Imagenes de la marcha Indigena

Llegada a Caranavi (Parte 1)

Indigenous March: “It feels like this country has a dictatorship”

9 October 2011.

Indigenous March: “It feels like this country has a dictatorship”

The Eighth Indigenous March is still kicking up dust on its trek towards the city of La Paz which they hope to get to by this weekend. This afternoon they got to the community of San Pedro after walking for eight hours (31 kilometers) from the town of Caranavi where they were given a fond farewell. With regard to the dialogue with the government of Evo Morales “we are back at the beginning. Since 15 August it has not changed much despite the various intentions of the Ministers who have wanted to distract the marchers and who failed. The failures continued on 25 (September) when the government wanted to break up the march. Since we regrouped we are determined to get to the city of La Paz because this government needs to understand that in the name of “development” it cannot marginalize and violate the rights of indigenous peoples”, said Adolfo Chávez Beyuma, President of the Confederation of Bolivian Indigenous Peoples (CIDOB) and a member of the Tacana indigenous peoples.

At five in the morning the firecrackers and loud music begin to wake up the 1,200 marchers with the aim to leave Caranavi at 6am. Tens of local residents arrive at the indigenous camp to say their goodbyes and wish the marchers good luck for the their trek to the city of La Paz. When the march was getting ready to leave Caranavi a car with a speaker went in front to tell local residents to wake up to say farewell to the march.

An elderly man hugs a journalist and says “we congratulate the brothers from the TIPNIS”. When he was told it was not a marcher but a journalist the man said “we are with them” and pointed at the lines of indigenous marchers that looked like it went on forever.

“Well done brothers!”, shouted the people of Caranavi as they applauded the march from their rooftops, many still being built. The Eighth Indigenous March passed the bridge into the last neighbourhood called Villa La Paz before getting back onto the dust and green scenery of the road towards La Paz. There they were also given a send off and as good hosts invited to return when they wanted to.

The marchers from the 36 indigenous peoples of Bolivia, and a dozen foreigners, advanced with their bows, arrows, flags and recently painted banners – because the original ones were confiscated and destroyed by the national police in an attack near to Yucumo on 25 September. Many of the marchers have rucksacks with children´s characters like Batman, Barbie and others from Walt Disney. They were donated by the population of Rurrenabaque who freed 300 marchers who were detained by the police. Inside their rucksacks they have the little they were able to salvage from the camp in Chaprina or new things populations have given to them.

The indigenous marchers stopped in the community of San Pedro at 2.30pm next to the river Coroico. In this small community of fifty families they were received with drinks for their dusty mouths. If tomorrow they advance to the community of Yolosa they would be 98 kilometers from the main square in La Paz (Plaza Murillo).

Here the marchers ask the local population for support and they give them ponochos for the rain because in the transition from the heat of the Yungas to the cold of the highlands they will cross several downpours. They will also ask for thick clothes, mainly for those from the Amazon, because when they reach the peak of the highlands it will be the coldest part covered by the indigenous march. The representatives from the National Council of Ayllus and Markas of Qullasuyu (CONAMAQ) clarify they will have no problem because they were born in that climate.

They need meat, fruit and medicines to resist the trek in the next few days. They also need water which they asked for in Caranavi because it is currently the closest town nearest to the Eighth Indigenous March. Fernando Vargas Mosúa, President of the communities of the Subcentral of the Isiboro Sécure Indigenous Territory and National Park (TIPNIS), praised the relationship the people of Caranvai established with the marchers.

“It now feels like this country has a dictatorship because everyone who defends their rights is repressed, attacked and humiliated. The people of Caranavi came to say goodbye to us because they believe our struggle is so that in the future there is respect for the rights of indigenous peoples, individuals and above all of Mother Earth, nature, biodiversity and our Big Home of the indigenous peoples, where each of us lives”, said Vargas a member of the Mojeño people.

“The people of Caranavi have understood that to see us is to have a meeting between nations, to show the country and the government that the peoples and nations of this country have to be respected, we need to support each other to take this country forward”, added Vargas. In Caranavi various indigenous peoples joined the march which now has around 1,200 people on it.

