Indigenous Leaders in Costa Rica Tell Ban Ki-moon Their Problems

Indigenous Leaders in Costa Rica Tell Ban Ki-moon Their Problems
By Diego Arguedas Ortiz


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A Costa Rican indigenous family runs to take shelter in the community of Cedror in the indigenous territory of Salitre on
Jul. 6, afraid of being attacked by landowners who occupied their land after setting fire to their homes and belongings the
day before. Credit: David Bolaños/IPSA [/font]

SAN JOSE, Aug 1 2014 (IPS) - Indigenous people in Costa Rica, hemmed in by violent attacks from farmers and ranchers who invade their land and burn down their homes, have found a new ally: United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, who met with 36 native leaders during a recent visit to this country.

The leaders, representing eight indigenous groups, described the violence faced by native people in Costa Rica, and the many struggles they face, even in simply getting identity cards.

But they underlined that their most pressing concern is the occupation of indigenous areas by “the white man”, which has led to an escalation of attacks from landowners, who invade their ancestral territory and try to drive them off the land, despite a law that guarantees their right to collective ownership of their territory.

The latest violent episode occurred in the community of Cedror, in the Salitre indigenous territory in the southeast of the country. The Bribri people in Salitre had begun a process of recovering territory occupied by landowners or “finqueros”, who responded by burning down their modest homes and blocking access to their territory.

More:
http://www.ipsnews.net/2014/08/indigenous-leaders-in-costa-rica-tell-ban-ki-moon-their-problems/