---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Sun, 22 Dec 96 00:34:44 GMT
From: Shaun Paul <spaul@igc.apc.org>
Newsgroups: bionet.biology.tropical
Subject: Alert: Help Maya Itza of Guatemala Save Forest w Holiday Letter
A C T I O N A L E R T !
December 1996
THE FOLLOWING ALERT REQUIRES IMMEDIATE ATTENTION
C O N T E N T S
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
(1) The Crisis in Brief: Peten, Guatemala and the Maya Itza
(2) Statement from the Bio Itza Committee
(3) Authorities for You to Contact
(4) Open Letter from the EcoLogic Development Fund, English & Spanish
CRISIS IN BRIEF
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
* The Maya Itza are one of 21 Mayan linguistic groups in=20
Guatemala.
* The Itza are on the verge of cultural extinction as fewer=20
than one hundred people now speak the language fluently.
* In 1991, the Itza of San Jose, Peten banded together to=20
halt illegal logging in their municipal forests and=20
established THE COMMITTEE OF THE BIOSFERA ITZA RESERVE.
* Since that time this community organization has effectively
protected a 36-square kilometer municipal forest reserve=20
and promoted activities for environmental conservation,=20
cultural revitalization, and community development.
* San Jose=92s current Mayor has recently announced under=20
municipal decree that he is disbanding this community=20
group. Like his predecessors he sees greater personal and=20
financial benefit in logging the forest reserve than=20
protecting it.
* The Mayor has appointed his father as the new leader of the=20
Bio Itza Committee and secured the support of immigrants to=20
serve on the committee. =20
* These immigrants have been very clear in expressing their=20
desire to cut down the forest for agricultural plots.
* To reverse this injustice, the Bio Itza Committee has=20
requested immediate letters from international
organizations to be directed at local authorities.
* This is a situation when a letter can both save a tropical
forest and ensure that the efforts of a threatened cultural=20
group continue.
=09=09For more information contact:
Shaun Paul Reginaldo Chayax Huex
EcoLogic Development Fund Presidente
PO Box 383405 Comite Bio Itza
Cambridge, MA 02238 USA San Jose, Peten, GUATEMALA
tel (617) 441-6300 community tel 011 [502] 928-8135
fax (617) 441-6307
email: news@ecologic.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LETTER OF APPEAL
WRITTEN BY THE BIO ITZA COMMITTEE
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
November 19, 1996
DEAR FRIENDS IN THE CONSERVATION AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES COMMUNITY.
=09The Committee of the Biosfera Itza reserve wish to make =20
known, both nationally and internationally, the following. Since=20
1991, when the reserve was founded, this organization has pioneered
the conservation of the environment in the Department of Peten,=20
Guatemala in Central America. As the last indigenous inhabitants=20
of the Peten=92s forest, the Maya Itza have fought to maintain the=20
forest, culture and language of their great civilization. The=20
reserve protects 6 km2 of threatened primary forest under the=20
guidance of a Management Plan; we also have a Forest Inventory, a=20
map of the area, archaeological studies of the sites within the=20
reserve, and currently have five on-going projects that are=20
compatible with the environment. Furthermore, we have received=20
technical and/or financial assistance from the following=20
institutions: the University of Michigan, Cultural Survival, IIZ-
Austrian Embassy, ProPeten/CI, TNC, CONAP, CATIE/RENAR, CCAD,=20
EcoLogic Development Fund, and SEGEPLAN.
=09Unfortunately, for the past three years the Biosfera Itza=20
Committee has suffered at the hands of the current municipal=20
leader, Julian Tesucun y Tesucun, who together with members of=20
the immigrant population, want to extract the forest resources=20
protected within the reserve. With this purpose in mind, the=20
municipality held a meeting Saturday, November 16, 1996 in which=20
Mr. Tesucun y Tesucun inappropriately permitted the election of a=20
new Committee to manage the Biosfera Itza. Those in attendance=20
represent the immigrant population and other persons with=20
personal agendas. Their interests are not the well-being and=20
development of the Maya Itza community, rather their primary goal=20
is to log the reserve and divide it up for the extraction of=20
forest resources--thereby converting it into a desert.
