta injusticia son un duro golpe para los 370 millones de indígenas de todas las regiones del mundo, que se encuentran entre los más marginados y vulnerables.

El 24 de mayo de 2002, el Secretario General Kofi Annan proclamó que los Pueblos Indígenas del mundo “tienen un hogar en las Naciones Unidas”. Pero los votos en contra de hoy demuestran que eso no es cierto.

From the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus. 28 November 2006

Contacts:

Les Malezer, Chairperson, Indigenous Peoples Caucus - +1 917 774 7346
Mattias Ahren, Arctic Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +47 47 379161
Grand Chief Ed John, North American Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +1 604 219 1705
Jennifer Tauli Corpuz, Asian Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +1 520 461 2042

Indigenous Peoples Caucus http://www.ipcaucus.net/

United States opposes declaration on Native rights http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414049
International Outrage, Betrayal and Injustice: Statement by Indigenous Peoples Caucus

The Geography of Self Determination

Tupac Enrique Acosta

When the United Nations passed General Assembly resolution 1514 in 1960, declaring “All peoples have the right of self determination”, one of the arguments put forward by the member states of the UN was to clothe the concept of territorial integrity of the states themselves as being protected under the same principle. In fact, section 6 of the same resolution GA1514 states:

“Any attempt aimed at the partial or total disruption of the national unity and the territorial integrity of a country is incompatible with the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

In essence, these two statements from the seminal document that made colonization a crime for the first time in international law established an inherent conflict in the UN processes that now, nearly half a century later, have come to a definitive point in terms of historical resolution.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the present by the blatant efforts by the anglophile bloc of government states (US-Canada-New Zealand-Australia) to block the full recognition of the Right of Self Determination in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The position of these government states attempts to place the right of self-determination of the Indigenous
Peoples as existing only within the parameters of domestic policy and legal systems, even though these same systems are products of colonization itself.

The political arguments on both sides of the issue are in conflict, not just because of the doctrines of power that gave birth to the concepts of dominion which define the states and the social relations of their member constituencies, but also because the framework for resolution of the issues within the UN system is incompetent to address the spirituality of the earth based territorial reality of the Indigenous Nations, and the system itself is incoherent according to the geographic sciences of modern times.

What is lacking is a mechanism to define the issues in common terms, outside of the intellectual framework of colonization and dominion. What is missing is a clarification of the concept of territorial integrity, as a dimension of ecological and social sustainability and not a bastard relic from the intellectual Regime of Doctrines spawned by the Divine Right of Kings.

Emergence of the Fourth Principle

GA 1514 was followed by GA1541, which specified principles that defined three options for the attainment of “a full measure of self-government”, as the only contemplated political trajectories at the time for relief from colonization. These are:

(a) Emergence as a sovereign independent State;
(b) Free association with an independent state; or
(c) Integration with an independent state.

It is an incontrovertible fact that the transfer of territorial jurisdiction from Indigenous Nations authorities to dominion concepts of control and allegiance by the states is historically flawed and legally suspect. There are unquantifiable elements. The case of the Western Shoshone is contemporary evidence that this is not just history but reality in the context of the hemisphere of
the Americas, yet there is a larger issue.

The social and geographic realities of the Indigenous Peoples as Nations continue to exist as a political anomaly in terms of the international legal system of the United Nations. Specifically, in this hemisphere of Abya Yala (the Americas) not only is this true in the face of centuries of colonization but also in terms of the options for relief from the crime.

Self definition being the precept of self determination, the three options of GA 1541 do not adequately describe the outcome of principles of self-determination which would define the Indigenous Peoples and our continuing relationship to our ancestral territories and surviving traditional societies.

The Emergence of the Indigenous Nations is a daily occurrence, one which is manifested in accord with natural laws of reciprocity and harmony with the natural world, which includes our fellow human beings. This ancient tradition is the shared cultural infrastructure of our confederations of families, clans, communities, Pueblos and Nations. It could be characterized as a State of
Integrity, which is not independent but interdependent within the network of ecosystems that describe our traditional homelands, sacred sites, territories and nations.

Thus the Emergence of the Fourth Principle for decolonization: self-determination as an expression of community ecology and environmental sustainability. It is a particular and universal principle that may serve as a threshold concept to arrive at that ancient place once called the New World, if only we could create and travel guided by maps of the geography of self-determination.

