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| United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, UN Human Rights Council |
Indigenous Peoples Under Attack by Militarized Forces: From Peru to the Tohono O'odham Nation, Murder with Impunity
Native Hawaiians and Indigenous in Guam want the US military out; Russian youths want an end to war
By Brenda Norrell, Censored News
July 17, updated July 29, 2023
GENEVA -- Native Hawaiians want the US military off their lands, and training exercises in the Pacific shut down. An aquifer has been poisoned in Honolulu, and unexploded ordinances left behind make lands inaccessible.
Christopher Edward said the U.S. military installation in Hawaii is the largest in the world, 200,000 acres, and has resulted in the displacement of Native Hawaiians from their traditional lands. Edward testified before the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Edward joined Indigenous from around the world in reporting human rights abuses, during the session, "The Impact of Militarization on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples."
Edward, Native Hawaiian, and an Army veteran, said the military training has resulted in the degradation of biodiversity and a high cost of living. Native Hawaiians should receive restitution and compensation, he said.
Appealing to the United Nations in Geneva, Indigenous in Guam also want the US military off their lands. The Pacific Indigenous Women's Network urged the United Nations General Assembly to join the effort for the US military to cease operations in Guam. Guam has been occupied by the U.S. military without the free, prior and informed consent of Indigenous People.
In Guam, the U.S. military is an "imperial hammer" that ensures the oppression of Indigenous People in its acts of global domination. Toxic pollution, and the threat of a nuclear attack, are the results of the presence of the U.S. military.
Indigenous are offering testimony today, and all week, before the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, of the UN Human Rights Council.
Around the world, Indigenous Peoples are under attack by military forces.
Latin America
During the session on the impacts of militarization on Monday, Indigenous from Colombia pointed out that there are land mines and ongoing intense militarization and drug trafficking that threaten survival. There are now seven new U.S. military bases in Colombia.
Indigenous from Peru described "systematic violations of human rights." The military is attacking, torturing, and killing, those who are isolated and have marched against the current government.
More than 80 people, including Indigenous children, have been killed, and more than 1,000 injured since protests began in Peru in December. U.S. military forces were approved for deployment to Peru in June, to be used against the movement led by Indigenous women. US special forces, airforce, and space force (satellites) were authorized for use in Peru, to serve the coup.
Quechua and Aymara from Peru told the United Nations that the president has ordered the army to shoot Indigenous from helicopters. Indigenous are marching to protect their lands, and the roads are being blocked by tanks. They are struggling to protect the earth, protect their water, and protect the minerals, and the president is labeling them "terrorists."
Indigenous in Guatemala echoed the descriptions of militarized force, as did Indigenous in Brazil, where Indigenous are under attack by government forces. In Mexico, Indigenous are disappeared and journalists are murdered.
In Venezuela, and throughout the Amazon, military forces are killing the people, and seizing the land under the guise of the war on drugs. Indigenous lands are being stolen for illegal logging and mining.
In one community in Chile, Mapuche worked hard to grow their own food, only for their harvest to be seized by the military and their crops burned, violating their right to food.
Indigenous Peoples Rights International said, "In several countries where IPRI works, such as Colombia, Brazil or Mexico, increased militarization of indigenous territories is happening in the context of the so-called war against drugs. In some countries and areas in the Amazon, militarization is also expanding allegedly to control illegal logging and mining."
"We are invisible and vulnerable," said an Indigenous representative from Brazil. Urging the United Nations to ensure protections for Indigenous in Brazil, she stated that human rights defenders are targeted with violence and the loss of their land.
In Colombia, the drug trafficking is a cancer, an Indigenous representative told the United Nations. Drug trafficking has permeated both legal armed and illegal armed groups, and Indigenous are suffering from the human rights violations.
US-Mexico Border
A representative of AIM West described the militarization of the US-Mexico border, pointing out the violence carried out by local, state and federal law enforcement, including kidnappings and murders.
Raymond Mattia, Tohono O'odham, was shot nine times by U.S. Border Patrol agents, died a few feet from his front door. Indigenous children are dying in U.S. Border Patrol custody.
The United States government's surveillance towers are also increasing on the U.S.-Mexico border, he said, referring to the integrated fixed towers constructed by Israel's Elbit Systems, including 11 towers on the Tohono O'odham Nation. The Israeli towers provide live surveillance to the U.S. Border Patrol.
Africa
The militarization of the Uganda and Congo border was described with examples of gross atrocities.
The increase in violence by police and armed guards, in protected areas -- including national parks and heritage sites in Africa -- is described in the draft document for this session. "Protected areas often feature heavy policing, with national wildlife services and local government rangers patrolling the protected areas, including those in Indigenous territories."
"The militarization of conservation has been documented in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, India and South Africa. Park guards and rangers receive military-type training and funding has increased for armed guards. For example, protected areas in the 10 countries in Central Africa have doubled in the past 20 years to more than 200 protected areas, covering a total of 800,000 km², or twice the size of Cameroon."
"... guards at Salonga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were involved in rape, torture, arbitrary arrests," and similar practices are common in other countries – including in Cameroon, in Chitwan National Park and Bardiya National Park in Nepal, and in India.
The United States government's surveillance towers are also increasing on the U.S.-Mexico border, he said, referring to the integrated fixed towers constructed by Israel's Elbit Systems, including 11 towers on the Tohono O'odham Nation. The Israeli towers provide live surveillance to the U.S. Border Patrol.
Africa
The militarization of the Uganda and Congo border was described with examples of gross atrocities.
