Alert: Help Maya Itza of Guatemala Save Forest w Holiday Letter
Shaun Paul
spaul at igc.apc.org
Sat Dec 21 19:33:13 EST 1996
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
Guatemala.
* The Itza are on the verge of cultural extinction as fewer
than one hundred people now speak the language fluently.
* In 1991, the Itza of San Jose, Peten banded together to
halt illegal logging in their municipal forests and
established THE COMMITTEE OF THE BIOSFERA ITZA RESERVE.
* Since that time this community organization has effectively
protected a 36-square kilometer municipal forest reserve
and promoted activities for environmental conservation,
cultural revitalization, and community development.
* San Jose’s current Mayor has recently announced under
municipal decree that he is disbanding this community
group. Like his predecessors he sees greater personal and
financial benefit in logging the forest reserve than
protecting it.
* The Mayor has appointed his father as the new leader of the
Bio Itza Committee and secured the support of immigrants to
serve on the committee.
* These immigrants have been very clear in expressing their
desire to cut down the forest for agricultural plots.
* To reverse this injustice, the Bio Itza Committee has
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
group continue.
For 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 at ecologic.org
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LETTER OF APPEAL
WRITTEN BY THE BIO ITZA COMMITTEE
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
November 19, 1996
DEAR FRIENDS IN THE CONSERVATION AND INDIGENOUS PEOPLES COMMUNITY.
The Committee of the Biosfera Itza reserve wish to make
known, both nationally and internationally, the following. Since
1991, when the reserve was founded, this organization has pioneered
the conservation of the environment in the Department of Peten,
Guatemala in Central America. As the last indigenous inhabitants
of the Peten’s forest, the Maya Itza have fought to maintain the
forest, culture and language of their great civilization. The
reserve protects 6 km2 of threatened primary forest under the
guidance of a Management Plan; we also have a Forest Inventory, a
map of the area, archaeological studies of the sites within the
reserve, and currently have five on-going projects that are
compatible with the environment. Furthermore, we have received
technical and/or financial assistance from the following
institutions: the University of Michigan, Cultural Survival, IIZ-
Austrian Embassy, ProPeten/CI, TNC, CONAP, CATIE/RENAR, CCAD,
EcoLogic Development Fund, and SEGEPLAN.
Unfortunately, for the past three years the Biosfera Itza
Committee has suffered at the hands of the current municipal
leader, Julian Tesucun y Tesucun, who together with members of
the immigrant population, want to extract the forest resources
protected within the reserve. With this purpose in mind, the
municipality held a meeting Saturday, November 16, 1996 in which
Mr. Tesucun y Tesucun inappropriately permitted the election of a
new Committee to manage the Biosfera Itza. Those in attendance
represent the immigrant population and other persons with
personal agendas. Their interests are not the well-being and
development of the Maya Itza community, rather their primary goal
is to log the reserve and divide it up for the extraction of
forest resources--thereby converting it into a desert.
As such, we urgently protest before you, asking for your
moral support to exert pressure on the authorities and
institutions whose role it is to protect the rights of the
indigenous communities and the environment. We want this
situation to be resolved through the appropriate legal channels
so that we can live and work in peace for the good of the
environment and future generations. We are the first indigenous
organization to worry about our natural environment in the
northern forested region of the Peten, which has suffered
deforestation and destruction due to the increasing number of
immigrants from other parts of the country.
With the hope of receiving your words of support, we thank
you for your consideration. For more information, please
communicate with us by means of the community telephone in San
Jose ([502] 928-8135).
Ecologically,
REGINALDO CHAYAX HUEX FELICIANO TZUL COLLI
PRESIDENT VICE PRESIDENT
LUIS FERNANDO LOPEZ CESAR MUNOZ SUNTECUN
JUAN JULIO TUT BERTA HUEX CHAN
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE AUTHORITIES IN GUATEMALA NEED TO KNOW THAT
INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS OBJECT TO WHAT IS HAPPENING
TO THE ITZA!
PLEASE WRITE A LETTER, PREFERABLY IN SPANISH, TO THE
AUTHORITIES IN GUATEMALA.
