18 July 2012 | News | Resisting neoliberalism | Human rights
United and Moving Forward
3rd Ordinary Meeting of CAOI
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The third ordinary meeting of the Andean Coordination of Indigenous Organizations (CAOI) began last Sunday in the Colombian capital, Bogota. The meeting ended in Chinauta municipality with the election of the organization’s authorities.
The launching was made in Bogota after the organizations of indigenous peoples of Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina participated in a debate where they condemned the violations of collective rights in indigenous territories by the governments of the region.
In Chinauta, Embera indigenous Juvenal Arrieta, of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia (ONIC) was elected chair and Rocio Cachimuela, of the Confederation of Kichwa Nationalities of Ecuador (ECUARUNARI) was elected vice-chair.
Besides ONIC and ECUARUNARI, CAOI also comprises the National Council of Ayllus and Markas of Qullasuyu in Bolivia (CONAMAQ), the National Confederation of Communities Affected by Mining in Peru (CONACAMI), the Mapuche Territorial Alliance of Chile (ATM) and the Organization of Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities of Argentina (ONPIA).
The third Congress of CAOI began the work of commissions on Monday, with a special emphasis on the international agenda to defend Mother Earth rights, ancient territories and indigenous peoples, consecrated in Convention 169 of the International Labour Organization (ILO). “We, the Abya Yala indigenous believe that our governments are violating these rights in our countries”, reads a press release issued by ONIC.
The indigenous text points at Evo Morales administration in Bolivia for the project to build a highway in indigenous territory that would go through Isiboro Secure National Park (TIPNIS). It also criticizes Ollanta Humala’s administration in Peru for promoting mining and Rafael Correa’s administration in Ecuador for “his violation to indigenous and human rights”; as well as Santos administration in Colombia for the aggressions and violation of the autonomy of indigenous territories in Cauca.
“At the end of the Congress (on Tuesday) a resolution was issued to condemn the atrocities and genocide” in Cauca department and to make a “call for the respect of people’s lives and integrity” and “for solidarity of the international community and human rights agencies”, reads the press release.
