Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights Defenders Forge Solidarity Amid Rising Challenges

Written on 22 October 2024.

Across the world, Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights Defenders (IPHRDs) face threats and reprisals for standing up for their rights, protesting violations, protecting their territories, communities, and the environment. In doing so they are far too often victims of violence, harassment, arbitrary arrest, forced disappearance, and worse, killings. And these threats are increasing.

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Ecuador: the fascist face of extractivism

Written on 06 October 2024.

BY PABLO ORTÍZ-T. FOR DEBATES INDÍGENAS

In recent months, Daniel Noboa’s government has carried out two offensives that put human rights at risk. One the one hand, a fierce repression against the of the Cotopaxi Indigenous peoples with the aim of favoring the installation of a Canadian mining company. On the other, the incursion into the Embassy of Mexico in Quito, which violates the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, with the sole purpose of apprehending former Vice President Jorge Glas, who was in the position of seeking political asylum. While the propaganda apparatus feeds fear and confusion among the population, in the background, a neoliberal package is being implemented, which includes an increase in the added value tax and the deepening of extractivism.

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Joint Statement: Call for Urgent Action on Repeated Violence in CHT

Written on 08 October 2024.

We are deeply concerned about the ongoing violence and attacks on the Indigenous Peoples of the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT). Recent deadly attacks by Bengali settlers in the presence of state forces, in Khagrachari and Dighinala on 19 September, and in Rangamati on 20 September^[1], have resulted in the deaths of four Indigenous persons (one in Rangamati and three in Khagrachari) and widespread arson attacks on Indigenous houses, businesses, and Buddhist places of worship. These events were ostensibly sparked by the alleged mob killing of a settler who was attempting to steal a motorbike.^[2]

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Joint Statement on Violent attacks on Indigenous Jummo People in Bangladesh

Written on 20 September 2024.

We are deeply concerned about the ongoing attacks on Indigenous Jummo people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) since September 19, 2024. The unrest began following the alleged mob killing of a Bengali settler on September 18. Without any proper investigation, Bengali settler organizations unjustly placed the blame on the Jummo community, despite the Officer-in-Charge of Khagrachari Police station confirming a different narrative^[1]. Using this as a pretext, Bengali settlers launched violent attacks on Jummo individuals in Dighinala Upazila, Khagrachari, and set their properties ablaze on the evening of September 19^[2].

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