Chile-
Ethnic Groups-white and white-Amerindian 95.4%, Mapuche 4%, other indigenous groups 0.6% (2002 census)
Independence- 18 September 1810 (from Spain)
GDP- per capita (PPP)- $14,900 (2008 est.)
In Chile, Amnesty International has been denouncing the slow and inadequate resolution of Indigenous Peoples’ claims to their ancestral lands, along with the impact of current and future extraction and logging industry projects, is causing tension resulting in violence. M
ore than 4% of the nation's 17 million citizens belong to one of its nine indigenous tribes. The Mapuches resisted the Spanish conquest for 300 years before Chile’s government finally pushed them into communities in southern Chile.
The tribe had a series of violent confrontations with the Chilean government in August 2009 over the eviction of Indians from seized land. Many of these actions were initiated by the Coordinadora Arauco Malleco (CAM), an indigenous group that has been accused of terrorist acts. Last month, dozens of indigenous communities agreed to form the Mapuche Territorial Alliance to fight for political autonomy and press demands to end poverty. President Michelle Bachelet proposed Tuesday to create a Ministry for Indigenous Affairs to place more weight on policies affecting Chile's Indian communities. This was met with disapproval from the Mapuche Indians who called it a ‘curtain of smoke’ to ‘avoid straight answers’.
ore than 4% of the nation's 17 million citizens belong to one of its nine indigenous tribes. The Mapuches resisted the Spanish conquest for 300 years before Chile’s government finally pushed them into communities in southern Chile.The tribe had a series of violent confrontations with the Chilean government in August 2009 over the eviction of Indians from seized land. Many of these actions were initiated by the Coordinadora Arauco Malleco (CAM), an indigenous group that has been accused of terrorist acts. Last month, dozens of indigenous communities agreed to form the Mapuche Territorial Alliance to fight for political autonomy and press demands to end poverty. President Michelle Bachelet proposed Tuesday to create a Ministry for Indigenous Affairs to place more weight on policies affecting Chile's Indian communities. This was met with disapproval from the Mapuche Indians who called it a ‘curtain of smoke’ to ‘avoid straight answers’.
Ecuador-
Ethnic Groups-mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 65%, Amerindian 25%, Spanish and others 7%, black 3%
Independence-24 May 1822 (from Spain)
GDP- per Capita (PPP)-$7,500 (2008 est.)
In Ecuador 3.4 million Indigenous tribes make up 25% of the population. Arbitrary arrest and ill-treatment, high levels of poverty and social exclusion are some of the reported ills against the indigenous population as reported by Amnesty International. Violence erupted last week in the region when a highway blockade by Ecuador’s Shuar Indians left one dead and several injured.
The leftist President Rafael Correa is in an intensifying dispute with indigenous groups, who oppose a recently proposed legislation on water, mining and oil laws which they claim would allow mining on their lands without their consent and lead to the privatization of water. The Shuar vowed not to lift the blockade until the president personally negotiates with them while Correa says talks can't start until Indians abandon the blockades.
In 1986, indigenous people formed the first "truly" national political organization. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) has been the primary political institution of the Indigenous populations and the second largest political party in the nation. It has been influential in national politics, contributing to the ouster of presidents Abdalá Bucaram in 1997 and Jamil Mahuad in 2000.
The leftist President Rafael Correa is in an intensifying dispute with indigenous groups, who oppose a recently proposed legislation on water, mining and oil laws which they claim would allow mining on their lands without their consent and lead to the privatization of water. The Shuar vowed not to lift the blockade until the president personally negotiates with them while Correa says talks can't start until Indians abandon the blockades.
In 1986, indigenous people formed the first "truly" national political organization. The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) has been the primary political institution of the Indigenous populations and the second largest political party in the nation. It has been influential in national politics, contributing to the ouster of presidents Abdalá Bucaram in 1997 and Jamil Mahuad in 2000.
Peru-
Ethhnic Groups-Amerindian 45%, mestizo (mixed Amerindian and white) 37%, white 15%, black, Japanese, Chinese, and other 3%
Independence-28 July 1821 (from Spain)
GDP- per Capita (PPP)-$8,500 (2008 est.)
Neighboring Peru is contending with a bloody rebellion of Amazon Indians protesting government efforts to allow private development of their traditional lands. Peru has the largest indigenous population of South America, about 45%. In the recent violence Amnesty international has recorded the brutal response of the government to what it terms as the ‘legitimate protests of Indigenous Peoples for their rights’.
On 5 June this year protests were held claiming the people’s right to land and consultation on decree laws regarding land and natural resources in the Peruvian Amazon. Such consent is required under international law. The government crackdown was reported to have been excessively forceful.
Individual indigenous groups have a variety of governance structures. MATSES, the Movement in the Amazon for Tribal Subsistence and Economic Sustainability (MATSES), is an indigenous people’s rights organization that is working for the cultural survival of indigenous people in Peru. The State has now commenced a process of dialogue with Indigenous Peoples. However persecution on a political level is still feared.
Discussion Questions:
· Does the recent violent response of Indigenous Communities in Latin America depict a heightened political conscience, fueling their right to protest?
· In light of the global Human Rights consciousness are the local governments more inclined to give leverage to the indigenous peoples?
· Is Latin America headed towards another revolutionary phase of its history in which indigenous people and other marginalized social and economic groups will coalesce their forces?
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On 5 June this year protests were held claiming the people’s right to land and consultation on decree laws regarding land and natural resources in the Peruvian Amazon. Such consent is required under international law. The government crackdown was reported to have been excessively forceful.
Individual indigenous groups have a variety of governance structures. MATSES, the Movement in the Amazon for Tribal Subsistence and Economic Sustainability (MATSES), is an indigenous people’s rights organization that is working for the cultural survival of indigenous people in Peru. The State has now commenced a process of dialogue with Indigenous Peoples. However persecution on a political level is still feared.
Discussion Questions:· Does the recent violent response of Indigenous Communities in Latin America depict a heightened political conscience, fueling their right to protest?
· In light of the global Human Rights consciousness are the local governments more inclined to give leverage to the indigenous peoples?
· Is Latin America headed towards another revolutionary phase of its history in which indigenous people and other marginalized social and economic groups will coalesce their forces?
--------------
Bibliography
[1] http://www.culturalsurvival.org/files/Ecuador.pdf
[2] http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR01/004/2009/en/65324480-80e4-4de1-a664-efb848089378/amr010042009en.pdf
________________________________________________________[1] http://www.culturalsurvival.org/files/Ecuador.pdf
[2] http://www.amnesty.org/en/library/asset/AMR01/004/2009/en/65324480-80e4-4de1-a664-efb848089378/amr010042009en.pdf
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