Gross human rights violations in indigenous communities – APA

Miners are being accused of committing violations of human rights against Amerindian village residents, the Amerindian Peoples Association researchers have found.

This information was divulged in a recently released report produced by the association and the Forest Peoples Programme.

According to the APA, there are documented reports of gross human rights abuse and crimes by miners and also Police personnel against indigenous women and girls in Baramita Village, Region One (Barima/Waini).

This information was passed to the relevant authorities in 2013, however, despite some official investigations and visits by Government officials in 2015, reports show that harassment and abuse continue.

It was also reported that destructive mining and commercial logging are causing major damage to the environment that is affecting the livelihoods, health and welfare of indigenous peoples.

“Villages in both Region One and Region Two report that commercial logging companies are destroying traditional livelihood resources, including craft materials, bush medicines and fruit trees important for game animals,” the report stated.

Various communities, including Yarakita, Sebai, Hobodia, Canal Bank, Citrus Grove, Blackwater Savannah, Khan Hill and Kwebanna complained in 2012-14 that commercial loggers—with Ja Ling, Barama and Bai Shan Lin companies were ‘cleaning out’ community forests of valuable timber stocks.

It went on to state that bridge and road building by loggers are also contaminating water supplies and fisheries within untitled customary lands.

Villages in Region Two (Pomeroon/Supenaam) report similar problems caused by State Forest Permit holders occupying their customary lands and extension areas—these include St Monica, Kabakaburi, Akawini, Wakapau, Kaniballi, Bethany, Mashabo.

Many villages and communities in Region One complain that rivers, water sources and fishing grounds are severely damaged by mining waste: “Warapoka complains of major contamination of the Waini River coming from upstream, while Kokerite and Kariako report that the Barama River is heavily polluted, which has even caused deaths among those using the water…residents of Barima Koriabo report water pollution from mining in the Barima River, and Eclipse Falls and Arakaka suffer likewise on the Upper Barima,” it highlighted, adding that mining has also polluted the water supplies of Big Creek and Oronoque.

It further stated that Citrus Grove and Canal Bank are deeply concerned about mining pollution in Kaituma Creek and White Creek, yet despite their protests GGMC has not done anything yet to stop harmful mining.

Mining is also causing deforestation and damage to hunting grounds in Baramita and Sebai, forcing hunters to travel long distances to find meat and fish, and they often suffer shortages.

“Many families now have to buy imported meat and fish from village shops and retailers,” it stated, pinpointing that while populations are growing in most villages, livelihood resources are becoming scarce within the limited title area.

“Many titled Villages visited for this assessment complain that resources are now scarce within their title boundaries. Farmlands have become infertile; craft, construction and lumber materials are in short supply and game animals are scarce in the titled land of Santa Rosa, Manawarin, Kaniballi, Yarakita, Assakata, Kokerite, Kamwatta, Hobodia, Hotoquai, Bumbury Hill, Bethany, St Monica, Kabakaburi, Capoey, Mashabo, Wakapau and Akawini, among others,” it said.