Next steps and some encouraging news

Informal discussions with government lawyers suggest they were very unhappy with the outcome of the public enquiry. At the same time, appreciation was given to the fact that ASOCIANA was able to present a substantiated opposition to the proposal. In the midst of the web of corruption that characterizes much of Salta’s public administration, there are those who recognize the importance and value of doing things properly.

A photo taken by Greenpeace of a bulldozer knocking down forest

A specific move arising from the public enquiry last Monday will be to seek to establish a mechanism through which indigenous communities may learn of deforestation proposals as soon as they are presented to the government. As things stand, at best they learn only a few days before the public enquiry, and at worst, when the bulldozers arrive to start work. The more warning they have, the more chance hey have of articulating and communicating their own views.

A couple of Wichí Indian children expressing their opposition to deforestation at
the public enquiry last Monday (02 07 07)

A key point that we will be challenging as a result of this latest public enquiry is the fact that the affected indigenous communities were never even invited to the meeting.

Andrew will meet with ASOCIANA's lawyer on Monday to determine what legal measures can now be taken in this regard.

A very encouraging piece of related news is that legal precedent has now been set that will make it compulsory for the state to issue any formal and judicial notifications to indigenous people in their own language. If this gets put into practice, it will mark a major victory for the Indians. This comes as a result of ASOCIANA’s ongoing strategy of providing indigenous peoples with legal aid.