News Updates

Mining Companies Strip Land From Indigenous People

Latin American indigenous populations are being evicted from their traditional lands by multinational mining corporations who claim that these mines will help the economy of the nations involved. Unfortunately, any economic gain from these activities is accomplished by short-term exploitation of resources at the expense of local indigenous populations and the environment.

Source: UTNE Reader, 5th April 2007

Read more...

Bangladeshi Tribal Leader Tortured To Death

Prominent Garo tribal leader Choles Ritchil’s body, showing multiple wounds from torture, was returned in mid-March to his family without comment or official report on its condition. Ritchil, who was killed while in the custody of government officials, was targeted for leading opposition opposing the construction of a 3,000-acre ecopark that, if built, would evict about 25,000 indigenous Garo people from their tribal homeland.

Source: Asian Centre for Human Rights, 2nd April 2007

Read more...

Indigenous Summit Bashes Bio-fuels

Representatives at the third Continental Summit of the Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities in Iximche, Guatemala have condemned the United States’ use of corn to produce fuel. Quiche Maya Cesar Tahu said, “We have a long tradition as corn growers, and using corn to produce fuel will be like sacrilege, commercializing our heritage for the benefit of large transnationals.”

Source: PressTV, 31st March 2007

Read more...