Five hundred years after the arrival of Columbus, indigenous peoples in Venezuela are still fighting, and fighting strongly, to keep the last of their ancestral lands. On July 27, nearly 1,000 Indians from the Pemon, Karina, Arawaco and Akawaio tribes joined together to roll massive logs onto the only highway connecting Venezuela and Brazil, strengthening their adamant protest of a 450-mile long electrical transmission line that will rip through their rainforest homeland. The area affected includes the Imataca Forest Reserve and Canaima National Park (a World Heritage Site). It is also home of Angel Falls, the world's tallest waterfall. In a recent press conference, Pemon leader Jose Luis Gonzales warned the Venezuelan government, "Rapid economic development will equal the death of our forests and of the indigenous peoples." Despite bullying from the National Guard, blockades of construction crews and equipment have continued for over one month.
The $110 million transmission line is part of a mega-development package recently adopted by the Venezuelan government aiming to diversify their vulnerable economy, which currently relies heavily on the export of petroleum products. In addition to selling energy to Brazil, the government proposes to use the power to open up the previously protected Guyana Shield region to large-scale logging and mining.
This area not only represents one of five major biological hotspots identified in the world, but it also boasts one of the last large blocks of intact frontier forest and contains tepuyes, unique highland table-top mountainsïthe inspiration of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's classic adventure story, The Lost World.
Empowered by national and international law, world-wide media coverage and support from the international community, the Pemon are holding steadfast to their demand that the Venezuelan government legally recognize and respect the boundaries of their ancestral lands. Specifically, they demand the construction work on the power line be halted immediately and the Supreme Court nullify Decree 1850. This decree, passed last April, opens up 40 percent of the Imataca rainforest reserve to large-scale gold mining. In addition to the protests, indigenous and environmental groups have filed two lawsuits. One lawsuit challenges the decree and the other challenges the construction of the power line through indigenous territory. Unfortunately, the government hasn't been overly interested in resolving these issues through legitimate discussion. On August 12, the eleventh day of the protest, the Venezuelan National Guard was mobilized to forcefully disperse the 1000 protesters at the blockade site. Jerrick Andre of the Indigenous Federation of the State of Bolivar (FIEB) reported," The National Guard came at dawn in riot gear with orders from Caracas to remove our blockade. Using a military tank, they removed the logs we had used to block the road. The soldiers forced our people out of their tents, some still sleeping or half dressed, and continued to aggressively disassemble our camp." Additionally, bulldozers have already leveled sections of the communities' yucca, corn, banana and pineapple fields. Unable to further dismiss the problem with tanks, the government finally agreed to negotiations. Talks with top level ministers and indigenous leaders began August 13. On August 26, a major breakthrough was reached between the Venezuelan government and indigenous representatives. The government stated it is prepared to recognize indigenous property rights and would suspend all work on the power line until the question of land title was resolved. However, the following day ominous events unfolded in the Pemon village of Mapauri, which overshadowed the historic talks. At 3:20 pm the National Guard assaulted the village's residents with tear gas and rubber bullets. Members of the community had gathered around a construction site where workers insisted on continuing work. A stand-off ensued and the National Guard was mobilized in full riot gear. Three Pemon Indians were sent to the hospital, including a thirteen year-old boy.
Particularly hard hit by the transmission lines would be the Imataca rainforest, a nine million acre reserve where large-scale gold mining and logging projects, as well as a mega-tourist complex, are planned. Twice the size of Switzerland, Imataca is home to an extraordinary array of wildlife including jaguars, bearded bluebells, marmosets and the world's largest eagle, the endangered harpy.
On the Venezuelan side alone, more than 500 steel towers would be constructed through 200 kilometers of the pristine rainforest. To install these towers, EDELCA, the state-owned electric company, also plans to clear a 100-foot wide service corridor along the entire route. The first to receive electricity will be the Christinas gold mining complex located inside the boundaries of Imataca. Here, Placer Dome and other transnational gold mining companiesïmostly Canadianïare planning one of South America's largest gold mines.
This controversial transmission line and the Christinas mining complex will have serious impacts on the health, the land and the way of life for more than 15,000 Pemon, Karina, Arawaco and Akawaio indigenous peoples. These communities stand united against the project as they are acutely aware of the threats they face: mercury and cyanide poisoning in their water from mining sites; miners settling in their territory; increased rates of malaria; safety issues associated with having a high voltage power line running directly through their communities; and the crime, violence, and prostitution that inevitably comes with mining towns. Many indigenous communities in the area are already suffering the effects of mercury and cyanide poisoning which include increased rates of cancer, vomiting and diarrhea. Since the advent of even small-scale mining activity, all of the region's indigenous communities are also suffering from unusually high rates of malaria. According to FIEB, in many communities, over 50 percent of the population has contracted malaria.
In spite of the aforementioned concerns, construction of the power line has proceeded without proper environmental and social impact assessment or consultation with impacted communities. Construction crews are clearing land in and around indigenous villages without prior notification or community consent, which is illegal according to Venezuelan law. Copies of the dubious environmental impact report are difficult, if not impossible, to obtain and fail entirely to address the project's impacts on local indigenous communities.
As negotiations remain tenuous, the Pemon call upon the international community to write letters to the Venezuelan president requesting that the laws protecting their traditional lands, their inhabitants and the area's biological richness be honored and that this project, which threatens their very existence, be halted before it is too late. Pemon leader Lloyd Henrito, argues that, "We are the owners of this land. We were here long before Columbus, but in the eyes of the Venezuelan government we are nothing."
Send your letters to Your Excellency President Rafael Caldera, Palacio de Miraflores Carmelitas, Caracas, Venezuela; Fax 011(58)(2)801-3644. Fax copies of your letter to: Dr. Efrain Carrera Saud, President of CVG 011(58)(2)908-1808; Dr. Juan Nepomuceno Garrido, Procurador General de la Rep·blica 011(58)(2)693-0911; Jorge Padron, Comisi≤n del Senado 011(58)(2)484-8134; JosΘ Luis Gonzalez Federaci≤n de Indigenes del Estado Bolivar; 011(58)(85)26-786; fieb@telcel.net.ve.