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| News June 2008 1) There has been a serious incident involving the police attacking a small group of Zlaqatahyi Wichí protesting at the use of their traditional lands by agribusiness. The community most directly affected is Sopfwayuk, 4 km. from Hoktek T'oi. Several unarmed and defenceless men and women were heavily hit about with truncheons, and six were arrested, including a community leader and an elder. Chacolinks has been funding the lawyer Sarah Esper, who obtained the release of the detainees within 24 hours. Working overnight, and through the next ten days, Sarah, with John Palmer as translator, accompanied thirteen of the victims as they filed charges against the police for brutality. So the police commissioner (Ocampo) is now under investigation for “overstepping the line of duty”. To date, there have been four court appearances in connection with the case. This event is a replay of the attack on Pozo Nuevo in 2005, the difference being that the use of force in Sopfwayuk was instantaneous and several people were wounded. We are concerned about the long-term consequences for those attacked, remembering that the late José "Casio" Galarza died of his wounds several months after the Pozo Nuevo attack. 2) On the subject of the Pozo Nuevo attack, the police commissioner responsible for that attack is finally to stand trial. We heard earlier this month that he has been formally charged with responsibility for the violence used by the police force he had under his command. The Wichí believe that it is thanks to Chacolinks that this crucial procedural step has been taken. 3) Chacolinks has donated two signboards for the villages of Holotaj and Tsofwachat One is in place and the second awaits dry enough conditions to transport it there. 4) Roque Miranda is encouraging the Zlaqatahyi communities to collect forest seeds with a view to starting the tree nursery that Chacolinks has promised to support. This will restore the forest where illegal logging has taken place on the lands of the Hoktek T'oi community. |