Declaration of the Salvadoran Binational Council
United Nations Headquarters - New York, NY
May 7, 2012,
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| Tata Tito Pasin and Haydee Sanchez in front of the UN |
Declaration of the Salvadoran Binational Council consisting
of: Tito Reyes Cuadra, Mayor of the Commons for the Pueblo of Izalco, Pedro
Alberto Rodriguez representative of the Council of Indigenous Peoples of
Nahuizalco and Techantit Cultural Center of El Salvador in the eleventh session
of the Permanent Forum Indigenous Peoples held from 7 to 18 May 2012 at the
United Nations Headquarters in New York City.
Thank you, Mr. President: Congratulations on being elected
to your honorable office. Receive
a warm greeting from the Mayor of the Commons of Izalco and the Nahuatl-Pipil
people of El Salvador.
Issues:
1) The Doctrine of Discovery
2) Human Rights
3) Indigenous Rights to Food Sovereignty and
4) Impact of Transnational Companies in Indigenous Lands.
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| Pueblos Pilpiles |
First Recommendation:
That the Permanent Forum through its mandate facilitate and support the
development of a comprehensive study which is urgently needed regarding the
current situation of Indigenous Peoples in El Salvador. This study should especially
focus on the indigenous survivors of the Massacre of 1932, including the
communities of Izalco, Nahuizalco, Tacuba, Juayua, Sonzacate, Sonsonate,
Salcoatitan, Turin, La Libertad, Colon, Texistepeque, Ahuachapan and the
massacres of the 80's such as those of El Mosote, El Carrizal, Las Hojas and
others, so many massacres it is impossible to enumerate them all.
Second Recommendation:
That the Permanent Forum insist that the government of El Salvador reverse the
perpetuation of the Doctrine of Discovery, and that El Salvador ratify
Convention No. 169 of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and adopt and
implement the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples proclaimed by the
UN in 2007.
Third Recommendation:
That the Permanent Forum urge the Salvadoran government to promote legislative
initiatives to harmonize the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
with the Constitution of El Salvador.
Fourth Recommendation:
That the Permanent Forum elaborate a study and submit a report to the
Indigenous Peoples of El Salvador regarding the environmental impact of
hydropower and mining companies.
Fifth Recommendation:
That the Permanent Forum urge the government of El Salvador to establish a
commission to clarify the truth about the events of 1932 and address compensation
for damages.
Sixth Recommendation:
That the Permanent Forum through its mandate to urge the government of El
Salvador to respect and take into account our ancestral forms of indigenous
self government and our structures.
All this I ask because our rights have been violated, our
rights continue to be violated, and although our lives have been threatened we cannot remain silent.
The Ministry of Environment continues to sign concessions
with mining companies and companies such as Hydrowest of Canada, Sensunapan and
other transnationals. At this point we call upon you to stop the operations of the
companies Central Cucumacayan Hydroelectric, Central Hydroelectric Bululu, and Central
Hydroelectric Sonsonate who are operating without a license and have felled
thousands of trees causing unprecedented ecological damage and in response the
government has done nothing.
The construction of dams in locations where our ancestors
are buried is a desecration of our sacred sites, thus violating Articles 11 and
25 of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This also violates the right to Free, Prior and Informed consultation, it
violates the right of self-determination, but more important is the violation
of the right to food security.
President Mauricio Funes on the 12th of October 2010 at Ayagualo,
acknowledged the existence of we Indigenous Peoples of El Salvador and
apologized for the ethnocide and genocide committed against our peoples, yet did
not invite Indigenous Peoples to the event nor our traditional authorities, which
makes evident the fact that it is not enough to apologize without restoration
of justice and/or just compensation.
Padiush.
