4 12 40 http://saiic.nativeweb.org/ayn/files/original/769d4f6b5e9b1c0481ada5c9e7df7b95.pdf 2444161ae7b36e293c9625328d16f8dc PDF Text Text GUATEMALA The Land is Our Life Statement by a Returnee My name 1S Pedro Coq Chen. I was In the Mayatecimcamp In the state ofCampeehe. I Uved there for nine years. Wellved In Chlapas near the Echeverria border for a year and a half before that. From there we went to Campeche In 1984. Now we are conung back from Campeehe. Wehopethatourretumgoesweu. We have dectded to get to know our land again, because the land 1S our Ufe, the llfe of all campeslnos. Acampeslno cannot live Without land. That 1S why we refugees and our leaders have been making plans since 1985 to return to plots of land which we left behind. Now we want to go back there and get to know our country again. We separated ourselves from our country, but not because we wanted to. The government has said we went to Mexico because we are arrogant or beca use we do not want to work. ThiS 1S not true. We suffered. We suffered exploltaUon, VIolence. massacres. Those who were suffering left. We "The left to seek refuge. Many of those who could government has not leave dJed -men. women. chlldren and old said we went to people. They were far away In other departments such as Coban and Alta Verapaz. Mexico because People do not know what the army we are arrogant has been doing. ChUdren were murdered. We or because we suffered a lot. 1n Mexico we met up wtth brothers and siSters who had also suffered; do not want to who had been treated badly by the army. We work. This is had to leave to escape the massacres. 1n Mexico we reall7-ed that we are the not true. We same people even If we are from dJfferent suffered.n ethnic groups. I hope that which happened to 30 us does not happen again. For usn started In 1980. That 1S when we started leaVIng. Those who were able to leave are going backnow.WhenwccametoMex!cowcbrought young chlldren. When I came I brought two chUdren. one girl and one boy. Now they are big. I hope It does not happen to us again. We suffered a lot. There was much sorrow. Despite the fact that the government 1S allowtng us to return, I have very strong feelings. It 1S not our fault that we work 1n the country side. We live In the Reina area so they thought we were Involved In certain problems. certain organl?.a.Uons. But we were working peacefully In our cooperaUves. I would go to the capital, Guatemala City. to settle accounts wtth the Colonel. the coordinator oflNACOP (NaUona!Agrtcultural InStitute for CooperaUves). I would go see hJm once a month. But I always had dJIDculty to get back to my land. The problems began In 1981. 8y 1982 It had become very bad and we had to leave. The government pursued us night and day 1n thejungle. They pressured us a lot. They let us suffer hunger and faugue. Those of us who were able to leave were only able to save our bodJes. Our bodJes and our chlldren were the only things we saved. The belongings we had were lost. We lost them because we were no longer able to carrythemdayandnlght. Wesull'eredaloton the days when It rained. ThiS 1S what I experienced and there Js nothing else I can say. Source: Peace Brigades International Abya Yala Hews � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 7, nos. 1 &amp; 2, (Winter/Spring 1993) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Guatemala: The Land is Our Life: Statement by a Returnee Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring/Winter 1993 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Guatemala: The Land is Our Life: Statement by a Returnee Item Type Journal Article Volume 7 Issue 1,2 Pages 30 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring/Winter 1993 Language English Abstract Note Pedro Coq Chen is a Guatemalan refugee in Mexico who is returning back to his homeland. Attachment Title The Land is Our Life.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Guatemala Guatemalan refugees http://saiic.nativeweb.org/ayn/files/original/eed2889216fb087423e2fc6030059d80.pdf 36a1c09b6d3d8ae17c93dc03012ae476 PDF Text Text NEVADA United States Invasion of Shoshone Land "By taking away our livestock and our lands you are taking away our Jives." -Clifford Dann For more informo6on ond updates, please contact: Western Shoshone Defense Project General Delivery Crescent Valley, Nevada 89821 Tel: {702) 386·9834 Fax: (702) 386·9335 36 Forllvedays, November 19-24,1992. the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLMJ Invaded Western Shoshone territory In Ne· vada. stating Its Intention to round up ·unau• thortzed horses· found graztng on ·public lands-. Two hundred and forty-siX horses were rounded up. of which 40 were tended by Mary and Carrie Dann and 229 were wUd. On the first day of the round up Shoshone elder Cllfford Dann. father of the two sisters. was Injured while trying to block the confiscation of the horses. 1n desperation. he dowsed himself with gasoline declaring. "by taking away our livestock and our lands you are taking away our lives.