The increase in violence by police and armed guards, in protected areas -- including national parks and heritage sites in Africa -- is described in the draft document for this session. "Protected areas often feature heavy policing, with national wildlife services and local government rangers patrolling the protected areas, including those in Indigenous territories."
"The militarization of conservation has been documented in the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Guatemala, India and South Africa. Park guards and rangers receive military-type training and funding has increased for armed guards. For example, protected areas in the 10 countries in Central Africa have doubled in the past 20 years to more than 200 protected areas, covering a total of 800,000 km², or twice the size of Cameroon."
"... guards at Salonga National Park and Kahuzi-Biega National Park in the Democratic Republic of the Congo were involved in rape, torture, arbitrary arrests," and similar practices are common in other countries – including in Cameroon, in Chitwan National Park and Bardiya National Park in Nepal, and in India.
(Above) Maasai are being forced off their land for a conservation area, raising new questions about the protection of lands designated as World Heritage Sites. While Maasai in Tanzania are forced out, the land is taken over for the elite -- safaris and big game hunters. The violent abuses of Indigenous in Africa raise new questions for Native Americans seeking to protect their lands as World Heritage Sites -- who will control the land, and will ceremonies and use of the land continue.
A young Indigenous woman from Russia tells the U.N. that Indigenous youths are being forcibly mobilized for Russia's military and killed in Ukraine. She urged the UN to hold Russia accountable for war crimes for its unprovoked war on Ukraine. (Screenshot by Censored News)
Russia
Indigenous youth from Russia urged the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) to hold Russia responsible for its unprovoked attack and war crimes in Ukraine.
She passionately described how Indigenous young men from the poorest ethnic communities in Russia are being forcibly mobilized, used as "fodder" by Russia for its military, and are being killed.
Representing the International Committee of Indigenous Peoples of Russia, she said the information in the draft document on militarization, regarding the militarization in Russia and Ukraine, is a disappointment and results in a lack of faith in this U.N. body.
She said the document on militarization is of great disappointment and results in a lack of confidence, describing it as merely "conceptual" and "unpublishable."
She said the draft document misleads with this benign statement about Russia offering an alternative to military service:
https://documents-dds-ny.un.org/doc/UNDOC/GEN/G23/100/26/PDF/G2310026.pdf?OpenElement
She said the current war has intensified oppression for Indigenous Peoples in Russia who rise up in defense of their lands, in acts of self-determination. This war reminds them of the darkest chapters of Russian history, she said.
She urged the United Nations to hold Russia responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Ukraine.
Last year, after her testimony, she reported being intimidated and harassed by Russia. She was surrounded by Russian agents after testifying. At that time, she testified that her village was burned down eight years ago by a coal mining company because its residents refused to sell their lands to the coal company. The UN launched an investigation and released a statement.
Last year, after her testimony, she reported being intimidated and harassed by Russia. She was surrounded by Russian agents after testifying. At that time, she testified that her village was burned down eight years ago by a coal mining company because its residents refused to sell their lands to the coal company. The UN launched an investigation and released a statement.
At the United Nations, Yana, said Indigenous who have been forced to leave Russia are no less Indigenous. The Russian government not only violates the rights of the people at the domestic level, but also violates their rights at the international level.
Speaking on the rights of Indigenous women and girls, she said the government of Russia is trying to silence those who speak out at the UN. Indigenous Peoples are being used against other Indigenous Peoples.
Russia is using 'divide and conquer,' an old strategy of the Russian government. It is voicing propaganda at the United Nations, she said.
Those that were forced to leave the country because they told the truth about Russia, those who left out of fear of reprisals by Russia, and those working in collusion with the government -- are no less Indigenous, she said.
Yana said someone must continue to speak out against colonialism.
"Someone has to continue to speak for those who can not speak for themselves."
She urged the United Nations to determine the accuracy of Russia's statements by using independent sources.
Justice, democracy, and respect for human rights must prevail, she said.
Chagossians were forcibly removed from their homeland in the Indian Ocean for a US/UK airforce base
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LK_meM5cxr4&feature=youtu.be
The Deadliest Countries
The deadliest countries for human rights defenders are Honduras, Peru, Mexico, Guatemala, Brazil, Philippines and Colombia, reports the Indigenous Peoples Rights International.
Mining and agribusiness are most frequently linked with the attacks. The majority of the companies are based in Honduras, Guatemala, Canada, USA, Mexico and China. https://www.iprights.org/images/articles/resources/Protector%20not%20prisoner%20Indigenous%20peoples%20face%20rights%20violations%20%20criminalization%20in%20climate%20actions/Protector%20not%20prisoner%20-%20Indigenous%20peoples%20face%20rights%20violations%20%20criminalization.pdf
Mining and agribusiness are most frequently linked with the attacks. The majority of the companies are based in Honduras, Guatemala, Canada, USA, Mexico and China. https://www.iprights.org/images/articles/resources/Protector%20not%20prisoner%20Indigenous%20peoples%20face%20rights%20violations%20%20criminalization%20in%20climate%20actions/Protector%20not%20prisoner%20-%20Indigenous%20peoples%20face%20rights%20violations%20%20criminalization.pdf
Quechua and Aymara told the UN that they were stalked in the jungle, and children were murdered, after protests to protect the earth and their lands from mining. The president ordered the Army to shoot them from helicopters. With lithium and copper mining at stake, Peru has called in the US military to support the coup, to be used against Indigenous People. "Resumen Latinoamericano reports that the U.S. forces heading to Peru will include 25 Special Forces troops arriving with weapons and equipment and 42 other Special Forces troops charged with preparing Peru’s intelligence command for “joint special operations;” 160 additional U.S. troops will be utilizing nine U.S. airplanes."
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