NAHUACALLI
Embassy of the Indigenous Peoples
C/o TONATIERRA
Tel: (602) 254-5230
P.O. Box 24009 Phoenix, AZ 85074
Email: chantlaca@aol.com
www.tonatierra.org

For updates on the vote in the Third Committee of the UN to postpone advancing the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples before the General
Assembly:

  DECLARATION ON THE RIGHTS OF INDIGENOUS PEOPLES http://www.ipcaucus.net/ 

Western Shoshone lands, where gold is the color of genocide

By Brenda Norrell
UN Observer and International Report

On Mount Tenabo, photo by Brenda Norrell

NEWE SOGOBIA, Western Shoshone Nation, Nevada - On this sacred land of the Western Shoshone, there is no question now why the horses of Carrie and Mary Dann were brutally seized and the United States refuses to respond to a United Nations' ruling to "cease and desist" from violating the rights of the Western Shoshone.

Like monsters, the heavy machinery grinds down the dirt roads and the gold mining companies spread, like the yellow scarves that were once placed around the necks of Western Shoshone women, yellow scarves that carried small pox.

The yellow scarves and the rape of the Western Shoshone women, memories recounted by her relatives, are what Carrie remembers today on Mount Tenabo.

With the raids on their livestock, seizure of their horses, ongoing intimidation by the US government and spread of gold mining, the Dann family lives through another loss, the death of Mary Dann in a ranching accident in 2005.

Nowhere has the struggle to survive been more intense than here. Clifford Dann doused himself with gasoline in an effort to halt the seizure of their livestock by the Bureau of Land Management in 1992. Bleeding after being assaulted by a federal officer, Clifford was arrested and sentenced to nine months in prison. When he was released, he had lost his hearing.

With the same intensity that the war raged against the Western Shoshone, the Western Shoshone attracted a special measure of love.

On this day at the sweatlodge on Mount Tenabo, Carrie is joined by Louise Benally, Navajo from Big Mountain, Ariz., among the Navajos resisting relocation. Surrounded by the ongoing destruction of gold mining here, Louise sees a scene she is all too familiar with, feels a pain she has known for 30 years.

Louise tells how Peabody Coal orchestrated the so-called Navajo Hopi Land Dispute to remove Navajos from their homelands on Black Mesa to make way for coal mining and use their pristine aquifer water to transport coal. She remembers too the old ones, the Hopi elders who have now passed, who knew their sacred prophecies and supported the Navajos resisting relocation.

Between Carrie and Louise, there is a sad solace, a camaraderie based on pain and the relentless, never-ending, fight to protect the land. "All of the land, our Mother Earth, is sacred," Carrie says, looking out over the mountains of Western Shoshone territory, mountains soon to be sprinkled with snow, soon to be devoured and cored for gold extraction.

"We are the original people of this land," Carrie says. For Carrie, not all of the memories are bad. She remembers how the young people came and manned the support and resistance here for more than a decade; how one friend came regularly through the years with boxes of vegetables and short ribs.

On this weekend, Western Shoshone gather in nearby Elko, Nev., to talk and listen. Western Shoshone Chet Stevens begins by encouraging the youth to follow the path of the spirit. Chet tells how it took the loss of his brother and sister for him to begin his life of sobriety and journey on the Sundance road.

With Chet's prayers and songs, the conference begins as Katherine Blossom, Western Shoshone, sings the earth song and a song for the peoples of the world.

Western Shoshone arrive with huge pots of food, fresh deer meat, all kinds of salads, deserts and fresh baked rolls.

With Western Shoshone Larson Bill coordinating, the weekend meeting in Elko begins with Carrie remembering the air, water and earth. Steve Newcomb, Shawnee/Lenape, of the Indian Law Resource Center, shares research on the Papal Bulls and how the doctrine of discovery led to the seizure of Indian lands.

Western Shoshone leaders, including Raymond Yowell, speak of this struggle.

The delegation of Western Shoshone who went to the United Nations share the victory of the ruling for the United States to "cease and desist" violating their rights.

Judy Rojo, Western Shoshone, was among those who presented the facts to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination in Geneva and received the ruling in March of 2006.