AUTHORITIES FOR YOU TO WRITE IN ORDER OF PRIORITY:
(1) Ing. Juan Francisco Asturias Fajardo, Coordinador Nacional
Comision Nacional del Medio Ambiente, CONAMA
5 Avenida 8-07, Zona 10
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Tel: 011 [502] 332-7174
Fax: 011 [502] 362-6845
(2) Dr. Edgar Armando Aragon Gonzalez, Gobernador
Gobernacion Departamental del Peten
Ciudad Flores, Peten, Guatemala
Tel/Fax: 011 [502] 926-1383
*****************************************************************
OTHER PEOPLE THAT NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU
(3) Senor Diputado Mario Hugo Miranda
Presidente de la Comision de Medio Ambiente
Congreso de la Republica de Guatemala
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
Tel/Fax 011 [502] 232-1260 (Ask for the "extension 327"
- tres dos siete)
(4) Lic. Manuel Barquin
Delegado Departmental, Peten
Procuraduria General de la Nacion
Santa Elena, Peten Guatemala
Tel/Fax: [502] 926-0318
(5) Excelentisimo Senor Presidente
Alvaro Arzu
Palacio Nacional
Ciudad de Guatemala, Guatemala
EMAIL: AlvaroArzu at guate.net
PLEASE SEND A COPY OF ALL LETTERS TO:
Reginaldo Chayax Huex AND/OR Shaun Paul
Presidente EcoLogic Development Fund
Comite Bio Itza PO Box 383405
San Jose, Peten GUATEMALA Cambridge, MA 02238 USA
fax c/o PROPETEN [502] 926-0495 fax (617) 441-6307
email: news at ecologic.org
///////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
OPEN LETTER FROM THE ECOLOGIC DEVELOPMENT FUND
December 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,
I am writing on behalf of the EcoLogic Development Fund, an
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
recently received reports concerning the questionable dissolution
on November 16, 1996 of the "Committee of the Biosfera Itza
Reserve" in San Jose by Mayor Julian Tesucun y Tesucun. If this
is true, I am confident that you will join us in supporting the
valiant efforts of the Bio Itza Committee to protect their
natural resources, promote the sustainable use of these
resources, and preserve of their language and culture.
The Bio Itza Committee was formally established in September 1991
in San Jose when Itza community members established their general
assembly. The area in which their development has been centered
is located in the buffer zone of the Mayan Biosphere along the
perimeter of El Zotz-San Miguel-La Pelotada Biotope. This 36-
square kilometer area was conceded by the Honorable Corporation
of the Municipality of San Jose as a municipal forest reserve (in
the 34-91 session, of the folio 312-317 of the Act No. 37). The
Bio Itza Committee, under the leadership of Reginaldo Chayax Huex
and Feliciano Tzul Colli, developed a management plan and
established projects to protect this fragile area. These
projects include the protection of San Jose’s threatened forests,
the reforestation of degraded areas, the promotion of ecotourism
and most importantly, the education of Maya Itza youth in their
nearly lost traditions and language. They have been effective
not only in their conservation work, but also in promoting the
economic development and cultural well-being of the Maya Itza
people.
Because of its important work, many national and international
organizations have supported and are willing to continue
supporting the Bio Itza Committee. Institutions that have joined
forces with the Bio Itza Committee by donating their financial,
technological, and human resources include: Secretaria de
Planificacion Economica (SEGEPLAN); Direccion General de Bosques
y Vida Silvestre (DIGEBOS); Plan de Accion Forestral Maya (PAF-
MAYA); Academia de Lenguas Mayas de Guatemala; Comision
Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarollo (CCAD); Asociacion del
Rescate y Conservacion de la Vida Silvestre (ARCAS); Centro
Argonomico Tropical de Investigacion Ensenanza (CATIE); Consejo
Nacional para un Bosque Sostenible (PROPETEN); OEW, Austria; Le
Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, France; Cultural
Survival, USA; The Nature Conservancy, USA; UNESCO, UNICEF, the
EcoLogic Development Fund, USA; University of Michigan, USA;
Instituto para la Cooperacion Internacional, Austria; US Agency
for International Development (US AID).
