Communities Request UN Support to Protect Mexico's Indigenous Lands Roberto Garduno and Enrique Mendez - La Jornada
go to original July 4, 2014

In September, Mexican community organization leaders and representatives will present a petition at the United Nations (UN) World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. The aim is to obtain approval for a declaration against the plundering of community lands in Mexico, as is forecasted in the secondary laws for implementing energy reforms.

The Secretary of the Commission on Indigenous Issues and PRD [Party of the Democratic Revolution] Deputy Carlos de Jesús Alejandro explained that practically 90% of the lands belonging to native peoples are conceded to international mining companies. Together with a means for occupation that is expected to be included in the concessions contracts for exploring and strip mining hydrocarbons, practically all of the indigenous land will be taken and people displaced.

In an interview, De Jesús Alejandro emphasized that during a preparatory business meeting for the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples, community leaders expressed their concern about the approaching plundering of their lands, even though the federal government assures them that there will be no de facto expropriation but rather temporary occupation when petroleum, gas or shale gas is found in their communities.

De Jesús Alejandro claims that the supposed temporary occupation – to which the Public Prosecutor Javier Laynez Potisek referred last week – only aims to conceal the start of plundering since it is obvious that the international companies will not stop.

Read the rest at Mexico Voices

Translated by Julie Kawamura

Mexico Voices is a blogging endeavor aimed at raising the awareness of U.S. citizens regarding the destructive impact of the U.S. economic policy and the War on Drugs on Mexico — on its people, their economic and physical security and their human rights, on the nation’s dysfunctional justice system, and on the rule of law and Mexico’s fragile democracy. Visit the website at MexicoVoices.blogspot.mx.

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