Bolivia: 1000 km March of Indigenas

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1000 Km March Begins Due to Weak Accords for Bolivian Indigenous Peoples

by Derrick Hindery / Atossa Soltani 12:30pm Tue Jul 11 '00
address: Santa Cruz, Bolivia phone: 011-591-16-82490/
011-591-3-436579/001-310-456-1340 dhindery@ucla.edu, asoltani@igc.org

Santa Cruz, Bolivia -- Skeptical of limited accords reached with the
government, over 900 indigenous people, campesinos and colonists from
across the Bolivian Amazon and lowlands will embark at noon today on a
month long, 1000 kilometer march to La Paz.

For Immediate Release: July 11, 2000

Contact: Derrick Hindery (Bolivia) 011-591-16-82490/ 011-591-3-436579
or Email: dhindery@ucla.edu
Atossa Soltani (U.S.) 001-310-456-1340 or email: asoltani@igc.org

1000 Kilometer March to La Paz Begins as Negotiations Between Bolivian
Indigenous Peoples and Government Produce Weak Accords

Government Accused of Trying to Buy Leaders to Deter March

Santa Cruz, Bolivia -- Three days of negotiations with government
officials produced limited accords, including acceleration of land
titling, recommendation of the creation of an indigenous development fund
with debt relief resources, and suspension of lumber concessions until
land titling is complete. However, many feel that the majority of demands
have not been met and are skeptical that the government will comply with
agreements reached. Yesterday, another 100 people arrived amidst intense
rains, and now over 900 indigenous people, campesinos and colonists from
across the Bolivian Amazon and lowlands will embark at noon today on a
month long, 1000 kilometer march to La Paz.

"We are tired of promises. For the last four years they [the government]
have signed papers but have never presented us with land titles or legal
measures that truly help us." (Jose Bailaba, President of the Coordinating
Body of Indigenous Peoples of Santa Cruz)

Two previous marches in 1990 and 1996 resulted in significant gains, but
lack of compliance and on-going problems of land security, natural
resource degradation, and poverty have lead indigenous, campesino, and
colonist leaders to call for "The Third March for Land, Territory, and
Natural Resources."

"The authorities are trying to destroy the march but we won't let that
happen because we are living in a democracy. We have to make Bolivia
become a true democracy." (Eusebio Carrasco, Executive Secretary of the
Santa Cruz Federation of Colonists)

Indigenous, campesino, and colonist leaders claim that a representative
from the World Bank funded Vice-Ministry of Indigenous Affairs and Native
Peoples, Vice-Minister Wigberto Rivero, offered them money to deter the
march to La Paz. A local reporter attested that another government
official offered the marchers $1.61 each. In addition, the government
representatives warned that all road blockades would be eradicated.

Yesterday, as preparations for the march were taking place, leaders from
the national indigenous federation were working to ensure that the accords
reached were given a higher legal status, providing a greater guarantee
they would be implemented. However, marchers find it highly doubtful that
these continuing negotiations will produce the results they desire.

For more information or to obtain high resolution digital photographs of
the event see CIDOB's web site at www.cidob.f2s.com/ganpi2000/,
www.cidob.f2s.com, www.paraba.f2s.com, and www.oyendu.f2s.com. Digital
video of the events is also available upon request.
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