=09As such, we urgently protest before you, asking for your=20
moral support to exert pressure on the authorities and=20
institutions whose role it is to protect the rights of the=20
indigenous communities and the environment. We want this=20
situation to be resolved through the appropriate legal channels=20
so that we can live and work in peace for the good of the=20
environment and future generations. We are the first indigenous=20
organization to worry about our natural environment in the=20
northern forested region of the Peten, which has suffered=20
deforestation and destruction due to the increasing number of=20
immigrants from other parts of the country.
=09With the hope of receiving your words of support, we thank=20
you for your consideration. For more information, please=20
communicate with us by means of the community telephone in San=20
Jose ([502] 928-8135).
Ecologically,
REGINALDO CHAYAX HUEX=09=09=09FELICIANO TZUL COLLI
PRESIDENT=09=09=09=09VICE PRESIDENT
LUIS FERNANDO LOPEZ=09=09=09CESAR MUNOZ SUNTECUN
JUAN JULIO TUT=09=09=09=09BERTA HUEX CHAN
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE AUTHORITIES IN GUATEMALA NEED TO KNOW THAT=20
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OBJECT TO WHAT IS HAPPENING=20
TO THE ITZA!=20
PLEASE WRITE A LETTER, PREFERABLY IN SPANISH, TO THE=20
AUTHORITIES IN GUATEMALA.
AUTHORITIES FOR YOU TO WRITE IN ORDER OF PRIORITY:
(1)=09Ing. Juan Francisco Asturias Fajardo, Coordinador Nacional=20
=09Comision Nacional del Medio Ambiente, CONAMA
=095 Avenida 8-07, Zona 10
=09Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
=09Tel: =09011 [502] 332-7174
=09Fax: =09011 [502] 362-6845
(2)=09Dr. Edgar Armando Aragon Gonzalez, Gobernador
=09Gobernacion Departamental del Peten
=09Ciudad Flores, Peten, Guatemala
=09Tel/Fax: 011 [502] 926-1383
*****************************************************************
OTHER PEOPLE THAT NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU
(3)=09Senor Diputado Mario Hugo Miranda
=09Presidente de la Comision de Medio Ambiente
=09Congreso de la Republica de Guatemala
=09Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
=09Tel/Fax 011 [502] 232-1260 (Ask for the "extension 327"=20
=09=09=09=09=09 - tres dos siete)
(4) =09Lic. Manuel Barquin
=09Delegado Departmental, Peten
=09Procuraduria General de la Nacion
=09Santa Elena, Peten Guatemala
=09Tel/Fax: [502] 926-0318
(5) =09Excelentisimo Senor Presidente
=09Alvaro Arzu
=09Palacio Nacional=20
=09Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
=09EMAIL: AlvaroArzu@guate.net
PLEASE SEND A COPY OF ALL LETTERS TO:
Reginaldo Chayax Huex=09AND/OR=09=09Shaun Paul
Presidente=09=09=09=09EcoLogic Development Fund=20
Comite Bio Itza=09=09=09=09PO Box 383405
San Jose, Peten GUATEMALA=09=09Cambridge, MA 02238 USA
fax c/o PROPETEN [502] 926-0495=09=09fax (617) 441-6307
=09=09=09=09=09email: news@ecologic.org
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
OPEN LETTER FROM THE ECOLOGIC DEVELOPMENT FUND
=09=09=09=09=09=09December 16, 1996
Dr. Edgar Armando Aragon Gonzalez, Gobernador
Gobernacion Departamental del Peten
Ciudad Flores, Peten, Guatemala
Tel/Fax: 011 [502] 926-1383
Dear Dr. Aragon Gonzalez,
=20
I am writing on behalf of the EcoLogic Development Fund, an=20
international charitable organization, to bring your attention
to a problem of great concern to us regarding San Jose, Peten.
Both my organization and many other international agencies have=20
recently received reports concerning the questionable dissolution=20
on November 16, 1996 of the "Committee of the Biosfera Itza=20
Reserve" in San Jose by Mayor Julian Tesucun y Tesucun. If this=20
is true, I am confident that you will join us in supporting the=20
valiant efforts of the Bio Itza Committee to protect their=20
natural resources, promote the sustainable use of these=20
resources, and preserve of their language and culture.