"When we got that decree, we decided to do a round dance and it was just the most glorious experience I've ever had," Rojo said.

Western Shoshone tell those gathered that the whole world has been watching their struggle to defend their land. Louise Benally reminds them they have been an inspiration to Indian people everywhere.

The Western Shoshone and their lands have been, and continue to be, in the target scope of the United States' ongoing genocide of American Indians.

Since the 1950s, the US government has used Western Shoshone lands to test hundreds of nuclear weapons, to dispose of thousands of metric tons of radioactive waste, and has spent billions of dollars to study Yucca Mountain as a nuclear dumpsite for the nuclear industry.

Now, corporate gold mining is coring out the mountains for gold. Western Shoshone territory ranks second in world gold production behind South Africa.

Using a method that involves grinding up whole mountains to extract minute particles of gold, this heap leach gold mining is resulting in the desecration of sacred places and destruction of air, water and land.

In 1973, following the discovery of minute particles of gold in the earth, the US charged Western Shoshone Mary and Carrie Dann ranchers with "trespass." Claiming that these lands are public lands, the Bureau of Land Management began seizing their livestock.

Western Shoshone, however, were guaranteed their right to this land in the 1863 Treaty of Ruby Valley, with the agreement that Western Shoshone would use the land for ranching and allow non-Indians to pass through their lands. Western Shoshone did not cede their lands.

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination urged the United States to "freeze," "desist" and "stop" actions violating the Western Shoshone's human rights in March of 2006.

This decision challenges the US government's assertion of federal ownership of nearly 90 percent of Western Shoshone lands. The land base covers about 60 million acres of what is now referred to as Nevada, Idaho, Utah and California.

The decision followed the military style seizures of Shoshone livestock, trespass fines in the millions of dollars and ongoing-armed surveillance of Western Shoshone who continue to assert their original and treaty rights.

The UN Committee's decision urged the US to respect and protect the human rights of Western Shoshone peoples and enter into dialogue with Shoshone to find solutions, which upholds their rights.

Further, the UN Committee urged the US to freeze all efforts to privatize Western Shoshone ancestral lands and stop imposing grazing fees and halt livestock impoundments.

The United States has not responded.

Continued in Part II...

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' CAUCUS
UNITED NATIONS
General Assembly
61st Session
NEW YORK
13 November 2006
COMMUNIQUE

The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus held an emergency meeting this morning due to a report that a few States will take procedural actions to derail the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This report is evidenced by the Government of Botswana's statement delivered to the Third Committee on 10 November, which contained a highly inaccurate and prejudicial interpretation of the Declaration provisions. Upon review of this written statement, we
note that Botswana has adopted the words and views of the governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. Their intent appears to threaten the adoption of the Declaration. In contrast, the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus acknowledges the overwhelming state support for the Declaration. Though these many allies and co-sponsors of the Peruvian resolution recommending UNGA adoption of the Declaration (A/C.3/61/L.18) have made repeated, unsuccessful efforts for dialogue with all States, Botswana seems entrenched to do major violence to the text of the Declaration or to defeat its adoption by UNGA. In response to this development, we issue this statement.

The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus hereby affirms their global and unanimous support for the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as adopted by the UN Human Rights Council on June 29, 2006.

The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus hereby repeats its request that the UN General Assembly immediately adopt the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which constitutes the minimum standards for the survival, well-being and dignity of Indigenous Peoples worldwide. Such action should take place before the end of 2006.

The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus does not support any proposal for extensions of time, establishment of committees, working groups or any other forum for consideration of the illegitimate ''concerns"' of the governments of Botswana, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States, under any conditions.

The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus hereby demands that the proponents (Botswana, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States) of any such proposals cease their self-serving politicization of the United Nations as well as their abuse of the rules of procedures and persistence of double standards in the context of the human rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The Indigenous Peoples' Caucus supports the United Nations objective to usher in a new era for human rights within the UN system, to strengthen human rights as one of the pillars of global order, and the Human Rights Council's role to establish a non-political approach to human rights for all peoples and individuals. In light of the appalling human rights records of Botswana, Canada,
Australia, New Zealand and the United States in the context of Indigenous Peoples, it is unconscionable that they have chosen to reject one of the first HRC recommendations for the approval of a UN human rights instrument specifically addressing the unique status and rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The world community must acknowledge that Indigenous Peoples worldwide have expended over 21 years and immeasurable resources to engage in good faith, transparent, intellectually honest debate and negotiation with States in order to achieve consensus on the Declaration provisions. The result has been a fair and balanced text, which takes into account the concerns of States as well as the rights of others and is consistent with international law, including the Charter of the United Nations.

