"I fear for my life": How Costa Rica's government fails to protect indigenous peoples
via Forest Peoples Programme
November 2020
More than half a decade ago, on 30 April 2015, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted precautionary measures (MC 321-12) in favour of the Brörán peoples of Térraba and the Bribri peoples of Salitre. This exceptional measure, the only one of its kind in Costa Rica, was granted in response to the serious danger that the indigenous communities found themselves in, and the total lack of protection by the state authorities.
Five years on, none of the urgent measures required by the IACHR have been adopted, and the State has consistently failed to comply with its treaty obligations to protect and guarantee the rights of the communities.
In addition, systematic and widespread violence persists in both territories, and is in fact increasing with impunity. This violence has its origin in the deployment of both illegal occupants and their allies, and of armed and organised groups that directly attack the beneficiaries of these precautionary measures, sometimes in broad daylight and in the presence of the authorities.
In view of the increase in violence, since 2018, the beneficiaries have called on the IACHR to submit their request for provisional measures to the Court, arguing that the IACHR should be given the power to decide on the matter.
In the last two years, two indigenous leaders, Sergio Rojas and Jehry Rivera, have been killed, and many community members – including women and children – have suffered threats, attacks and injuries. Other leaders have survived assassination attempts and suffered the terror of having their lands burned.
As a result, on July 8, 2020, the Bribri of Salitre and the Brörán of Térraba, accompanied by their legal representatives, reiterated in a working meeting with the IACHR and the State, the need for the IACHR to pronounce itself on the request made since 2018 so that the beneficiaries who are at serious risk can count on the protection of Provisional Measures granted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights.
However, this legitimate and urgent request has failed to receive a response. Since that hearing, the communities have faced new threats, and have suffered the unsuccessful responses of a judicial system that discriminates against them, that closes Sergio Rojas’ into murder inquiry of without establishing criminal responsibility, that does not move forward with the investigation into the murder of Jehry Rivera, or of any of the other indigenous victims who have been attacked.
Thus, these communities fear for their lives, are confronted with impunity, with the pain of seeing the impact of violence on their children, and see their elders die without obtaining the justice for which they fought so hard. They observe the continued silence of the IACHR despite the repeated and well-founded request for provisional status.
The leaders have raised their voices in a pandemic, courageously recording them in this video that shows in their own words their fears, pain, and demand for justice, and request once again that the IACHR submit its expropriated request for provisional measures to the Court.
Stichting Forest Peoples
Programme
Nieuwe Keizersgracht 45
1018 VC
Amsterdam
Netherlands
Forest Peoples Programme
1c Fosseway Business Centre
Stratford Road
Moreton-in-Marsh
GL56 9NQ
England
info@forestpeoples.org
Tel: +44(0)1608 652893
Fax: +44(0)1608 652878
Supporting forest peoples' rights
No comments:
Post a Comment