We support the leaders of the Bio Itza Committee, elected by the
Itza themselves, in their claim to their rights as indigenous
people under United Nations Convention ILO 169, Article 15,
ratified by the Government of Guatemala, which states that
indigenous people have the right to participate
in the use, management and conservation of their natural
resources. The removal of the Bio Itza Committee’s leadership
and their replacement by three of the Mayor’s relatives and
recent immigrants with little understanding of the local culture
and intent on converting the forest into agricultural lands is in
clear violation of this Convention.
Please join us by helping to resolve this conflict in San Jose.
We believe that the Bio Itza Committee should be rewarded for its
valiant efforts rather than punished. This is the second time
that Mayor Tesucun y Tesucun has tried to take land away from a
community organization. The first involved the Ixchel group,
under the leadership of Brenda Mayol. Please join with us to
stop this second attempt.
Both the EcoLogic Development Fund and many other international
agencies would be most grateful to you for any action taken by
your office to settle the conflict in San Jose for the well being
of the Maya Itza and all of Peten. We, in turn, are committed to
investing financial and technical assistance to promote economic
development and conservation in San Jose.
The Bio Itza Committee has realized projects that serve not only
as a model to other Guatemalans, but to the international
community as well. I am sure that they would welcome you if you
visited them to see first-hand the results of their efforts at
reforestation and ecosystem preservation. We believe that this
fragile parcel of land should remain with the Bio Itza Committee,
who has shown the desire and ability to improve and preserve it.
Knowing of your dedication to environmental and cultural
conservation, I kindly ask you, Mr. Governor, to help ensure that
the Bio Itza Committee’s vital environmental and cultural work
continues. On behalf of the government you represent and in the
interest of preserving the environment and upholding the human
rights of the Maya Itza, we await your assistance in
resolving this urgent matter.
Thank you again for your attention.
Sincerely,
Shaun Paul, President
EcoLogic Development Fund
cc: Ing. Juan Francisco Asturias Fajardo, Coordinador
Nacional, CONAMA
Senor Diputado Mario Hugo Miranda, Presidente de la Comision
de Medio Ambiente
Lic. Manuel Barquin, Delegado Departamental, Peten;
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
16 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
organizacion internacional y caritativa, para pedir su atencion a
un problema de gran interes para nosotros, que ocurre en San
Jose, Peten.
Mi organizacion y muchas otras agencias internacionales
recientemente han recibido reportes sobre la forma anomala de
sustituir los miembros del "Comite de la Reserva Biosfera Itza"
en San Jose el 16 de noviembre 1,996 por el alcalde Julian
Tesucun y Tesucun. Confio en que, de ser este el caso, Usted se
unira a nosotros para apoyar los valientes esfuerzos del "Comite
Bio Itza", en proteger sus recursos naturales, el uso sostenible
de estos recursos, y garantizar la preservacion de su lenguaje y
cultura.
El Comite Bio Itza fue establecido en septiembre de 1,991 en San
Jose como resultado de la formacion de una asamblea general con
los miembros de la comuidad Itza. El area en la cual su
desarrollo esta centrado esta localizada en la zona de
amortiguamiento de la Biosfera Maya a lo largo del perimetro del
Biotopo El Zotz-San Miguel-La Pelotada. Estos 6 kilometros
cuadrados de area fueron concedidos por la honorable corporacion
de la Municipalidad de San Jose como una reserva de bosque
municipal (en sesion del 34-91, folio 312-317 del acta No. 37).
El Comite Bio Itza, bajo el liderazgo de Reginaldo Chayax Huex y
Feliciano Tzul Colli, han desarrollado un plan de manejo y
establecido proyectos para proteger esta fragil area. Sus
proyectos incluye la proteccion de bosques amenazados,
reforestacion en las areas degradadas, promocion del ecoturismo y
algo muy importante, la ensenanza a los jovenes Maya Itza sobre
sus tradiciones y lenguaje y lo trascendental de no perder ambos.
Ellos han sido muy efectivos, no solamente en su trabajo de
conservacion, sino tambien han promovido el desarrollo economico
y cultural del pueblo Itza.