This current State opposition to one of the first recommendations of the new Human Rights Council is immoral and without legitimate or substantive cause. If successful, such action will seriously undermine and potentially deem irrelevant the whole of the UN human rights regime for not only Indigenous Peoples but for all humanity.

Finally, the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus notes the irony of State consensus and support for a legally binding Convention [for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance] while at the same time in the context of the world 's most vulnerable, poverty stricken, human rights victims, that Botswana, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United States cannot support a non-binding, aspirational Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

----

General Assembly
61st session
United Nations, New York
12 November 2006

U.N. Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Human Rights Response:
Why a proposal to delay adoption should not be supported

1. Declaration based on core international principles and values. The Declaration is based on core international principles and values that embrace tolerance, peace and respect for the dignity of all cultures and peoples. In particular, the Declaration is described as a "standard of achievement to be pursued in a spirit of partnership and mutual respect".

2. Human rights of all must be respected. Human rights are generally relative in nature and not absolute. Consistent with the U.N. Charter, the Declaration specifically requires that the "human rights and freedoms of all shall be respected".

3. Provisions must be read in overall context. Each provision of the Declaration cannot be read in isolation, but rather interpreted in the context of the instrument as a whole. To do otherwise, would lead to extremist and absolute interpretations that could not be justified under the Declaration or international human rights law as a whole. Regretfully, the CANZUS group - Canada, Australia, New Zealand and United States- continues to interpret the Declaration
in this fragmented and erroneous manner.

4. No new rights created. The Declaration does not create new rights. It elaborates upon existing international human rights standards as they apply to Indigenous peoples.

5. Rule of law and other core international principles always considered. Every provision of the Declaration must be "interpreted in accordance with the principles of justice, democracy, respect for human rights, equality,
non-discrimination, good governance and good faith." This allows for both flexibility and balance. The reference to "good governance" ensures that the rule of law within States is fully considered in every instance without exception. As an aspirational instrument, the Declaration does not upend the rule of law domestically or internationally.

6. Broader agreement not possible. As the Chair of the intersessional Working Group on the Declaration has concluded, along with many States, additional time will not lead to any broader agreement. This is in large part because of the obstructionist role repeatedly played by United States, Australia and New Zealand during the Working Group.

7. Re-opening negotiations likely to kill the Declaration. Re-opening negotiations on the Declaration is certain to create serious new divisions and prevent its adoption by the General Assembly. Such an extreme step would be unconscionable.

8. Harmonious and cooperative relations encouraged. The Declaration explicitly encourages "harmonious and cooperative relations" between States and Indigenous peoples. Nine preambular paragraphs and 15 operative articles specify consultations, cooperation or partnership between Indigenous peoples and States.

9. Over 20 years of discussion. There have already been more than 20 years of discussions on the Declaration among States and Indigenous peoples in U.N. Working groups. This makes the Declaration one of the most discussed and studied declarations in U.N. history. All revisions by the Chair were based on prior discussions.

10. Any "procedural" resolution for delay would be highly detrimental. It is shocking and disturbing that there could be an amendment or resolution to re-open negotiations on the Declaration. Such a proposal is not procedural since it could destroy the Declaration.

11. Misleading strategy already attempted at Human Rights Council. Last June, Canada tried and failed with a similar strategy at the first meeting of the Council. In its Statement on June 27, 2006, Canada quoted its Minister of Indian Affairs as saying issues could be resolved by all parties "in a few more months". This claim was knowingly false and misleading. Just the day before,
Canada's Prime Minister Stephen Harper indicated in writing the need for a " two-year negotiation mandate".

12. CANZUS group of States politicizing rights in the Declaration. Based on their own domestic agendas, a few Western States are actively encouraging other States to delay the adoption of the Declaration under the guise of seeking " improvements". In so doing, the CANZUS group is continuing to politicize Indigenous peoples' human rights. Such actions severely undermine the Council and current U.N. reforms.