The Bio Itza Committee was formally established in September 1991=20
in San Jose when Itza community members established their general=20
assembly. The area in which their development has been centered=20
is located in the buffer zone of the Mayan Biosphere along the=20
perimeter of El Zotz-San Miguel-La Pelotada Biotope. This 36-
square kilometer area was conceded by the Honorable Corporation=20
of the Municipality of San Jose as a municipal forest reserve (in=20
the 34-91 session, of the folio 312-317 of the Act No. 37). The=20
Bio Itza Committee, under the leadership of Reginaldo Chayax Huex=20
and Feliciano Tzul Colli, developed a management plan and=20
established projects to protect this fragile area. These=20
projects include the protection of San Jose=92s threatened forests,=20
the reforestation of degraded areas, the promotion of ecotourism=20
and most importantly, the education of Maya Itza youth in their=20
nearly lost traditions and language. They have been effective=20
not only in their conservation work, but also in promoting the=20
economic development and cultural well-being of the Maya Itza=20
people. =20
Because of its important work, many national and international=20
organizations have supported and are willing to continue=20
supporting the Bio Itza Committee. Institutions that have joined=20
forces with the Bio Itza Committee by donating their financial,=20
technological, and human resources include: Secretaria de=20
Planificacion Economica (SEGEPLAN); Direccion General de Bosques=20
y Vida Silvestre (DIGEBOS); Plan de Accion Forestral Maya (PAF-
MAYA); Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala; Comision=20
Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarollo (CCAD); Asociacion del=20
Rescate y Conservacion de la Vida Silvestre (ARCAS); Centro=20
Argonomico Tropical de Investigacion Ensenanza (CATIE); Consejo=20
Nacional para un Bosque Sostenible (PROPETEN); OEW, Austria; Le=20
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France; Cultural=20
Survival, USA; The Nature Conservancy, USA; UNESCO, UNICEF, the=20
EcoLogic Development Fund, USA; University of Michigan, USA; =20
Instituto para la Cooperacion Internacional, Austria; US Agency=20
for International Development (US AID).
We support the leaders of the Bio Itza Committee, elected by the=20
Itza themselves, in their claim to their rights as indigenous=20
people under United Nations Convention ILO 169, Article 15,=20
ratified by the Government of Guatemala, which states that=20
indigenous people have the right to participate=20
in the use, management and conservation of their natural=20
resources. The removal of the Bio Itza Committee=92s leadership=20
and their replacement by three of the Mayor=92s relatives and=20
recent immigrants with little understanding of the local culture=20
and intent on converting the forest into agricultural lands is in=20
clear violation of this Convention.
Please join us by helping to resolve this conflict in San Jose. =20
We believe that the Bio Itza Committee should be rewarded for its=20
valiant efforts rather than punished. This is the second time=20
that Mayor Tesucun y Tesucun has tried to take land away from a=20
community organization. The first involved the Ixchel group,=20
under the leadership of Brenda Mayol. Please join with us to=20
stop this second attempt.
Both the EcoLogic Development Fund and many other international=20
agencies would be most grateful to you for any action taken by=20
your office to settle the conflict in San Jose for the well being=20
of the Maya Itza and all of Peten. We, in turn, are committed to=20
investing financial and technical assistance to promote economic=20
development and conservation in San Jose.
The Bio Itza Committee has realized projects that serve not only=20
as a model to other Guatemalans, but to the international=20
community as well. I am sure that they would welcome you if you=20
visited them to see first-hand the results of their efforts at=20
reforestation and ecosystem preservation. We believe that this=20
fragile parcel of land should remain with the Bio Itza Committee,=20
who has shown the desire and ability to improve and preserve it. =20
Knowing of your dedication to environmental and cultural=20
conservation, I kindly ask you, Mr. Governor, to help ensure that=20
the Bio Itza Committee=92s vital environmental and cultural work=20
continues. On behalf of the government you represent and in the=20
interest of preserving the environment and upholding the human=20
rights of the Maya Itza, we await your assistance in=20
resolving this urgent matter.
