Amazon
Alliance <amazon@amazonalliance.org>
(unofficial translation)
Received:
opiacol@007mundo.com
SOS
for the Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC)
The
The
Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC) requests the
support of bodies supporting human rights, along with non-governmental
organizations, governments and indigenous communities around the world in order
for the Colombian government to comply with the mandate by the [federal Constitutional]
Court. According to the court, the government must consult with indigenous
peoples in accordance with ILO Convention 169 in regards to the herbicidal
fumigation of illicit crops in indigenous peoples
territories. It is essential for the
indigenous peoples of the Colombian Amazon that this practice be terminated as
it is detrimental to their health, bio-diversity and cultural diversity, and
causes great damage to their ancestral territory.
1.
The Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC) has,
since 2001, placed orders in the Colombian high court against various Colombian
authorities with the hope that the judicial body would protect indigenous
peoples' most fundamental rights to life including health, personal
development, cultural integrity, civil participation, due process of law, and a
clean, safe environment.
2.
The Colombian Constitutional Court in the General Session on March 11 and May
13, 2003, according to dossier T-517583, resolved to protect the right that
indigenous peoples "demanded with regards to ethnic diversity, cultural
diversity, participation, and personal development" without including the
right "for the reestablishment of the collective interests to life,
health, and a safe/clean environment,".
-Even
though the decision favoring the indigenous peoples is not the view shared by
everyone, it is considered an important step since it opens up areas for
participation for all within the country of
3.
As of right now, the debate has once again become a key issue. It has been
years since the time at which the fumigations began in Colombian land. As a
result, we request that all scientific, social, economic, political,
governmental or non-governmental bodies, and defenders of human rights, that
possess studies and information regarding the fumigations program, please send
documents and concerns that you have in regards to the issue to OPIAC, Carrera 8. No,
19-24 piso 5, telephone: 2826010 in Bogota, Colombia.
Email: opiacol@007mundo.com.
4.
Until today, OPIAC has not received news of the decision by the
"In
regards to the existing tension between the Eradication Program of illicit
substances, which governing bodies (the President of the Republic, The National
Council on Narcotics, the Ministers of the Interior and Justice, and the
Minister of the Environment) are demanding continue within the Amazon region,
and the cosmovision of the original, ancestral
communities that occupy the area, the Court considers it essential that the
reasoning, alternatives, and suggestions proposed by the indigenous peoples of
the Amazon be valued by the authorities that lead the program, in accordance
with the rule on prior informed consent in Law 21 of 1991, that supports ILO
Convention 169."
As
a result, it appears to us as indigenous peoples, that this sentence states
that the Colombian government may not fumigate in indigenous territories
without previously consulting with each and every indigenous peoples.
5.
With the Court's decision we await the beginning of a larger debate not only at
the national level but also at the international level on the reality of the
effects that fumigations are having on indigenous peoples. In preparation for
the governmental consultation, our communities have begun to develop simple
strategies. We believe that the consultation should be financed by the same
governmental department as states ILO Convention 169. Additionally, it should
be developed within the same affected communities and not by a single leader or
head. We urge all affected indigenous communities to actively participate by
providing their proposals on alternatives to the current program of erradication of illicit substances through aerial spraying
and its damaging effects in our territories.
6.
The preceding themes were addressed in the first meeting of the OPIAC
network. Among the participants were
delegates from the Public Ombudsman's office, the Attorney General of the
Nation, MINGA, the Collective of Lawyers, and other indigenous delegates and
representatives from various regions of the Amazon interested in these themes.
The meetings will continue and we hope that more relationships develop and
form, in order to broaden the number of proposals on alternatives to the
current fumigations program.
7.
It is logical that the Court's decision be for the benefit of the indigenous
peoples and communities that are affected.
For that, we need to build relationships and include the entire nation,
seeking the support of all governmental or non-governmental organizations who
already consider this a problem in order to seek out solutions for the
well-being of all of
Executive Committee of OPIAC