“70 people arrived from the TIPNIS. This is a big boost for us. Also people have arrive from CPILAP (La Paz Indigenous Peoples Central) and the TIM (Multi-Ethnic Indigenous Territory). This gives us more courage, but not the courage to fight, instead the courage to demand respect for our rights and that justice really is justice”, said Vargas.

Yesterday the marchers camp was visited by the Senators Gabrila Montaño and Adolfo Mendoza who presented a proposal for a law to temporarily suspend the work on the road between Villa Tunari and San Ignacio de Moxos pending a consultation and decision from those who live inside the TIPNIS on whether they want the road. This proposal was immediately rejected by the marchers. They demand the national government forms a commission comprised of indigenous deputies Pedro Nuni and Bienvenido Zacu, along with MAS parliamentarians to agree on a proposal that would protect the TIPNIS from roads and other destructive impacts.

“There is a commission of our indigenous parliamentarians that should work on a proposal for a law that guarantees the TIPNIS is not destroyed now, tomorrow or ever. Above all this law must guarantee the existence of indigenous peoples and a life in harmony with nature. If the government Senators really love this country then they should comply with the Constitution. We are not asking any government official to do us a favor or for preferential treatment for indigenous peoples. The only thing we ask for is respect for our rights”, said Vargas.

“While we continue to march our indigenous deputies will visit us to inform us about the state of progress on this law”, he added.

  

In La Paz

The Aymara leader Rafael Quispe Flores, Mallku of the Extractive Industries Commission of CONAMAQ, met with leaders of several social movements from La Paz and El Alto.

“We hoped the President would go to Caranavi but now that we are continuing our march the political context in Bolivia is changing because for us there is no going back. We have to get to the city of La Paz where we will maintain our demand that indigenous territories are respected. We have seen that institutions and social movements in La Paz are preparing for all or nothing. They say this government is insensitive and that is not possible. That is what they said to us. We are going to continue with our peaceful march because we have the moral high ground. The institutions will do their work. The President does not know about any of these preparations because being in power he thinks he is Hitler, he wants to consolidate a fascist government but the people will not let him do it. The people will mobilise when the march gets to La Paz”, said Quispe.

In this region the vehicles go along the road right next to the mountains and always on the left hand side, the way they do it in countries such as England. This causes confusion amongst the marchers and also of the Indigenous Guard. The head of the Indigenous Guard tells goes to tell off the person in charge of escorting the march who was leading the march on the right hand side, the way it normally is in the rest of Bolivia.

- Brother, why don´t you understand? This is our route (the left hand lane) and this is dangerous (the right hand lane) – he shouts at him waving his arms. “This is the last time”, he warns the very confused person in charge of escorting the march.

The President of CIDOB clarifies once again that the Eighth Indigenous March does not oppose the construction of the road between Villa Tunari and San Ignacio de Moxos. “We have stated the road must not go through the heart of the TIPNIS but there must be alternatives for another route that does not affect the Chimán, Yuracaré and Mojeño-Trinitario peoples. The government needs to understand this. And as this government is good at lending money they should be able to find the funders to put forward the money needed to change the route of the road so that it does not affect the TIPNIS.

(Communications Commission of the Eighth Indigenous March)

DENUNCIA URGENTE!!

URGENTE:

Denunciamos que el día de ayer domingo 9 de Octubre, nuestros compañeros de la CIDOB y de la Coordinadora que se encontraban en la vigilia en dedensa del TIPNIS ubicada en la plaza 24 de Septiembre en la ciudad de Santa Cruz, sufrieron un atentado, puesto que personas desconocidas fueron a aproximadamente las 4 am a gritarles en sus carpas, para posteriormente tirar disparos al aire, lastimosamente hasta el momento no se sabe quienes pudieron realizar este acto de amedrentamiento. Por esto hacemos un llamado a las autoridades que investiguen quienes fueron los autores de este acto cobarde.

COORDINADORA EN DEFENSA 
DE LA AUTODETERMINACION 
DE LOS PUEBLOS Y EL MEDIO AMBIENTE

Arte por el TIPNIS!!

