A Brazilian company destroying the territory of Paraguay's only group of uncontacted Indians has been condemned by Paraguay's government watchdog.
The company, Yaguarete Pora, is illegally bulldozing forest belonging to the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode, the only uncontacted people in South America outside the Amazon basin. Yaguarete was investigated by the watchdog, the 'Contraloria General', after an appeal from POJOAJU, an association of Paraguayan NGOs, last December.
'The 'Contraloria General' has found reasons for the cancellation of the environmental licence granted [to Yaguarete Pora]. We conclude that there is evidence calling into doubt the truthfulness of the Environmental Impact Assessment submitted [by the company. . . including] the omission of figures, failure to acknowledge the existence of indigenous communities [in the area where it is working], and the claim and declaration of the land as belonging to the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode,' a statement from the watchdog reads.
The 'Contraloria General' concludes that Yaguarete 'has violated the fundamental rights of indigenous people. . . as established and recognized in Paraguay's constitution.'
The watchdog's findings come just after the worldwide release of satellite photos showing how Yaguarete Pora and another Brazilian company, River Plate, are rapidly destroying the Totobiegosode's territory. The companies want the land to graze cattle for beef.
Contacted Totobiegosode Indians, local support group GAT, and a whole network of organisations in Paraguay have spoken out in defence of the Totobiegosode's territory.
Company destroying uncontacted tribe's land is condemned
October 24, 2008
Related news articles
- South American Indigenous groups unite to demand urgent protection for uncontacted tribe - Mon February 21, 2022
- Ayoreo appeal to Inter-American Commission to save their forest from destruction - Mon October 04, 2021
- Ayoreo environmental defender latest victim of deadly epidemic - Tue August 06, 2019
- Ayoreo indigenous people in Paraguay celebrate land victory - Mon April 01, 2019
Most recent
- Global protests mark int’l day of action to #SaveHasdeo - Mon May 09, 2022
- Bushmen anger as beloved elder refused burial in Botswana game reserve - Mon April 25, 2022
- Venezuela and Brazil: Violence and destruction escalate in the Yanomami territory - Tue April 19, 2022
- India: massive coal mining expansion in tribal forests green-lighted - Wed April 13, 2022