Thank you again for your attention.
=09=09=09=09=09Sincerely,
=09=09=09=09=09Shaun Paul, President
=09=09=09=09=09EcoLogic Development Fund
cc: Ing. Juan Francisco Asturias Fajardo, Coordinador=20
Nacional, CONAMA
Senor Diputado Mario Hugo Miranda, Presidente de la Comision=20
de Medio Ambiente
Lic. Manuel Barquin, Delegado Departamental, Peten;=20
Procuraduria General de la Nacion
Arq. Jorge Cabrera, Director Ejecutivo, CCAD
Senor Reginaldo Chayax Huex, Presidente, Comite Bio Itza
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
OPEN LETTER FROM THE ECOLOGIC DEVELOPMENT FUND IN SPANISH
=09=09=09=09=0916 de diciembre 1,996
Dr. Edgar Armando Aragon Gonzalez
Gobernador
Gobernacion Departamental del Peten
Ciudad Flores, Peten, Guatemala
Fax: 011-502-926-0459
Estimado Dr. Aragon Gonzalez:
Le escribo en nombre de EcoLogic Development Fund, una=20
organizacion internacional y caritativa, para pedir su atencion a=20
un problema de gran interes para nosotros, que ocurre en San=20
Jose, Peten.
Mi organizacion y muchas otras agencias internacionales=20
recientemente han recibido reportes sobre la forma anomala de=20
sustituir los miembros del "Comite de la Reserva Biosfera Itza"=20
en San Jose el 16 de noviembre 1,996 por el alcalde Julian=20
Tesucun y Tesucun. Confio en que, de ser este el caso, Usted se=20
unira a nosotros para apoyar los valientes esfuerzos del "Comite=20
Bio Itza", en proteger sus recursos naturales, el uso sostenible=20
de estos recursos, y garantizar la preservacion de su lenguaje y=20
cultura.
El Comite Bio Itza fue establecido en septiembre de 1,991 en San=20
Jose como resultado de la formacion de una asamblea general con=20
los miembros de la comuidad Itza. El area en la cual su=20
desarrollo esta centrado esta localizada en la zona de=20
amortiguamiento de la Biosfera Maya a lo largo del perimetro del=20
Biotopo El Zotz-San Miguel-La Pelotada. Estos 6 kilometros=20
cuadrados de area fueron concedidos por la honorable corporacion=20
de la Municipalidad de San Jose como una reserva de bosque=20
municipal (en sesion del 34-91, folio 312-317 del acta No. 37). =20
El Comite Bio Itza, bajo el liderazgo de Reginaldo Chayax Huex y=20
Feliciano Tzul Colli, han desarrollado un plan de manejo y=20
establecido proyectos para proteger esta fragil area. Sus=20
proyectos incluye la proteccion de bosques amenazados,=20
reforestacion en las areas degradadas, promocion del ecoturismo y=20
algo muy importante, la ensenanza a los jovenes Maya Itza sobre=20
sus tradiciones y lenguaje y lo trascendental de no perder ambos. =20
Ellos han sido muy efectivos, no solamente en su trabajo de=20
conservacion, sino tambien han promovido el desarrollo economico=20
y cultural del pueblo Itza.
Por el trabajo importante realizado por ellos, muchas=20
organizaciones nacionales e internacionales hemos apoyado y=20
estamos disponibles a continuar apoyando al Comite Bio Itza. Las=20
instituciones que han unido esfuerzos con el Comite Bio Itza con=20
recursos humanos, tecnologicos y donaciones financeras incluyen: =20
Secretaria de Planificacion Economica (SEGEPLAN); Direccion=20
General de Bosques y Vida Silvestre (DIGEBOS); Plan de Accion=20
Forestral Maya (PAF-MAYA); Academia de Lenguas Mayas de=20
Guatemala; Comision Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarollo=20
(CCAD); Asociacion del Rescate y Conservacion de la Vida=20
Silvestre (ARCAS); Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y=20
Ensenanza (CATIE); Consejo Nacional para un Bosque Sostenible=20
(PROPETEN); OEW, Austria; Le Centre National de la Recherche=20
Scientifique, France; Cultural Survival, USA; The Nature=20
Conservancy, USA; UNESCO, UNICEF, the EcoLogic Development Fund,=20
USA; University of Michigan, USA; Instituto para la Cooperacion=20
Internacional, Austria; y la Agencia Internacional para el=20
Desarollo (US AID).