13. For the past 8 months CANZUS group has avoided all consultations with Indigenous peoples. The CANZUS group already had the past eight months to consult with Indigenous peoples within their own respective countries on any State concerns with the Declaration. Yet none of these States engaged in any consultations with Indigenous peoples. None of these States genuinely seek to "improve" the Declaration.

14. Canada violating its constitutional and international obligations. Despite its constitutional obligations to consult Indigenous peoples, Canada has opted to vigorously and unilaterally oppose the Declaration through procedural and other strategies during the past eight months. As a Human Rights Council member, Canada is failing to "uphold the highest standards in the promotion and protection of human rights . . . [and] fully cooperate with the Council", as
required by the General Assembly.

15. Essential for survival, dignity and well-being of Indigenous peoples. The Declaration promotes equality and non-discrimination for all. The Declaration is essential for the survival, dignity and well-being of the Indigenous peoples of the world.

16. Strengthens international human rights system. Adoption of the Declaration by the General Assembly supports the vital work of the Human Rights Council and strengthens the international human rights system as a whole.

Issued by the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus - November 12, 2006

Les Malezer
Chairperson, Indigenous Peoples Caucus at UN

CONTACT
Email: les.malezer@faira.org.au
Cell: +1 (917) 774 7436
Website: www.ipcaucus.net

OFFICE
The Church Center
777 UN Plaza
IITC Office, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10017

Tel: +1 (212) 682 3633 ext. 3123

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URGENT: UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples - Adoption Threatened

PRINTABLE VERSIONS in .DOC or .PDF

TONATIERRA
Fecha: Lunes noviembre 6, 2006
Contactos: Tupac  Enrique Acosta
(602) 466-8367 Salvador Reza:  (602) 446-9928

Asamblea del Barrio Garfield
Asociación de Vecindarios
NAHUACALLI
 
Sábado noviembre 11, 2006  Saturday
10:00 AM
NAHUACALLI
802 N. 7th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85006

Phoenix, AZ – La Asamblea del Barrio Garfield, miembros de las asociación de vecindarios NAHUACALLI, invita al Pueblo a participar en la siguiente reunión de la asociación, citado para el día sábado 11, de noviembre de 2006. La Asamblea se realiza en las instalaciones de TONATIERRA, ubicado en la 802 N. 7th Street en Phoenix.

La Asamblea del Barrio Garfield, integrado por miembros de la comunidad que comparten trabajos colectivos como Las Comadres en el área de salud, también se preocupan por los problemas de la gente rentera, y los dueños de casa en el Barrio Garfield.

La Asamblea del Barrio Garfield, formado bajo los principios ancestrales de la cultura de los Pueblos Indígenas Aztecas, se identifica como una instancia de recuperación cultural  y organización familiar en el campo social del los barrios mexicanos de Phoenix.

Como prioridad en la agenda del sábado 11 de noviembre se discutiría los retos a la comunidad en la cuestión de vivienda, con intención de evitar intenciones de legalizar con propuestas legislativos la discriminación a nuestra gente rentera y dueños de casa en términos de servicios y acceso al derecho a trabajar y mantener una vida digna.

La Asamblea tiene como meta global la preservación, el desarrollo y la integración del Barrio Garfield.

"Tumbaron nuestras frutas,
Cortaron nuestras ramas,
Quemaron nuestro tronco,
Pero no pudieron matar a nuestras raíces."
 
 

Asamblea del Barrio Garfield
NAHUACALLI
TONATIERRA

http://www.tonatierra.org/

NAHUACALLI: Asamblea del Barrio Garfield - Sabado 11 de noviembre

Oaxaca
!Nos matan pero no murimos!

Protest Demonstration and Act of Solidarity with Oaxaca

When: Wednesday, November 1st - 11:00 AM
Where: Mexican Consulate 19th Avenue and Camelback in Phoenix. Az


TONATIERRA is calling for a community protest and act of solidarity in response to the actions of the Mexican Federal Government and the state of Oaxaca which has resulted in the death of several individuals, including an Indymedia reporter Bradley Roland Will over the weekend.