Por el trabajo importante realizado por ellos, muchas
organizaciones nacionales e internacionales hemos apoyado y
estamos disponibles a continuar apoyando al Comite Bio Itza. Las
instituciones que han unido esfuerzos con el Comite Bio Itza con
recursos humanos, tecnologicos y donaciones financeras incluyen:
Secretaria de Planificacion Economica (SEGEPLAN); Direccion
General de Bosques y Vida Silvestre (DIGEBOS); Plan de Accion
Forestral Maya (PAF-MAYA); Academia de Lenguas Mayas de
Guatemala; Comision Centroamericana de Ambiente y Desarollo
(CCAD); Asociacion del Rescate y Conservacion de la Vida
Silvestre (ARCAS); Centro Agronomico Tropical de Investigacion y
Ensenanza (CATIE); Consejo Nacional para un Bosque Sostenible
(PROPETEN); OEW, Austria; Le Centre National de la Recherche
Scientifique, France; Cultural Survival, USA; The Nature
Conservancy, USA; UNESCO, UNICEF, the EcoLogic Development Fund,
USA; University of Michigan, USA; Instituto para la Cooperacion
Internacional, Austria; y la Agencia Internacional para el
Desarollo (US AID).
Nosotros apoyamos a los lideres del Comite Bio Itza elegidos por
su asamblea general del pueblo Itza en la reivindicacion de sus
derechos como pueblo indigena bajo la convencion de la Naciones
Unidas O.I.T. 169, Articulo 15, ratificado por el gobierno de
Guatemala. El cual dice: La gente indigena tiene derecho a
participar en el uso, mantenimiento y conservacion de sus
recursos. Remover el Comite Bio Itza y reemplazar a sus lideres
por tres parientes del alcalde y recientes inmigrantes, con poco
entendimiento de la cultura local e intentar convertir el bosque
en tierra para la agricultura, es una clara violacion de esta
convencion.
Gracias por ayudarnos a resolver este conflicto en San Jose.
Nosotros creemos que el Comite Bio Itza deberia ser gratificado
por sus valientes esfuerzos, en lugar de ser castigado. Es la
segunda vez que el alcalde Julian Tesucun y Tesucun trata de
quitar la tierra a un grupo comunitario. La primera vez ocurrio
en el caso del grupo Ixchel cuya lidereza es Brenda Mayol.
Por favor unase a nosotros y bloquee este segundo intento.
EcoLogic Development Fund y otras agencias internacionales
estariamos muy agradecidos por cualquier accion tomada desde su
oficina para resolver este problema por el bienestar de los Maya
Itza y todo el Peten. Nosotros, en respuesta, continuaremos
ayudando tecnica y financieramente a promover el desarrollo
economico y conservacion de San Jose.
El Comite Bio Itza ha realizado proyectos que han servido no solo
como modelo a otros guatemaltecos sino tambien a la comunidad
internacional. Estoy seguro que ellos le daran la bienvenida si
Usted los visita, para ver los resultados de sus esfuerzos en
reforestacion y preservacion del ecosistema. Nosotros creemos
que esta fragil parcela de tierra debe ser
trasladada al Comite que demostro su interes y habildad de
mejorarla y preservarla.
Conociendo de su dedicacion por la conservacion del medio
ambiente y la cultura, atentamente le pedimos su ayuda para
asegurar que el Comite Bio Itza continue con su trabajo, que es
vital para el desarrollo de la region. En nombre del gobierno que
Usted representa y que esta interesado en
la conservacion del medio ambiente y de la preservacion de los
derechos humanos de los Mayas, esperamos su asistencia para
resolver este problema urgente.
Gracias por su atencion.
Atentamente,
Shaun Paul
Presidente
cc: Ing. Juan Francisco Asturias Fajardo, Coordinador
Nacional, CONAMA
Senor Diputado Mario Hugo Miranda, Presidente de la Comision
de Medio Ambiente
Lic. Manuel Barquin, Delegado Departamental, Peten;
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
(news at ecologic.org), P.O. Box 3405, Cambridge, MA 02238-3405 USA.
EcoLogic is a nonprofit organization dedicated to reducing the
destruction of biodiverse tropical ecosystems by advancing
economic development and self-determination among local
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