Indigenous March: “There should be a law to annul the entire highway project”

There are now 1,100 marchers who are 20 kilometers from Caranavi, next stop on their trek towards the city of La Paz. Today, after seven hours of walking alongside deep ravines, typical scenery in the Yungas region, the Eighth Indigenous March advanced 30 kilometers until the village of Carrasco. This morning deputy Pedro Nuni of the Mojeño peoples warned that the Plurinational Legislative Assembly would discuss a law which seeks the “temporary suspension” of the construction of the “second section” of the highway between Villa Tunari and San Ignacio de Moxos. “It´s offensive don’t you think? Because there is no law that approves the first or third sections. There is a law on the protocol to ask for loans, the way to get funding. This is one project and it is called the “Villa Tunari and San Ignacio de Moxos highway” and nothing else.

“It is offensive to approve a law to suspend the second section. I think that even the Bolivian people don´t believe it because in reality they (the government) want to make people inside the TIPNIS believe that with this the problem will be solved. There needs to be a law that annuls the process of the highway project, that annuls the laws that back this project and to start again from scratch. The procedure needs to be started again complying with national legislation as well as international treaties and conventions”, said Fernando Vargas Mosúa, President of the Subcentral communities of the Isiboro Sécure Indigenous Territory and National Park (TIPNIS).

“Solidarity campaign to support the brothers marching from the TIPNIS. Your donation is very very important! Don´t ignore us!” is what was written on a sign in the Simón Bolívar square in Caranavi. All day local residents spent the day trying to persuade the population of the need to receive the Eighth March well to demonstrate that Caranavi shows its solidarity. “We will receive the indigenous marchers with open arms. When they get to La Paz Evo will have a big problem”, said a gentlemen who has recently turned on the government of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS). Until recently he was one of the three million who voted to re-elect Morales as President in 2009.

The march advanced until Carrasco with the sound of drums and chanting in support of the Eighth Indigenous March. The marchers had their regional flags, the Bolivian flag, the Wiphala (indigenous flag), hats, rucksacks; and bows, arrows and whistles in the hands of the Indigenous Guard who were worried about passing vehicles hitting any marchers on the long road. There are many new faces on the march.

“15 people arrived from the TIPNIS yesterday, 20 from the Multi-ethnic Indigenous Territory (TIM), many from the Chiman Great Council and from CPILAP (La Paz Indigenous Peoples Central). The grassroots are joining the march. This is the fundamental thing we need to give greater strength to the march, to lift our spirits of each and every marcher who is already here”, said Vargas who is leading the march with a bandaged chest because he has a fissure in his chest after the government repression on the 25 September in Yucumo, Beni region.

“After the big kicking I got on Sunday (25 September) I have an injured rib. I have to walk with a bandage to resist the pain, I hope it heals more while we are walking”, said the President of the communities of the TIPNIS.

A counter march would be better than a blockade of the indigenous march like the one the Confederation of Intercultural Communities of Bolivia (CSCIB) and the national police held last week in Yucumo. But the indigenous marchers are still worried about the march announced by the Confederation of Bolivian Campesino Workers Unions (CSUTCB) from Oruro to La Paz on 12 October in support of President Evo Morales and against the march organised by the Confederation of Bolivian Indigenous Peoples (CIDOB) and the National Council of Ayllus and Markas of Qullasuyu (CONAMAQ) that they say is “politicized”.

“The actions of this government are a shame; they do not know what else to do. This government damaged us on Sunday (25 September) and they are still pushing for other social movements to go against the Eighth Indigenous March. The only thing they will like that is politically undermining themselves as a government, the one that is promoting clashes between us. They should not condemn the march or the right or anyone because the actor creating this situation is the government, so that they can present themselves as victims”, claimed Vargas Mosúa.

The indigenous march was repressed 12 days ago by the Morales government. But still nobody inside the Morales government has take responsibility for giving the order to beat, tear gas and detain the marchers amongst whom children, elderly men and women were present. “We are starting legal action to find out why they cruelly attacked us in Yucumo. We know the judicial process is unequal. We know the justice system is manipulated and dominated by the Executive branch”, said Vargas.