The issues involve the rights of the Teachers Union, the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in Mexico, electoral fraud and coercion, and a state of siege in the state of Oaxaca in Mexico.

Please forward this message.


TONATIERRA
Tupac Enrique Acosta
Email: chantlaca@aol.com
www.tonatierra.org

For independent converage of the struggle in Oaxaca:
http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/index.html


Urgent Call from the A.N.S.W.E.R. Coalition  Defend the people of Oaxaca!
http://answer.pephost.org/site/News2?abbr=ANS_&page=NewsArticle&id=8053

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DE LOS PUEBLOS Y ORGANIZACIONES INDÍGENAS DEL PAÍS

Asesinar no es parte del orden constitucional, y alrededor de 20 son los muertos que en Oaxaca han caído, todos de parte del pueblo.

Torturar no es respetar los Derechos Humanos, y la SEDENA torturó a los presos políticos en la 28 zona militar la madrugada la madrugada del lunes 30 de octubre.

Allanar hogares sin orden judicial no es restaurar la gobernabilidad, y hubo allanamientos en toda la ciudad.

Los grupos paramilitares, los policías vestidos de civil, los porros pagados por Ulises Ruiz no son las fuerzas del orden, y por cientos han cometido crímenes en el sur del país.

El acuerdo político no se construye con tanquetas, macanas, gas lacrimógeno y terror.

El Estado de Derecho no se restablece apuntalando a un asesino con licencia para matar en el gobierno de Oaxaca.

El diálogo no se construye con mentiras, y el vocero del presidente nada en la mentira y el oprobio cuando afirma que no hubo muertos en el operativo de la PFP. Delante de él, en todos los periódicos nacionales, están las fotos de los cadáveres de nuestros compañeros.

Nos pronunciamos a la demanda de Oaxaca: La salida de Ulises Ruiz.

Los pueblos indígenas hemos pedido democracia, igualdad y justicia. En paz y con firmeza lo hemos hecho. Sólo fuerza, terror y miseria recibimos.

Pero no nos rendimos ni nos vendemos.

TONATIERRA
www.tonatierra.org
*************

http://nyc.indymedia.org/en/index.html
AMNISTIA INTERNACIONAL
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
Numero del Servicio de Noticias:     280              
30 de octubre de 2006

Mexico: El respeto a los derechos humanos esencial para la resolucion del conflicto en Oaxaca


Amnistá Internacional llama a las autoridades federales a que garanticen que los agentes de la PolicÌa Federal Preventiva respeten los derechos humanos de los manifestantes y aseguren el orden p˙blico, incluyendo la seguridad de cualquier persona que se encuentre en los alrededores de la manifestación convocada hoy por la Asamblea Popular del Pueblo de Oaxaca (APPO) en la Ciudad de Oaxaca, en respuesta al operativo policial del dÌa 29 de octubre.

El uso de la fuerza contra los manifestantes y ciudadanos de Oaxaca sólo puede ser usado como ˙ltimo recurso y con apego estricto a las normas internacionales de proporcionalidad y necesidad de acuerdo a la amenaza enfrentada.

De acuerdo a informes recibidos, al menos dos manifestantes murieron durante el operativo del 29 de octubre. Entre ellos se encuentra Alberto Jorge López Bernal, quien aparentemente murió como consecuencia del impacto que sufrió por una bomba de gas lacrimógeno en el estómago. Varios otros manifestantes fueron lesionados. Amnistá Internacional urge a las autoridades federales a que estos incidentes sean investigados de forma independiente con el objeto de establecer si la policÌa actuó o no de acuerdo con sus obligaciones legales. Asimismo, las autoridades deben garantizar el pleno respeto a la integridad fÌsica y debido proceso de al menos 30 personas que se encuentran detenidas.

El 27 de octubre, el periodista Bradley Roland Will murió a consecuencia de impactos de bala durante enfrentamientos con individuos vestidos de civil incluyendo policás municipales, seg˙n los informes. Al menos tres personas m·s habrá muerte en situaciones similares mientras estaban en las barricadas del APPO en varias partes de la ciudad de Oaxaca. Amnistá Internacional condena estos hechos y urge a las autoridades a llevar a cabo una investigación imparcial para llevar a los responsables ante la justicia. Una investigación independiente debe de determinar la responsabilidad de las autoridades municipales y estatales en la promoción o la tolerancia de la violencia y violaciones de derechos humanos.

