Campaings

Save two Mbya indigenous communities who lives in the rainforest of Misiones from motor saws and silent genocide in Misiones rainforest (Argentina).

Dear friends:

Since two years we are working with the Mbya Guarani communities of Tekoa Yma and Tekoa Kapí'I Yvate. Both communities, which are gatherers, fishermen and hunters, have been living in balance with the rainforest during 1.000-1,500 years. They have a rich and in-depth culture, they use 150 species of medicinal plants, and can recognize, e.g., 229 species of birds. Nevertheless, their territory of more than 6,500 hectares includes Parcels 7 and 8 of the Yaboti Biosphere Reserve which are in the hands of white people and companies. One of these companies, Mocona Forestal S.A., owner of Parcel 8, is extracting trees with legal authorizations provided by the Ministry of Ecology of Misiones (Argentina). A serious incident happened recently. 120 old and giant trees were extracted within the community of Tekoa Yma, in vicinity of their Opy (= temple). This is a tragedy for them. Such trees represent more than 10,000 cumulative years of growth. Most of them contained medicinal substances, essential for the maintaining of the Mbya health. These trees were brutally extracted from the last best conserved island of Paranaense subtropical forest.

As I told you, the communities of Tekoa Yma and Tekoa Kapi'i Yvate lives in Parcels 7 and 8 at the Yaboti Reserve of the Biosphere, which is recognized by UNESCO since 1995. As a result of FUNAM's prior campaign, where the support of many of you were so effective, the restoring of Parcel 7 to the Mbya is under negotiation (more than 1,500 hectares). Nevertheless, Parcel 8, the biggest one, with more than 3,900 hectares, remains in the hands of the private timber company Mocona Forestal S.A. Such company, whose owners live in the city of Buenos Aires, far from the suffering of the Mbya, is attempting to push them within a non sense small territory of 300 hectares.

Before this extracting of trees I have been walking with Chief and Chaman Artemio Benítez across the forest for observing their medicinal trees. At the beginning of December 2003 motor saws were not so close. Unfortunately, some months later both lumbermen and motor saws entered within Tekoa Yma territory, and destroyed 120 trees. Some of these trees were the same we observed in our previous stay. Nobody listened indigenous claims. Money seems more important than human lives. Unfortunately for the Mbya, such trees are medicinal plants and ecological reservoirs. This loss is an enormous tragedy for them. It's a silent genocide. Big cities and governmental offices are far away from Tekoa Yma and the rainforest, and most of government officials don't understand indigenous languages. The Mbya are suffering, and we suffer with them. The affliction of the Mbya is our affliction. We ask your support for stopping this silent genocide.

The timber company Mocona Forestal S.A. is extracting trees favored by obsolete and biased regulations of the Ministry of Ecology of Misiones (Argentina). Such regulations promote timber activities and deliberately ignores indigenous needs and territories. If such regulation remains, most of the 7 Mbya communities who currently lives within Yaboti Biosphere Reserve will be at risk. We are as desperate as the Mbya communities are. If you can help them in their battle, their future could be better. We ask to you or to your organization the sending of an Email, letter or fax to the Minister of Ecology Luis Jacobo, and to ask him:

1) To punish the timber company that recently extracted 120 trees from Parcel 8, near the temple of the community of Tekoa Yma. 2) To restore the property of Parcels 7 and 8 to the Mbya (currently owned by white private companies). 3) To revoke any obsolete resolution passed by the Ministry of Ecology of Misiones for managing the Reserve, and to replace such resolution with a new project jointly produced by the 7 Mbya communities, the government, NGOs and Universities. 4) To immediately stop at the Yaboti Reserve of the Biosphere any extracting of rainforest trees within indigenous territories. 5) To recognize the foraging territories of the Mbya as their lands. This is the solely way for ensuring their provision of food, natural products and health. 6) To respect the lifestyle of the Mbya (their ñande reko). 7) To accomplish Article 75th Paragraph 17th from the Constitution of Argentina, and Convention 169 from International Labor Organization (ITO), both devoted to protect indigenous rights.

Below I include a model letter for being sent to Minister of Ecology Luis Jacobo. You or your organization can sign and send it, with a copy to us to our address (FUNAM,

Casilla de Correo 83, Correo Central, [5000], Cordoba, Argentina, Phone: +54-351-4557710 and 4690282. Fax +54-351-4557710, Email: funam@funam.org.ar

During our next field trips to the communities of Tekoa Yma and Tekoa Kapi'i Yvate we will take with us copies of your letters. The Mbya will perceive they are not alone in their battle. All of us we are Mbya.

Sincerely yours,

Dr. Raúl A. Montenegro, Biologist
President of FUNAM and Professor of Evolutionary Biology at the
National University of Cordoba

Model letter.

Ing. Luis Jacobo
Ministro de Ecologia de Misiones (Argentina)
San Lorenzo 1538, (N3300MDH) Posadas, Misiones, Argentina.
Pone 54-3752-447591 Fax: 54-3752-447597).
Email: ministroecologia@misiones.gov.ar; ecoprivmin@misiones.gov.ar; ecologia@misiones.gov.ar;
CC : funam@funam.org.ar; privadadh@derhuman.jus.gov.ar;

We have been noticed by FUNAM that the timber company Mocona Forestal S.A. extracted 120 giant and old trees close to the temple (Opy) of the indigenous community of Tekoa Yma, at the Yaboti Reserve of the Biosphere. This serious incident deeply afflicted children, women and men from Tekoa Yma. These trees provided them with medicinal substances and ecological protection. Trees are their pharmacy and their great house. This incident cannot be considered an isolated one. It is one of a large list of violations to human and environmental rights. It's important to note that indigenous rights in your country are clearly protected by Article 75th Paragraph 17th of the Constitution of Argentina, and Convention 169 from International Labor Organization (ITO).

The suffering of the Mbya people could be stopped. We are asking to you the following:

We are attentive vis-à-vis your answer to our request. The Mbya indigenous people have the right to live within the forest, and you have the duty of preserving such rights.

Sincerely yours,

(name)
(organization)
(full address, mentioning city and country)

Please: If you are sending an Email to the Minister of Ecology, could you send a copy to us? (funam@funam.org.ar). When sending a letter through hard mail, we will appreciate if you can send a copy to the following address: FUNAM, Casilla de Correo 83, Correo Central, 5000 Cordoba, Argentina. Our phones are: +54-351-4557710, also 4551441 (Raul Montenegro) and 4690282 (FUNAM).