Indigenous People’s News

IPS Indigenous News =================== The world’s indigenous peoples are making themselves heard in international arenas and at the national level, where their growing mobilisation is translating into political muscle. But many challenges remain in the fight for recognition of all their rights. ===========================================================================

BOLIVIA: Indigenous and Mestizo Power Flexes Muscles Analysis by Franz Chávez LA PAZ – An immense tide of people demonstrating to keep the Bolivian seat of government in this city took to the streets last week to show support for the indigenous Aymara and mestizo leadership, in the greatest expression of popular power in the history of the country. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38669

***** COLOMBIA: ‘Independence? What Independence?’ Indigenous Peoples Ask Helda Martínez BOGOTÁ – Colombia celebrated 197 years of independence from Spain on Friday, Jul. 20. On Monday, at dawn, some 5,000 indigenous people set off on an 800-kilometre journey to ask the government, “what independence?” http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38636

***** Native Peoples Renew Call for U.N. Recognition Haider Rizvi UNITED NATIONS – Leaders of the world’s 370 million indigenous peoples are reiterating their calls for the 192-member U.N. General Assembly to recognise their sovereignty over ancestral lands and resources. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38593

***** SRI LANKA: Civil War Shifts to Jaffna Amantha Perera COLOMBO – As the government celebrates the capture of the country’s east, all out battles with Tamil rebels in their northern bastion of Jaffna have become imminent. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38563

***** BOLIVIA: La Paz Struggles Against Suffocation Franz Chávez LA PAZ – The noise of traffic, dissonant car horns, people marching and shouting slogans, and firework and dynamite explosions is beginning to suffocate the urban centre of La Paz, Bolivia’s seat of government, and is forcing consideration of medium term solutions. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38551

***** PERU: Escalating Conflicts Put Pres. García on the Spot Milagros Salazar LIMA – Three people dead, several injured, and fire at an airport: the results of a wave of protests in Peru, regarded as the worst social crisis since Alan García became president nearly one year ago. Thousands of teachers, workers and peasant farmers continued the mobilisation. http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=38521