- He was s ubsequenUycharged with assault on federal officers. Through this action the BLM not only stole the horses from land which belongs to the Western Shoshone. as recognt7.ed by the Treaty of Ruby Valley, but the government also VIolated Its own Federal WUd Horse and Burro Act which regulates removal of wUd horses. Durtng hJS trial. Cllfford's only wit· ness was an expert In ethnological Jurisprudence who testlfled that existing law precluded the U.S. Court's Jurisdiction In Westem Shoshone territory. This was the defense strategy. because Cllfford preferred to be conVIcted rather than ·get off' on a technicality. On March 3. 1993 Cllfford Dann was conVIcted and Imprisoned. The Western Shoshone Defense Proj ect Is organiZing a demonstration to coincide with Cllfford's sentencing hearing In Reno on May 17, 1993. Thecrttlcalj uriSdlc· tiona! Issues w111 serve as the basts for an appeal. Since 1773, theTreatyofRubyValley confirms the Shoshone Indians' "juriSdiction.· whUe arguably surrendering legal -titleto the land over which that Jurtsdlctlon still extsts.ln 1863 the Western Shoshone Nation signed a treaty of Peace and Friendship with the United States that granted rtghts of passage to U.S. ctt.lzens without glvtng up the land. Since Its ratlfleatlon In 1869, this docu· ment delineates the boundaries of Western Shoshone territory. However. the presiding judge In the Dann case has decided not to acknowledge that "title" and "Jurisdiction· are dliTerent legal concepts. Even though so far the U.S. govemmenthasfalled to produce any eVIdence of documents gtvtng the U.S. title to the land. The Jurtsdlctlonal and "title- tssues are convoluted with a claim of U.S. purchase ofland from the Shoshone In 1872. This claim was made by a Bureau oflndlan AffairS (BIA) puppet ·representing the Interests" of the Shoshone and who also benefited financially from the agreement. Even If the Shoshone wanted to give up their land. the only date It could be said they gave up title to thetr land was In 1979, when the Indian Claims Com· misSion granted the award to the BIA htred attorney "representing" the Shoshone. Even according to this agreement. the Shoshone should be paid approximately $40 bUllon and not the $21 mUllon. the 1872 prtce ofthe land. which Is what the U.S. wants to pay. However. the land has not been sold and Is not now for sale. When the Shoshone found that they had been deceived. they refused to accept the money. Abya Yala News � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 7, nos. 1 &amp; 2, (Winter/Spring 1993) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Nevada: United States Invasion of Shoshone Land Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring/Winter 1993 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Nevada: United States Invasion of Shoshone Land Item Type Journal Article Volume 7 Issue 1,2 Pages 36 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) ISSN 1701-3182 Date Spring/Winter 1993 Language English Abstract Note The U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) invaded Western Shoshone territory and began to round up horses, declaring that the Western Shoshone territory was public land. The land, however, belongs to the Shoshone according to a 1773 treaty. Attachment Title United States Invasion of Shoshone Land.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] Nevada Shoshone U.S. Bureau of Land Management http://saiic.nativeweb.org/ayn/files/original/95df3b2d0607aacbd4b87da332b3d008.pdf 11f120b77635546275e0b2033178b0be PDF Text Text GUATEMALA s URGENT ACTION Mayan Leaders Receive Death Threats Council of Mayan Organizations calls for a Halt to the Violence OnMAY7.1993SAIICrecelvedafax from the CouncU of Mayan Organf7-atlons (COM-C). a coalition of 13 Mayan organf7-aUons. regarding death threats sent to leaders oftheCooperact6nlndigenaparaeiDesarrollo Integral (COINDI) In SoloJA. SinCe AprU 28th 1993. many leaders have been the target of anonymous and unrelenting death threats. Among them VIctor Sal6, Carlo Zunatx and catmtum Ctcajan have been singled out and targeted. Their llves are under direct threat and quJckacuoniSneeded to abate the tmmecllate danger. COM-C and COINDI officials are appeallng to the International community and human rtghts organtzatlons to take a stand against death threats and the cllmate of lnse· curtty that prevaUs In Guatemala. COM-CIS looking to bu!ld alltances to halt the violence, terror and the tdeologtcal polariZation that retgns througllout the counhy. COINDI officials are requesting that concerned CJttzens and human rtgllts activISts and organiZations make the followtng demands of the Guatemalan government: • thatrespectforbastchurnanrtgliiS. physical Integrity and Itfe be upheld. • that the Guatemalan government Investigate the origin of the threats against the members of COINDI and report the find. 32 tngs to the Guatemalan people. • that the Guatemalan government act to assure baste human rtgllts to all cttl· ?.ens by fighting against ur~ust tmpuntty and senseless violence. Please send letters to: lngeniero Jorge Serrano Elias President de Ia Republica Palacio Nacional Guatemala, Guatemala Telex: 305·5331 CAPRES GU Fax: (502) (2) 537472 or (502) (2) 