Nosotros apoyamos a los lideres del Comite Bio Itza elegidos por=20
su asamblea general del pueblo Itza en la reivindicacion de sus=20
derechos como pueblo indigena bajo la convencion de la Naciones=20
Unidas O.I.T. 169, Articulo 15, ratificado por el gobierno de=20
Guatemala. El cual dice: La gente indigena tiene derecho a=20
participar en el uso, mantenimiento y conservacion de sus=20
recursos. Remover el Comite Bio Itza y reemplazar a sus lideres=20
por tres parientes del alcalde y recientes inmigrantes, con poco=20
entendimiento de la cultura local e intentar convertir el bosque=20
en tierra para la agricultura, es una clara violacion de esta=20
convencion.
Gracias por ayudarnos a resolver este conflicto en San Jose. =20
Nosotros creemos que el Comite Bio Itza deberia ser gratificado=20
por sus valientes esfuerzos, en lugar de ser castigado. Es la=20
segunda vez que el alcalde Julian Tesucun y Tesucun trata de=20
quitar la tierra a un grupo comunitario. La primera vez ocurrio=20
en el caso del grupo Ixchel cuya lidereza es Brenda Mayol. =20
Por favor unase a nosotros y bloquee este segundo intento.
EcoLogic Development Fund y otras agencias internacionales=20
estariamos muy agradecidos por cualquier accion tomada desde su=20
oficina para resolver este problema por el bienestar de los Maya=20
Itza y todo el Peten. Nosotros, en respuesta, continuaremos=20
ayudando tecnica y financieramente a promover el desarrollo=20
economico y conservacion de San Jose.
El Comite Bio Itza ha realizado proyectos que han servido no solo=20
como modelo a otros guatemaltecos sino tambien a la comunidad=20
internacional. Estoy seguro que ellos le daran la bienvenida si=20
Usted los visita, para ver los resultados de sus esfuerzos en=20
reforestacion y preservacion del ecosistema. Nosotros creemos=20
que esta fragil parcela de tierra debe ser=20
trasladada al Comite que demostro su interes y habildad de=20
mejorarla y preservarla.
Conociendo de su dedicacion por la conservacion del medio=20
ambiente y la cultura, atentamente le pedimos su ayuda para=20
asegurar que el Comite Bio Itza continue con su trabajo, que es=20
vital para el desarrollo de la region. En nombre del gobierno que=20
Usted representa y que esta interesado en=20
la conservacion del medio ambiente y de la preservacion de los=20
derechos humanos de los Mayas, esperamos su asistencia para=20
resolver este problema urgente.
Gracias por su atencion.
=09=09=09=09=09Atentamente,
=09=09=09=09=09Shaun Paul
=09=09=09=09=09Presidente
cc: Ing. Juan Francisco Asturias Fajardo, Coordinador=20
Nacional, CONAMA
Senor Diputado Mario Hugo Miranda, Presidente de la Comision=20
de Medio Ambiente
Lic. Manuel Barquin, Delegado Departamental, Peten;=20
Procuraduria General de la Nacion
Arq. Jorge Cabrera, Director Ejecutivo, CCAD
Senor Reginaldo Chayax Huex, Presidente, Comite Bio Itza
#################################################################
This alert was provided by the ECOLOGIC DEVELOPMENT FUND=20
(news@ecologic.org), P.O. Box 3405, Cambridge, MA 02238-3405 USA.=20
EcoLogic is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the=20
destruction of biodiverse tropical ecosystems by advancing=20
economic development and self-determination among local=20
communities in threatened habitats. To subscribe to EcoLogic=20
News, respond to this message by providing your name, address and=20
organizational affiliation if any.
#################################################################