Amnistá Internacional hace igualmente un llamamiento a los organizadores de las protestas en oposiciÛn al Gobernador del Estado de Oaxaca a respetar el estado de derecho y evitar el uso de cualquier mÈtodo de protesta que ponga en riesgo la integridad fÌsica de otros manifestantes o transeúntes.


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INDIGENOUS PEOPLES' CAUCUS

UN affirms Indigenous Peoples are not equal to all other Peoples

The Indigenous Caucus is shocked and outraged by the actions of the United Nations, who today failed to adopt the most important international instrument for the promotion and protection of human rights for Indigenous Peoples. The Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which represents more than 20 years of work within the UN, constitutes the minimum standards for their survival, dignity and well-being.

The newly created UN Human Rights Council, which is the premier international body to deal with human rights, adopted the Declaration in June of this year. The Declaration was one of the substantial achievements of the Council. However, it was delivered a huge blow today by African States, most of whom had chosen not to participate throughout this standard-setting process. Africa took the lead in blocking the adoption of the Declaration, which strategy was supported and encouraged by New Zealand, Canada, Australia and the United States.

It is clear that these actions are a politicization of human rights that show complete disregard for the ongoing human rights abuses suffered by Indigenous Peoples. This betrayal and injustice severely impacts 370 million Indigenous people in all regions of the world, who are among the most marginalized and vulnerable.

On May 24, 2002, Secretary General Kofi Annan, had proclaimed that the world's Indigenous Peoples “have a home at the United Nations”.

However, today's vote by opposing States clearly demonstrates that this is not the case.

Indigenous Peoples Caucus At UN Headquarters, New York

Contacts:
Les Malezer, Chairperson, Indigenous Peoples Caucus - +1 917 774 7346
Mattias Ahren, Arctic Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +47 47 379161
Grand Chief Ed John, North American Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +1 604 219 1705
Jennifer Tauli Corpuz, Asian Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +1 520 461 2042

ONU: Comunicado del Caucus de Pueblos Indígenas en la ONU.

28 de noviembre de 2006.- El caucus indígena se siente sorprendido y ultrajado por lo sucedido en las Naciones Unidas, que hoy (ayer) se han negado a adoptar el instrumento internacional más importante para la promoción y protección de los derechos humanos para los Pueblos Indígenas. La Declaración de los Derechos de los Pueblos Indígenas, que significa más de 20 años de trabajo en la ONU, constituye la norma mínima para su supervivencia, dignidad y bienestar.

El recién creado Consejo de Derechos Humanos de la ONU, que es el más importante organismo internacional sobre derechos humanos, adoptó la Declaración en junio de este año. La Declaración fue uno de los mayores logros del Consejo. Pero hoy ha recibido un duro golpe de los estados africanos, la mayoría de los cuales habían decidido no participar en el proceso de elaboración de la Declaración. África tomó la iniciativa para bloquear la adopción de la Declaración, una estrategia apoyada y animada por Nueva Zelanda, Canadá, Australia y los Estados Unidos.

Está claro que estas acciones son una politización de los derechos humanos que muestran un total desprecio por las violaciones de los derechos humanos que sufren los Pueblos Indígenas. Esta traición y esta injusticia son un duro golpe para los 370 millones de indígenas de todas las regiones del mundo, que se encuentran entre los más marginados y vulnerables.

El 24 de mayo de 2002, el Secretario General Kofi Annan proclamó que los Pueblos Indígenas del mundo “tienen un hogar en las Naciones Unidas”. Pero los votos en contra de hoy demuestran que eso no es cierto.

From the Indigenous Peoples' Caucus. 28 November 2006

Contacts:

Les Malezer, Chairperson, Indigenous Peoples Caucus - +1 917 774 7346
Mattias Ahren, Arctic Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +47 47 379161
Grand Chief Ed John, North American Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +1 604 219 1705
Jennifer Tauli Corpuz, Asian Caucus, Indigenous Peoples - +1 520 461 2042

Indigenous Peoples Caucus http://www.ipcaucus.net/

United States opposes declaration on Native rights http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096414049
International Outrage, Betrayal and Injustice: Statement by Indigenous Peoples Caucus