519702 Phone: (502) (2) 21212 or (502) (2) 22266 Grol. Jose Garcia Samayoa Ministro de Defensa Palacio Nacional Guatemala, Guatemala Telex: 305·5361 COMGUA GU Fax: (502) (2) 5367 472 Phone: (502) (2) 21212, ext.743 Please send copies of letters to SAIIC and: COM-G 2a Colle 3·40 Zona 3 Chimaltenango, Guatemala C.A. Phone & Fax: (502) (9) 39·2709 Abya Yala News � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 7, nos. 1 &amp; 2, (Winter/Spring 1993) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Urgent Action: Mayan Leaders Receive Death Threats, Council of Mayan Organizations Calls for a Halt to the Violence Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring/Winter 1993 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Urgent Action: Mayan Leaders Receive Death Threats, Council of Mayan Organizations Calls for a Halt to the Violence Item Type Journal Article Volume 7 Issue 1,2 Pages 32 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring/Winter 1993 Language English Abstract Note Many leaders on the Council of Mayan Organizations have received death threats. The Council is requesting concerned citizens and groups to encourage the Guatemalan government to investigate the threats and to put a stop to them. Attachment Title Urgent Action-Mayan Leaders Receive Death Threats.pdf Attachment URL [No URL] COINDI COM-G Maya http://saiic.nativeweb.org/ayn/files/original/108101827fb1324244e822d14e2facd9.pdf 75a7fe705b50cf121e7531c803ec1c6c PDF Text Text AMAZON Amazon Indigenous Coordinating Body Elects New Officers The Coordinating Body for the Indigenous Peoples" Organl?.atlons of the Amazon Basin (COICA) held Its annual meeting 1n November. 1992 In Manaus. and elected Valei10 Grefa ofCONFENIAEtn Ecuador as Its new General Coordinator. The delegates also approved a new. more hor!.zontal structure. abollshtng the posltlonofPresldent.Inits place. they created a Board of DireCtors to preside over the General ASsembly. a Coordinating Committee compriSed of the leaders of each of the ntne national afllllates or their delegates. and an Executive Committee compriSed of four thematic coordinators. Antonio Jacanamljoy (ONlC. Colombia) w1ll be the coordinator for Territorial Defense. Jose Luis GonzAles (CONlVE. Venezuela) w1ll be the coordinator for Environment and Natural Resources. Evartsto Nugkuag (AIDESEP. Peru) w1ll be the coordinator for Economy and Development. Orlando Melguetro da SUva (COIAB. Brazil) w1ll be the coordinator for Human. Political and Social Rights. COICA also expanded Its membership to Include the national Amazonian federations from Venezuela (CONlVE). Surinam (O!S). Guyana (OIG). and French Guyana (FOAG). COlAB was selected the representative from Brazil. COICA"s headquarters w111 move from Lima to QuJto. A working meeting between COJCA"s Coordinators and U.S. environmental and h uman rights oxgaruzatlons w1ll be held tn Washington DC on May 11-12. COICA has also moved Its offices from uma. Peru to Quito. Ecuador and can be now contacted at: Colle Alemonio No. 832 y Av. Mariano de Jesus Casillo Postal 17-21-753 1 Quito, Ecuador Telephone and Fox: 553-297 Vol7 Num 1 & 2 Si6 Kaxinawd and Paulo Cipass~ Xauante from Brazil visit New York Amazon Initiative: A working conference to protect Indigenous rights The Amazon Initiative conferencew111 beheld on May 11 and 12. 1993tnWashlngton. DCwtth the purpose offormtng a permanent coalltlon of NGOs wtth Interests In the Ama7..on Basin. The conference w1ll brtng together northern NGOs and Indigenous representatives from the Amazon to develop concrete strategies for protecting the nghts of Indigenous peoples and safeguarding their environment. The conference w1ll also focus on the logtstlcs of creattng a permanent coalition based In Washington. DC. Co-<:oerdinators and participants Include: Cultural Survival. Environmental Defense Fund. Friends of the Earth. Global Exchange. OxfamAmertca. Rainforest Action Network. Rainforest Foundation International. Sierra Club . SAIIC. World Resources Institute and World Wildlife Fund. For more Information contact SAn C. 15 � Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Vol. 7, nos. 1 &amp; 2, (Winter/Spring 1993) Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Amazon Initiative: A working conference to protect Indigenous rights Type The nature or genre of the resource Journal Article Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource Spring/Winter 1993 Language A language of the resource English English Zotero Title Amazon Initiative: A working conference to protect Indigenous rights Item Type Journal Article Volume 7 Issue 1,2 Pages 15 Publication Title Abya Yala News: Journal of the South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC) ISSN 1071-3182 Date Spring/Winter 1993 Language English Abstract Note A conference scheduled for May 11-12, 1993 in Washington, D.C. will unite a coalition of NGOs interested in the Amazon Basin, with the goal in mind to protect the Amazonian Indigenous peoples and their environment. Attachment Title Amazon Initiative-A working conference to protect Indigneous rights.pdf Attachment URL [No URL]