“Wait! We want to rest! Each ten kilometers a lot of the marchers demand the rest stop a few minutes to air the blisters and corns of the day. They sit on the side of the ravine´s where passing trucks, lorries and coaches cover them in so much dust they can´t recognize who is sitting next to them. On the positive side nearly all of the drivers wave and honk their horns.

One kilometer from Carrasco and the marchers feet hardly move and they can´t distinguish between hunger and thirst. Like an apparition an indigenous lady appears in the road with a cart.

She looks at the long line of people and asks in a low voice “Are these the marchers?”

When they tell her it is the shouts “They are so brave!”

From the thirsty march they ask her what she sells.

- Drinks

Once they prove she is real a group of marchers surround her with their containers ready to quench their thirst. In the beginning the lady charges 1 Boliviano for each drink (nobody asks her what flavor they are). When she realizes how successful her business is she increases the price to 1 Boliviano fifty cents.

“They have told us delegations are coming from La Paz with food. We hope they can cover the lack of food. Even though sometimes food is scarce we still have enough to eat at least once a day. I don´t think anyone will die from hunger”, says Vargas who is one of the spokespersons of the march.

“We want to make clear that we never opposed the building of a highway to link the Beni and Cochabamba regions. But we do not want it to go through the TIPNIS. This is why we are marching because the government is stubborn and wants to build this highway that would cut the TIPNIS in two”, said Vargas. The demand to respect this Protected Area is the first on the list of the Eighth Indigenous March. The marchers hope to resolve all these demands with the President in the Presidential Palace.

The indigenous marchers put up their tents between the tens of houses in the village of Carrasco. The owner of one of the shops gave each of the marchers as they passed her shop/home a Popsicle and a winning smile. The children got the most. Another resident got big bucket of something to drink ready to give to the marchers who have just arrived with their thirsty faces covered in dust. Early tomorrow morning the march continues and will arrive in Carnavi at midday. From there it is only 160 kilometers to the city of La Paz.

(Communication Commission of the Eighth Indigenous March)

Marcha Indígena: “Debe haber una ley que anule todo el proyecto carretero”

Ya son 1100 las y los marchistas que se encuentran a 20 kilómetros de Caranavi, próxima parada en su caminata hacia la ciudad de La Paz. Hoy, la Octava Marcha Indígena avanzó 30 kilómetros hasta la comunidad Carrasco, luego de siete horas sobre una senda de piedras afiladas y barrancos profundos, característicos del paisaje de los Yungas paceños. Esta mañana, el legislador mojeño Pedro Nuni advirtió que en la Asamblea Legislativa Plurinacional se trataría un proyecto de ley, el cual –según el orden del día- procurará la “suspensión temporal” de la construcción del “tramo dos” de la carretera Villa Tunari-San Ignacio de Moxos. “Es una mamada ¿no? Porque aquí no hay una ley que apruebe el tramo uno ni el tramo dos ni el tramo tres. Aquí hay una ley sobre el protocolo para suscribir préstamos, de modo de obtener financiamiento. El proyecto es uno y se llama ‘Carretera Villa Tunari-San Ignacio de Moxos’ y no hay más.

Si dicen que se va a sacar una ley corta para suspender el tramo dos es una mamada. Eso creo que ni el propio pueblo boliviano lo cree, porque en realidad están (el Gobierno) queriendo hacer creer al TIPNIS que con esto se soluciona el problema. Aquí debe haber una ley que anule todo el proceso del proyecto carretero, que anule las leyes que han dado fe a este proyecto y así empezar de nuevo, volver a foja cero. Y que se inicie nuevamente el procedimiento, cumpliendo los principios nacionales, así como los tratados y convenios internacionales”, dijo Fernando Vargas Mosúa, presidente de la Subcentral de comunidades del Territorio Indígena Parque Nacional Isiboro Sécure (TIPNIS).

