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for the Wichí people of Argentina Apoyo al pueblo Wichí de Argentina |
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| News September 2008 1. We are very sad to report that Yilis – a traditional spiritual healer and staunch defender of Wichí lands, and father of the imprisoned Qa'tu – died on 12 August. The capture of his son by the Argentine State was the ultimate in a long line of offences against his people with which Yilis always took unflinching issue. And it led him finally to take leave of his earthly existence, in what for him was the certain knowledge that he would be more capable of repairing the injustice from beyond the grave. He departed in full command of his faculties, when (as we understand it) the pain of living became too much for him to bear. 2. A new attack has begun on the territorial integrity of Hokek T'oi - oil-extraction. Without prior consultation with the community, a road-building unit broke onto the village's land, about 5 km from the village. They dismantled a fence built by the community two years ago in order to close off a track that was being used by illegal loggers and other intruders. The road-builders rehabilitated the track and cut a new side road into the forest. They were followed by a perforation team, which installed heavy-duty equipment and began drilling. A small oil reserve has been discovered – at a depth of 3,400 metres – and production is due to begin at any moment. We are studying the relevant legislation to see what legal action to take. Meanwhile, criminal proceedings have been begun on the grounds of trespass and damages. One of the problems consists in identifying the company behind the operation, as those who have been carrying out the work so far are subcontracted small-fry. Hearsay has it that a Chinese oil company has the concession. 3. In early September, Hoktek T'oi villagers had caught red-handed a band of illegal loggers who had felled 230 hardwood trees on village land and were transporting the load to town. Illegal logging on Hoktek T'oi land is a regular occurrence: since 2005, the village has initiated seven separate lawsuits against lackeys of the local timber industry who had been plundering the village's forest. All to no avail. On this occasion, the police arrived at the scene of the crime (though, in order to get them there, we had to pay for the fuel for their vehicle!). Our lawyer Sarah Esper has taken up the case, with a preliminary payment from Chacolinks for her services. |