The indigenous persons living in Paraguay are about 100.000 and they belong to 17 different ethnicities. Several of them have been displaced to the Eastern region of the country, the most populated one. Most of them work in farms and ranches (1).

Just like in other Latin-American countries, the situation of the indigenous communities in Paraguay is quite different from what is predicted by the national laws and in the international agreements concerning human rights.

Ache is one indigenous  group who used to live in the subtropical forest of Eastern Paraguay. At present the population of Ache in Paraguay is composed by 1.190 persons. They speak a language with the same linguistic origin of Guaraní (another Paraguayan - as well as Brazilian, Uruguayan and Argentinean - indigenous people whose language is officially recognized by the state along with Spanish). Their economy and traditional culture are based on hunting and collecting food and all other natural resources, like wood, stones and leaves that can be of use for the community. 

Since the 1950s, they have been systematically chased by several sectors of the national society and then reduced to very few settlements (nowadays seven) (2). Moreover, according to the independent online journal RESCATAR, several children have been kidnapped and sold to Paraguayan families as servants. These events, along with persistent discrimination and poor economic conditions gradually changed the habits of the Ache people during the past 40 years. The communities left their original hunting and collecting traditions to cultivate the few available lands. In 1991, the national government acquired 2.158 hectares of land from private owners to allocate to Ache people, but several conflicts with the supposed owners of lands exploded. This factor, together with the spread corruption, caused many delays, and now, in 2008, the Ache communities are still waiting for the land.

This case is a key example of what is happening among the Paraguayan indigenous people, especially those living in the Eastern region of the country. Most of them are settled in the last remaining part of tropical forest, where illegal wood dealers are trying to deprive them of their land with the collaboration of several corrupt politicians (3). Tired of the situation, for several months hundreds of indigenous camped in the "Plaza Italia" in the capital Asunción, protesting silently and waiting for the national government to award the definitive title of indigenous lands (1).

Another recent example is that of the Enxet de Xamok Kásek community, which is composed by more than 50 families, living about 350Km northeast from Asunción, close to the highway to Colombia. At the end of the 1990s, the community claimed to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights (IACHR) the violation of their rights by the Paraguayan State. The community is also demanding more than 10.000 hectares of land, part of which is inhabited by them. They are using around 5 hectares of  land, which still belongs to one private American rancher. Besides the lack of land, they are suffering from several restrictions like the prohibition of hunting in the farmer's land and the lack of primary needs such as water and food supply and medical assistance (4).

In 2007, in order to monitor the situation in Paraguay, the IACHR commissioner visited the area. The community claimed in particular the lack of water supply by the State, what made them beg the owner of the farm for its provision.

In addition they accused the farmers of giving water only to the families which have a member working for them (only 8 persons). The community's well dried off and they were depending exclusively on the charity of some other farmers (4).
The Paraguayan NGO TierraViva explained that the demand of the xamok kásek communities is one of the four cases of the ethnicity enxe denounced to the IACHR. To two of these claims followed IACHR's recommendations to the Paraguayan State (1).

In 2008, other sittings took place in one of the main offices of the IACHR in San José (Costa Rica), with representatives of the communities, the Paraguayan State, NGOs and the IACHR. In the sessions, it was again denounced the failure of the State in fulfilling the recommendations stated by the IACHR. The Paraguayan State representative admitted that there were some deficiencies in supplying the basic needs, but affirmed that the State was complying with the recommendations. He declared that the communities were receiving medical assistance, food and water supply But the indigenous representatives declared that the assistance was insufficient and the condition of the communities was becoming worse and worse (6).

For the indigenous people the territory is an autonomous development conception, which includes firstly their own culture, traditional production and social organization. The right of the indigenous populations to claim their traditional territories has been recognized in the national 1992 Constitution, besides other national and international laws ratified by the country (6). This right has not being applied yet, and it's estimated that only 185 indigenous communities (from the 412 existing ones) in Paraguay possess their own land, while many other risk to loose their territories, especially because of the agricultural advancement (7).

Although several violations were claimed to international organisms like ONU and IACHR, raising international awareness on the situation of the indigenous population in Paraguay, it seems that the strategy and solution of the problem are still inconsistent. The Paraguayan government confirmed its commitment in solving the human rights' situation of indigenous population and promised to apply IACHR recommendations; but indigenous representatives still continue to denounce the tragic conditions of the communities and the lack of governmental assistance. At the end of the day, several interests are struggling each other and the weakest part continues to suffer and wait for an effective solution.

02.07.2008

Wenddi Burger, Alexandra Tomaselli

References:
(1) Independent online journal: TERRA EFE:
"La CIDH visita a una comunidad indígena paraguaya que reclama tierras"; 4th September, 2007.
[http://actualidad.terra.es/sociedad/articulo/cidh_visita_comunidad_indigena_paraguaya_1822462.htm]; retrieved on 12th March, 2008.
(2) Independent online journal: VIVA PARAGUAY, el pais al minuto:
"INDÍGENAS ACHE EXIGEN EL CUMPLIMIENTO DE LAS LEYES"; 6th July, 2007.
[http://www.vivaparaguay.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=67425]; retrieved on 12th March, 2008.
(3) Independent online journal: RESCATAR, Periodismo ciudadano:
"Los Aché aguardan respuesta del gobierno y la 'sociedad moderna' sobre sus legítimas tierras"; 16th May, 2007.
[http://rescatar.blogspot.com/2007/05/los-ach-aguardan-respuesta-del-gobierno.html]; retrieved on 12th March, 2008
(4) Independent online journal: NEIKE, Periodismo Independiente:
"Indígenas enxet pidieron tierras al representante de la CIDH"; 5th September, 2007.
[http://www.neike.com.py/articulo.php?id=5585]; retrieved on 12th March, 2008.
(5) Independent online journal: NEIKE, Periodismo Independiente:
"Estado paraguayo creará comisión especial para cumplir con sentencias de la Corte IDH"; 22th February, 2008.
[http://www.neike.com.py/articulo.php?id=9143]; retrieved on 12th March, 2008.
(6) NGO Derechos – Human Rights
"Informe DDHH en Paraguay 1997"
[http://www.derechos.org/nizkor/paraguay/1997/22.html]; retrieved on 12th March, 2008.
(7) Independent online journal: VIVA PARAGUAY, el pais al minuto:
"DRAMÁTICO PANORAMA DE LOS PUEBLOS ORIGINARIOS"; 12th October, 2004.
[http://www.vivaparaguay.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=15661]; retrieved on 12th March, 2008.