15 March, 2013
COMUNICADO DE PRENSA: Para divulgación inmediata - 15 de marzo de 2013
15 marzo 2013, Washington, DC:Líderes indígenas del Pacífico Sur y Zona Norte de Costa Rica han viajado a los Estados Unidos para presentar en una audiencia ante la Comisión Interamericana de Derechos Humanos. El sábado 16 de marzo a las 2:30pm (hora de Costa Rica), los líderes Pablo Sivas Sivas del Pueblo Teribe, Sergio Rojas Ortiz del Clan Uniwak del Pueblo Bribri y Eliecer Velas Álvarez del pueblo Malecu presentarán oralmente ante la Comisión y otros observadores internacionales la situación de la ocupación masiva e ilegal de sus territorios. En la misma audiencia, hará una presentación el Gobierno de Costa Rica. Dice el Sr. Rojas, "Estamos felices que la Comisión Interamericana, uno de los órganos más importantes en este hemisferio para la defensa y protección de los derechos humanos, ha tomado un intéres en los territorios y derechos de los pueblos indígenas de Costa Rica."
18 February, 2013
There are 8 indigenous peoples in Costa Rica with a total population of 104,143 people, comprising approximately 2.4 percent of the national population. Many live in 24 legally-recognised and titled indigenous territories, as well as on lands traditionally occupied, but not presently recognised or titled. The majority of indigenous peoples’ territories have been massively and illegally occupied by non-indigenous people, including some extreme cases where 98 percent of the land is held by non-indigenous people.
FPP
18 February, 2013
Dear Friends,
Whenever someone remarks that a solution is being frustrated by ‘lack of political will’, I automatically ask myself: whose is the political will and what are the interests pushing for the opposite?
23 April, 2012
Professor James Anaya, the UN Special Rapporteur on the Situation of the Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms of Indigenous Peoples, visited Costa Rica from 23-27 March 2012 on an official mission to hold meetings with indigenous peoples’ representatives and members of communities affected by the proposed Diquís Dam, State representatives, and UN staff. His visit included meetings in six different indigenous territories where indigenous peoples from Boruca, Cabagra, China Kichá, Curré, Salitre, La Casona, Térraba, and Ujarrás participated.
FPP
23 April, 2012
Dear Friends,
The continuous, sometimes subtle, violence of conservation and development against indigenous peoples continues, unchecked even at the highest levels by the most worthy-sounding agencies of the United Nations.
6 December, 2011
In 2010, the Teribe indigenous people of Costa Rica decided to speak out in response to what they consider gross human rights violations to their people in relation to the proposed Diquís Dam in the country’s South Pacific region. This project will lead to the partial flooding of two indigenous territories and other grave impacts on 5 indigenous territories. In defence of their rights, the Teribe filed their first claim to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) in mid 2010 and to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. These actions have resulted in progress both nationally and internationally.
Anwar Kemal, Chairperson of the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination
2 September, 2011
Read more
7 July, 2011
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (SRIP), James Anaya, has recently (24 to 27 April 2011) concluded an official mission to Costa Rica. In his report of that mission he makes a series of observations and recommendations concerning the situation of indigenous peoples affected by the Diquis hydroelectric project.
17 May, 2011
The UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, S. James Anaya, visited Costa Rica on an official mission from 24-27 April 2011. His visit responds to an Urgent Request made by Forest Peoples Programme’s (FPP) partners in Costa Rica: Kus Kura S.C. and a number of Térraba indigenous peoples’ organisations.
The Urgent Request highlighted critical issues that the Térraba people are facing in their traditional lands, including: first, the denial of their territorial rights, and the massive encroachment on their lands by non-indigenous persons; second, the threat of irreparable harm caused by the proposed Diquís Dam that will permanently flood 10 percent of the Térraba lands (this will also affect other indigenous peoples as seven different indigenous territories are within the Térraba River basin); and third, the absence of effective judicial remedies to address the imposition of political-administrative structures in each territory (primarily local government bodies that are not fully accountable to indigenous peoples and are not their preferred form of political organisation).
Comité para la Eliminación de la Discriminación Racial
11 March, 2011
Read more
Dr James Anaya (UN SRIP) with President of UN Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and Teribe leaders in Térraba
© Alancay Morales Garro, FPP
Teribe Leader giving press briefing denouncing environmental and social impacts of the Diquís Dam, Costa Rica
© Jehry Rivera