27 January 2004
[esta carta en español]
November 12, 2003
President Enrique Iglesias
Inter American Development Bank
1300 New York Ave
Washington, DC 20577
(English translation from original Spanish)
Dear President Iglesias:
Greetings on behalf of the indigenous representatives meeting at the OAS headquarters in Washington to participate in the Working Group of the Juridical and Political Committee of the Permanent Council of the OAS Responsible for Elaborating the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. In this Working Group we are involved in precedent setting work in the inter-American system in which the states are sitting around the table with us, and we are working together and in good faith to elaborate international rules to respect and promote our human rights.
We write to you to reiterate our concerns and requests expressed in the letter sent to you by indigenous peoples of the Americas on May 10, 2003. Now we want to express our profound concern about the lack of a response from your office during the last six months. We emphatically reiterate our request that the IDB adopt an indigenous policy, urgently and in consultation with the indigenous peoples of the Americas, to respect our rights, which continue to be affected by IDB projects and activities in the American hemisphere.
We are ware that the IDB is planning a round of consultations about a strategic framework for indigenous development. We recognize the efforts of the IDB to carry out a participatory process about the indigenous issue, but we are united in our position that a strategic framework is not sufficient and consultations are not acceptable unless they result in an indigenous policy that is binding for the IDB. At present, the IDB is notably behind in this area when compared to similar institutions such as the World Bank or the United Nations Development Program. These two institutions have had indigenous policies for years and are now in dialogue with indigenous peoples in order to strengthen them, and update them according to domestic and international human rights standards for our peoples.
The reality of our peoples and communities, and the advances that we have achieved in domestic and international law, do not permit us to agree to wait years for the elaboration of a strategic framework with only the hope that the framework will recommend the future elaboration of a binding policy. We already know that that it is necessary for the IDB to have an indigenous policy to ensure justice for our peoples. We do not need to wait for that conclusion to emerge from a consultation on a strategic framework.
During recent years, and recent months in particular, the entire world has observed that the future stability and prosperity of our hemisphere will depend on the will and capacity of the states and their institutions to respect the human rights of indigenous peoples and include us in the democratic processes of our countries and in the decisions that affect us.
At this moment we, the indigenous peoples, are suffering. With your help, we can ensure that IDB projects do not contribute to this suffering, but instead contribute to improving out lives, well-being, and sustainable development for all of the countries of the hemisphere. Due to the advances during the last decade in international law, and national constitutions and legal standards in the American States with respect to indigenous peoples, and the juridical advances in the States and in the Inter-American Human Rights Court - particularly with respect to our property rights, we find ourselves at a historic moment-an opportunity to achieve an indigenous policy at the IDB. We do not need more studies or consultations to confirm that.
In conclusion, we reiterate our request for a meeting with you in order to discuss an inclusive and transparent process to advance - in collaboration with indigenous peoples - the elaborations and adoption of an indigenous policy that truly respects and promotes indigenous rights. Please respond to the contact information listed on the attached signature sheet.
We thank you for your time and await your prompt response.
Sincerely,
(See attached list of signatories)
Lideres Indigenas Firmantes
Presidente Iglesias, 12 Noviembre, 2003
1. Armstrong Wiggins Nicaragua
Indian Law Resource Center
601 E St. SE
Washington, DC 20003
(202) 547-2800
2. Lottie Cunningham Nicaragua
Centro por la Justicia y Derechos Humanos
de la Costa Atlantica de Nicaragua
Barrio Nuevo Jerusalem, Bilwi
Puerto Cabezas RAAN Nicaragua
3. Arlen Ribeira Peru
FECONAFROPU - AIDESEP
Av. San Eugenio 981
Lima 13 Peru
4. Haroldo Salazar Peru
Asosiacion Inter-etnica de la Selva Peruano
(AIDESEP)
Av. San Eugenio 981
Lima 13 Peru
5. Marcial Arias Panama
FPCI -Fundacion para la Promocion del
Conocimiento Indigena
P.O. Box 2203
Balboa, Ancon
6. Raul Ilaquiche Ecuador
Confederacion de Nacionalidades
Indigenas del Ecuador (CONAIE)
7. Nicolas Chango Ecuador
Ecuadorian Indigenous Peoples Defense
8. Adelfo Regino M. Mexico
Servicios del Pueblo Mixe
Primera Privada de Sabinos
no. 113, col. Reforma
Oaxaca, Mexico
| 9. Gregoria Flores Honduras
OFRANEH/CONPAA
10. Jose Carlos Morales Costa Rica
ARADIKES
11. Azelene Kaingang Brazil
12. Marcial Colin Lincolao Chile
Ernesto Wapner 1030 - Villarrica 13. Eduardo A. Nieva
Comision de Juristas Indigenas Argentina
Winter 1470-Formosa-Argentina
C.P. 3600 14. Irinea Bardales Diaz Peru
Federacion de Pueblos Cacataibo
Ucayali - Peru
15. Alejandro Chipana Bolivia
CEDIA
16. Hector Huertas Gonzalez Panama
Cento de Asistencia Legal Popular
17. Albert Deterville St. Lucia
Caribbean Antilles
Indigenous Peoples Caucus
18. Elsa Son
Fundacion Cholsamaj Guatemala
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