“Campaña de solidaridad en favor de los hermanos marchistas del TIPNIS ¡Tu aporte es muy muy importante! ¡No seas indiferente!”, según un cartel legible en la plaza Simón Bolívar, de Caranavi. Durante todo el día, varios vecinos se dedicaron a hacer perifoneo para persuadir a la población de lo conveniente que sería recibir a la octava marcha con harto cariño, para demostrar al mundo que este pueblo es solidario. “Vamos a recibir a los indígenas con los brazos abiertos. Cuando lleguen a La Paz, el Evo está jodido”, dijo un señor que recientemente se volvió reacio al gobierno del Movimiento Al Socialismo (MAS), hace tan poco que está entre los tres millones de electores que ofrendaron su voto a Morales en 2009 para tenerlo nuevamente de presidente.

La marcha avanzó hasta Carrasco entre ritmos de la tamborita y vivas a la Octava Marcha Indígena. Las y los marchistas iban con banderas de sus regionales, de Bolivia, algunas wiphalas, gorras, mochilas; más los arcos, flechas y silbatos de los guardias indígenas, preocupados de que ninguna movilidad arrollara a algún hermano en el camino estrecho. Hay muchas caras nuevas en la movilización.

“Del TIPNIS han llegado anteayer 15 personas; del TIM (Territorio Indígena Multiétnico) 20 personas, del Gran Consejo Chimán otra gran cantidad, lo mismo los hermanos de la CPILAP (Central de Pueblos Indígenas de La Paz). Se están plegando las bases a la marcha. Ese es un elemento fundamental para dar mayor fortaleza a toda la marcha, para inyectar de ánimos a cada uno de los marchistas que estamos ahora”, dijo Vargas, quien iba al frente de la movilización, con el pecho vendado porque tiene una costilla fisurada luego de la represión gubernamental del 25 de septiembre en Yucumo, Beni.

“Después de la tremenda pateadura que me dieron el domingo (25 de septiembre) tengo una costilla lastimada. Tengo que andar vendado para poder resistir el dolor, esperemos que mientras vamos caminando pueda recuperarme cada vez más”, confió el presidente de las comunidades del TIPNIS.

Una contramarcha sería preferible a un bloqueo a la octava marcha, como el realizado por la Confederación Sindical de Comunidades Interculturales de Bolivia (CSCIB) y la Policía Nacional días atrás en Yucumo. No obstante, preocupa un poco a los indígenas la caminata anunciada por la Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia (CSUTCB) para llegar desde Oruro hasta la sede de Gobierno el próximo 12 de octubre, en apoyo del presidente Evo Morales y en contra de la movilización de la Confederación de Pueblos Indígenas de Bolivia (CIDOB) y del Consejo Nacional de Ayllus y Markas del Qullasuyu (CONAMAQ), a la que acusan de estar “politizada”.

“Es una pena el accionar de este gobierno, que no sabe qué más hacer. Este Gobierno nos sacó la mierda el domingo (25 de septiembre) y sigue todavía impulsando a otros grupos sociales contra la Octava Marcha Indígena. Así, lo único que consigue es el deterioro político del mismo Gobierno, el que está promoviendo enfrentamientos. Que mañana pues no acuse a la marcha, que no acuse a la derecha ni a nadie, porque quien está preparando todo este escenario es el Gobierno, para después hacerse la víctima”, consideró Vargas Mosúa.

La marcha indígena fue reprimida hace 12 días por el gobierno de Morales. Pero todavía nadie dentro del gobierno de Morales se responsabilizó de dar la orden de apalear, gasificar y detener a los marchistas, niños, mujeres ancianos y hombres, entre ellos. “Ya estamos iniciando acciones legales para que se esclarezca por qué nos agredieron cruelmente en Yucumo. Sabemos que este es un proceso judicial desigual. Tenemos que entender que el Órgano Judicial está direccionado y manejado por el Órgano Ejecutivo”, dijo el líder del pueblo Mojeño.

“¡Alto! ¡Queremos descansar!” Cada decena de kilómetros, gran parte de los marchistas exigía al resto detenerse algunos minutos para airear las ampollas y los callos de la jornada. Se sentaban al borde del barranco, donde los cubría el polvo de los camiones, flotas y camionetas que pasaban, con tanto polvo que ya no podían reconocer a quién tenían al lado. Lo positivo es que casi todos los transportistas sacaban los brazos para saludarlos o hacían estrepitar sus bocinas.

