Costa Rica: Indigenous Peoples reiterate their ongoing struggles in defence of their territories and identity during historic visit by members of parliament

For the first time, representatives of the Permanent Special Commission on Human Rights of the Legislative Assembly of Costa Rica have visited the indigenous territories of China Kichá, Salitre, Cabagra, and Terraba. These communities are experiencing serious and systematic attacks on the life and integrity of their members, and massive illegal land grabs, which their leaders have continuously denounced at national and international level. The parliamentarians’ visit, on 12-15 February 2021, took place within the framework of the investigation carried out by the Legislative Assembly into the state's responsibilities in the murder of indigenous leader Sergio Rojas.

The indigenous councils of Ditsö Iriria Ajkönuk Wakpa of Salitre, Irira Jtechö Wakpa of Cabagra, Brörán and the Cabécar people of China Kichá drafted and presented a joint petition on behalf of their communities to the parliamentarians Nielsen Pérez and Nidia Céspedes. The petition reiterates their denunciation of the state's violation of their territorial rights, legal personality and other fundamental rights expressed among other forms in the tolerance of usurpation and judicial eviction orders against indigenous peoples from their own territories. It requests, among other measures, that "the procedure for the processing of a new Indigenous Bill be initiated.”

On 17 February, the petition was read by Nielsen Pérez to the Plenary of Congress, emphasising the importance of recovering and building new bridges of dialogue with the members of the indigenous territories.