[NYTr] Central America Mobilizes for Indigenous Peoples

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

Prensa Latina, Havana
http://www.plenglish.com

CentAm Mobilizes for Indigenous Peoples

Havana, Oct 12 (Prensa Latina) Central America joined on Friday a
continental mobilization of indigenous peoples to denounce plunder,
genocide and destruction of the habitat left by European conquest and
neoliberal economic models.

National People"s Resistance Coordinating Committee, from Honduras, is
stating a march countrywide demanding their human right to water, the
protection of the environment and derogation of the differentiated
salary.

In El Salvador, social organizations are denouncing human rights
violations, demanding a rise in minimum salary and a freeze on prices
of the family shopping basket, and they are rejecting mine working and
privatization of water and health care.

Meanwhile, Guatemala"s National Mayan Convergence and Coordinating
Committee Waqib" Kej and the National Coordinating Committee of Farmer
Organizations are leading a march to reject plunder, invasion and
contamination of their territories and persecution of their leaders.

The Cry of the Excluded and other social movements in Costa Rica are
leading their demonstrations today against the free trade agreement
with the US approved in the referendum last Sunday.

The Third Summit of Indigenous Peoples and Nationalities of Abya Yala
declared October 12 as the Day of Resistance of the Indigenous Peoples
in demand of recognition and exercise of their collective rights.

The occasion also marks the Continental Cry of the Excluded, which
highlights the significance of the struggles of resistance of peoples
in this continent against First World interests.

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Mexican Indigenous People Defend Sovereignty

Mexico, Oct 12 (Prensa Latina) The holding of the National Indigenous
Congress in Mexico is a message of the Latin American people's
rebelliousness in defense of their sovereignty and against capitalism,
the Organizing Committee said on Friday.

The meeting is an initiative against hegemony, which tries to take away
from us the territories inhabited by the first dwellers of the nations,
peoples and tribes from the Americas, said Juan Chavez, representative
of the Purepecha people.

He told reporters that the National Indigenous Congress inaugurated the
Meeting of Indigenous People from the Americas in Vicam Station, in the
state of Sonora, on Friday.

"Agonizing capitalism has set eyes on our jungles, deserts, forests,
mountains, rivers, waters, winds, seas, beaches, maize, which we have
learned, defended and taken care of for thousands of years," he said.

For his part, Mario Luna, secretary of Yaqui traditional authorities in
Vicam, noted that it is an honor for indigenous people of the Americas
to meet on the territory of the Yoremes, who have protected the
aboriginal blood for centuries.

A message from the National Indigenous Congress said that aborigines
are still alive after 515 years of invasions and, together, they will
build a project of life for humankind, against death and for the
destruction of neoliberalism.

The meeting is being attended by leaders of 54 indigenous peoples from
12 American countries.

Mexico is represented by 25 ethnic groups from 21 states, the United
States by 14 groups, Canada by eight, and Central America and South
America by seven.

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