Paraguay Congress to decide fate of uncontacted tribe

SURVIVAL INTERNATIONAL NEWS RELEASE

28 February 2005

PARAGUAY: CONGRESS TO DECIDE FATE OF UNCONTACTED TRIBE

Moves to protect the heartland of South America's last uncontacted
tribe south of the Amazon basin are now being debated in Paraguay's
Congress. The area at stake is home to an unknown number of
uncontacted Ayoreo-Totobiegosode Indians. It is vital for the
survival of the tribe that the land is protected - logging companies
have already penetrated deep into their forest.

The existence of the uncontacted Ayoreo-Totobiegosode was
dramatically confirmed last year when a group of seventeen Indians
appeared at the edge of the forest and made contact with outsiders
for the first time. The group made clear that they did not want to
leave the forest, but were desperately short of water. Nearly all
their permanent waterholes have been occupied by settlers.

Last year Paraguay's lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, approved a
bill to expropriate the area from the logging companies and to return
it to the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode. However, after fierce lobbying by a
powerful landowners' association, the bill was rejected by the upper
house (the Senate). It now returns to the Chamber of Deputies, where
a simple majority in favour would mean it is very likely to become
law.

Survival International is launching a letter-writing campaign today
in support of the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode's rights. Ayoreo-Totobiegosode
man Eduejai Etacori says, 'The forest gives us life and we use it for
all our needs. I don't forget the words of our leaders who said,
"Don't abandon the fight for the land." That is why I do not stop
fighting.'


For details of Survival's letter-writing campaign, please visit
http://www.survival-international.org/how_to_help.php?howto_help_id=47&n=null&tribe_id=16

Photos and footage available. For more information contact Miriam
Ross on (+44) (0)20 7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org

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We help tribal peoples defend their lives, protect their lands and
determine their own futures.

Survival International
6 Charterhouse Buildings
London EC1M 7ET
UK

Tel: (+44) (0)20 7687 8700
Fax: (+44) (0)20 7687 8701
www.survival-international.org

We talk about natural reserves for animals..So they go unmolested from the bulldozer...Can't happen to animals,since humans exploit everything...Think it impossible with humans...Possibly sort of an exception...The Hawaiaans who took control of their fate in Nihhau..that only at the ability to legally kick the invaders out..