U.S. cites abuses of indigenous rights

TUESDAY, MARCH 5, 2002

The State Department on Monday released its annual report on human rights conditions worldwide, citing the same group of nations for their mistreatment of indigenous peoples.

While improvements were noted, the United States continues to point out abuses suffered by Indian tribes and people in Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Guatemala. Each makes a return appearance for documented discrimination, violence, poverty and other social ills for the year 2001.

With President Bush pushing a worldwide campaign against terror and seeking support from other nations in exchange for monetary and other aid, the report has gained added significance. In a press briefing yesterday, State Department officials acknowledged the need for these allies to improve their record.

"We're getting there," said Assistant Secretary Lorne Craner when asked to provide examples of how countries have improved.

In particular, Craner said Colombia was of "great concern" to the Bush administration. Colombian President Andres Pastrana has ended talks with the rebel group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), a move which has heightened tensions in an area where Indian tribes are caught in the crossfire.

"Members of indigenous communities continued to be victims of all sides in the internal conflict, and a number of them were killed," the report on Colombia states.

Tribes are recognized by Colombia's constitution and land is set aside for their use. But the report states that Indian communities are often held in terror by FARC and other rebel groups, which won't allow them to leave their land without permission.

Several high-profile Indian leaders have been kidnapped and executed by rebel groups, the report acknowledges. Kimy Pernia Domico, an Embera chief who opposed oil drilling on the U'Wa Reserve, was killed as were Cristobal Secue Tombe, a leader of the Paez Tribe, Tascicogucho spokesperson Alberto Sabugara Velasquez and Masael Cheta Cety, governor of the Cristal Paez Reservation.

Elsewhere in the Americas, Ecuador is again cited by the State Department. Although indigenous people make up 85 percent of the population and are recognized by the constitution, they face widespread prejudice, the report states.

"Despite their growing political influence and the efforts of grassroots community groups, which were increasingly successful in pressuring the central Government to assist them, indigenous people continue to suffer discrimination at many levels of society," reads the report. "With few exceptions, indigenous people are at the lowest end of the socioeconomic scale."

Complaints about the treatment of indigenous men, women and children abound in the report on Guatemala. "Indigenous people constitute over one-half the population but remain largely outside of the country's political, economic, social, and cultural mainstream," the report states.

Treatment of indigenous people at the hands of law enforcement and the courts is singled out as unfair. Due to their limited understanding of Spanish, the report states that Indians "often did not have equal access to the justice system" in Guatemala.

Similar complaints are echoed in the report on Mexico, which finally amended its constitution to recognize Indian rights, albeit in a limited form that was opposed by indigenous leaders. The State Department cites reports of forced sterilization of Indian women, lack of access to education, high poverty rates and unfair treatment in the justice system among the problems in the country.

Selected Reports:
Colombia | Ecuador | Guatemala | Mexico

Get the Full Report:
Country Reports on Human Rights Practices (US State Dept March 2002)