BOLIVIA: Thousands of indigenous Bolivians prepare to begin historic march in defence of the National Isiboro Secure Park

Record ID: 777388

  • Title: BOLIVIA: Thousands of indigenous Bolivians prepare to begin historic march in defence of the National Isiboro Secure Park
  • Date: 15th August 2011
  • Summary: SAN IGNACIO DE MOXOS, BOLIVIA (AUGUST 14, 2011) (REUTERS) GENERAL VIEW OF THE MAMORE RIVER IN THE JUNGLE GENERAL VIEW OF WORKERS AND CATTLE CATTLE RUNNING GENERAL VIEW OF HEAVY MACHINERY ALONG THE TRINIDAD HIGHWAY SIGN ON MACHINERY THAT READS OAS (CONSTRUCTION COMPANY FOR THE THIRD PHASE OF THE HIGHWAY FROM TRINIDAD TO SAN IGNACIO DE MOXOS) HEAVY MACHINERY AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OAS WORKER HOLDING A CHAINSAW VARIOUS OF A TREE THAT HAS BEEN CUT TREE ON GROUND AND PERSON HUGGING IT TO SHOW HOW THICK THE DIAMETER IS VARIOUS OF WORKERS CUTTING WOOD GENERAL VIEW OF THE TRINIDAD-SAN IGNACIO DE MOXOS HIGHWAY GENERAL VIEW OF THE VEGETATION AND CUT TREES WOMAN FROM THE MOJENHA COMMUNITY IN SAN IGNACIO DE MOXOS WOMAN LEAVING HER HOME, WHICH IS ABOUT SIX KILOMETERS (3.7 MILES) FROM SAN IGNACIO WOMAN CARRYING CHILD VARIOUS OF WOMAN COOKING A RADIO HANGING IN THE HOME (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEPUTY GOVERNOR OF THE SAN IGNACIO PROVINCE, HECTOR BEJARANO CONGO, SAYING: "First, it would be a threat to lose the geographic space, which is to say that our government is not enforcing the norms. And it shouldn't subjugate so that its territory won't be taken away, the big home that are the indigenous territories. The other threat that could come is the possible loss of our indigenous culture." GENERAL VIEW OF VEGETATION GENERAL VIEW OF A HOME WHERE A FAMILY FROM THE MOXHENA COMMUNITY LIVES
  • Embargoed: 30th August 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Bolivia, Plurinational State Of
  • Country: Bolivia
  • Topics: Business,Industry,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA6TLGBC0TBAY1P4NCZZTU5NG9A
  • Story Text: Thousands of indigenous Bolivians gathered in Trinidad on Sunday (August 14) as they prepare to begin a historic march in defense of the National Isiboro Secure Park.
    The government of President Evo Morales has begun construction of a highway that slices through the park that is protected by the law Rights of the Indigenous People.
    The park ranges over 1.2 million hectares and features one of South America's largest water reserves. According to reports, if the construction is carried out to completion, some 600,000 hectares will be deforested over the next 20 years.
    "First, it would be a threat to lose the geographic space, which is to say that our government is not enforcing the norms. And it shouldn't subjugate so that its territory won't be taken away, the big home that are the indigenous territories. The other threat that could come is the possible loss of our indigenous culture," said Hector Bejarano, deputy governor of the San Ignacio de Moxos Province.
    The highway is being built to facilitate the transportation of goods from Beni to markets in La Paz and elsewhere. The plan launched in 1990 and since then, indigenous groups have filed some 900 petitions requesting that the territory be respected and protected.
    The project is being financed by the Brazilian government, who says that money won't be supplied until Bolivians agree on the project.
    "The objective is that the financing from Brazil is conditioned upon a project that meets Bolivian and Brazilian requirements," said Brazilian Ambassador Marcel Biato.
    "There is no human activity that doesn't have an impact on the environment. We believe it generates economic growth and prosperity. It seems to me that the main issue at play is how to build a democratic consensus; it is not unanimity, which doesn't exist in politics, but consensus. How do we reach it in an objective manner, in a transparent manner."
    The controversial project caused a demonstration, organized via social networking websites, in which 500 people participated to defend the Tipnis reserve.
    "The Tipnis is important because of the biodiversity that it has. More than 3,600 species of fauna live there. We demand respect for the human rights of the indigenous communities: the Yucarae, Moxenhos and Chiman. There are treasures there in timber, vegetation and the culture of three communities, which is an inalienable right. We ask for respect for human rights," said acitivist Daniela Leyton.
    Sixty-four communites of indigenous people live in the area and they have said they consider that construction of a highway would be a colonization and looting of natural resources.
    Recently, the Bolivian government said there is oil and gas in the Tipnis area.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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