President's New Year's resolutions include uncontacted tribe
January 22, 2009
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A cartoon published by Survival International lists protecting the rights of an uncontacted tribe in Paraguay as one of President Lugo’s New Year’s Resolutions for 2009.
The cartoon is aimed at drawing attention to the plight of the tribe, the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode, and pressuring Paraguay’s government to protect their territories and give them legal ownership to them.
In the cartoon, Lugo sits at his desk in his presidential office listing his resolutions. These are, ‘Get more exercise’, ‘Eat more heathily’, and ‘Recognise Ayoreo-Totobiegosode's land rights’.
The publication of the cartoon comes after the recent announcement by the government’s Indigenous affairs department, INDI, that this year it has $3.5m to buy land for Indigenous groups.
The Totobiegosode’s land, in the northern Chaco, is being destroyed by Brazilian companies wanting to graze cattle for beef. The amount of land cleared has almost tripled since May last year.
Some Totobiegosode have already been contacted and since 1993 have been trying to protect the last substantial part of their territory. Under international law, Paraguay’s government is legally obliged to title this area to them.
Survival’s director, Stephen Corry, said today, ‘This is a bit of fun which, like all the best fun, has a very serious point to make. Lugo must take action to protect the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode now. Wait any longer and it may be too late.’