Cuando estaban a un kilómetro de Carrasco, los pies lastimados ya se movían por inercia, las y los indígenas ya no podían distinguir entre la sed y el hambre. Como si fuera un espejismo, una cholita se apareció en el camino arrastrando una carretilla con dos conservadoras.

Miró a la fila llegar y preguntó por lo bajo: “¿Estos son los marchistas?”.

Cuando le dijeron que sí, repuso: “¡Son tan valientes!”.

Desde la marcha sedienta la preguntaron qué vendía.

-Refresquito.

Al comprobar que la señora era real, un enjambre de marchistas la rodeo dispuesto a secar sus contenedores de un sorbo. Al principio, la señora cobraba la bolsita de refresco (nadie preguntó por el sabor) a un boliviano. Cuando se percató del éxito de su empresa, subió el precio a un boliviano con cincuenta centavos.

“Nos han informado que vienen delegaciones de La Paz con alimentos. Esperemos que se puedan solucionar los vacíos que hay en este rubro. Aunque el alimento a veces es escaso, todavía comemos por lo menos una vez al día y creo que no nos morimos de hambre”, dijo Vargas, uno de los voceros de la marcha.

“Queremos decir que jamás nos hemos opuesto a la construcción de una carretera que vincule a Beni y Cochabamba. Queremos la carretera, pero no queremos que pase por el TIPNIS. Por eso estamos marchando, porque el Gobierno se empecinó en realizar esta carretera, partiendo en dos al TIPNIS”, dijo Vargas. El pedido de que se respete a esta área protegida es el primero de la lista de demandas de la octava marcha. Las y los marchistas esperan resolver todos los puntos junto con el Presidente en el Palacio Quemado.

En Carrasco, las y los indígenas armaron sus tiendas donde hubiera espacio, entre la decena de casas de la comunidad. La casera de una de las dos ventas de la población llamaba a cada marchista que pasaba frente a su negocio/casa para regalarle un chupete relleno de chicle junto con su mejor sonrisa. Niñas y niños eran los más beneficiados. Otra vecina se puso a preparar grandes baldes de refresco, en vista de las caras secas polvorientas de los recién llegados. Mañana al amanecer deberían seguir su caminata hasta Caranavi, donde entrarían al mediodía. Desde allí hasta la ciudad de La Paz solo les faltarán 160 kilómetros.

(Comisión de Comunicación de la Octava Marcha Indígena)

Pronunciamiento del Comite de Vigilia de la CIDOB.

Pronunciamiento del Comite de Vigilia de la CIDOB.

pronunciamiento de: LA COORDINADORA EN DEFENSA DE LA AUTODETERMINACION DE LOS PUEBLOS Y EL MEDIO AMBIENTE

Pronunciamiento

 

La Coordinadora en defensa de la autodeterminación de los pueblos y el medio ambiente, es una organización compuesta por juventud CIDOB, universitarios, profesionales, grupos activistas y otros sectores que vienen luchando de manera independiente desde los inicios de la VIII marcha indígena , porque es una lucha por el bien común de los bolivianos.
Declaramos con respecto a la marcha de las D ...amas Cívicas, Comité Cívico y la Unión Juvenil Cruceñista, del día 4 de octubre que no avalamos la conducta de la vigilia instalada en la puerta de la catedral, donde se les dio palestra a estos grupos, pues nuestra organización se ha mantenido independiente de estas corrientes de la vieja derecha y de partidos políticos.
Reconocemos que estos grupos son enemigos históricos del movimiento indígena y del pueblo en general, como el gobierno del MAS, pues ambos a su turno usaron la violencia y dañaron seriamente a las expresiones organizadas de la sociedad civil.
Reafirmamos nuestro total y desinteresado apoyo a la VIII marcha indígena, y llamamos al conjunto de la población a unirse y movilizarse por esta causa que es de interés general.
¡Viva la VIII marcha indígena, la defensa del TIPNIS!
¡Viva la lucha unificada del pueblo organizado!
 

 

LA COORDINADORA EN DEFENSA DE LA AUTODETERMINACION
DE LOS PUEBLOS Y EL MEDIO AMBIENTE