Venezuelan Catholic Church accuses State officials of lining pockets in the sale of indian lands
The Venezuelan Catholic Church has opened a National Meeting of Indigenous Peoples & Missionaries at the Andres Bello Catholic University (UCAB) in Caracas (with the participation of 200 indians and 50 missionaries) in preparation for the 500th centenary of evangelization in Venezuela.
Puerto Ayacucho Vicar Apostolic Bishop Jose Angel Divasson says the aim of the meeting is to renew the faith of the indigenous communities and discuss their problems -- which are basically land possession and territorial insecurity.
"The Church gives its full support to pursuing legal means to obtain redress for indigenous peoples ... we're waiting for the approval of the Indigenous Peoples & Communities Law ... and compliance with their right to autonomy and collective land ownership, as established in the agreements Venezuela has signed with the International Labor Organization (ILO)."
Bishop Divasson alleges that indians are still being thrown off their lands and points to the Yabarana ethnic group in Amazonas State, whose total population has dropped from 3,000 to a mere 300 in three decades. "They can't survive if they lose their environment ... they're obliged to beg and nobody asks why."
Luis Sachimba and Nora Iguaran of the Wayuu and Bari indigenous peoples are contesting the eviction of 23 families six months ago from allegedly privately owned lands. Although the courts have come out in their favor, the alleged owners have taken the matter to the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ).
Pemon indian Trinidad Rivero, a member of the Bolivar State Taurepanes ethnic group, explains that they are organized in an association, the Indigenous Peoples Union dedicated to the defense of indigenous affairs, including devotion to the ancestors, controlled sale of liquor, and legal advice and guarantees of land ownership and geographic position.
Wayuu Zenaida Fernandez, from Zulia State, says the meeting for her is a chance "to exchange experiences with the missionaries and other indigenous ethnic groups throughout Venezuela." The missionaries accuse the State of selling indian lands to mining, logging and other companies to line the pockets of corrupt officials.
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