Government Offends Dignity of Mexico's Indigenous People at Human Rights Hearing Magdalena Gomez - La Jornada
go to original March 27, 2013

The tendency of the Mexican State to distance itself when confronted by the justness of the rights of indigenous peoples is not novel; but this time it showed itself directly and offensively within the confines of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

The March 14 hearing granted to the Rarámuri and Ódami peoples was held during the 147th regular session of the Commission, which is based in Washington. Representatives from the communities of Bakajípare, Huetosachi and Mogótavo, from the municipality of Urique; Coloradas de la Virgen, Choreachi and Mala Noche, from the municipality of Guadalupe y Calvo in the Sierra Tarahumara of Chihuahua, backed by organizations of the Sierra Madre Alliance, Tierra Nativa, COSYDDHAC, Center for Women's Rights, Women for Mexico in Chihuahua and the Diocese of Tarahumara. In addition, they had the support of traditional authorities throughout the sierras [mountains].

At that hearing they presented their territorial problems: health, education, water and food, framed by violation of their right to prior consultation and consent with respect to tourist projects, logging and mining concessions. Among the outcomes of the plundering [of their lands,] they noted: "In the municipalities of the sierra,

• 90.6 percent of the people have no health services;
• 78.9 percent of homes do not have running water;
• 96.6 percent have no drainage;
• 91.6 percent of households not have electricity; and
• Over 70 percent of the population cannot read or write."

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

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