Indigenous Victory in Bolivia

Congressman Aldo Rebelo, that has been working on modifying the Forestry Code in Brazil, is possibly excited by the impact of his role. He recently wrote an article criticizing the multinational and multicultural policy that applies in Bolivia [1]. He points out as an example of failure and one of the risks of this policy, the triumphant opposition Indians had against the government’s decision to build a highway that would pass through the Indigenous Territory, the National Park of Isiboro Secure (Tipnis). This subject is interesting because, as in the case under debate about the Forestry Code mentioned above, Mr. Rebelo’s arguments avoid the underlying theme, as in that occasion, and are sui generis for those who represent the Communist Party.

This highway, although its proposal is old, is part of the Initiative for Infrastructure Integration of South America (the famous IIRSA) and this construction corresponds much more to external interests than to those of Bolivia. In addition, of course, it would be financed by Brazilian resources such as the National Bank of Economic and Social Development (BNDES) and built by companies in this country (OAS). The highway under debate would be located in the sector Villa Tunari - San Ignacio de Moxos, which is part of the Cochabamba-Beni highway, and is planned to end at the border of Brazil, crossing from one side to the other of Tipnis.

Tipnis began as a national park (Isiboro Secure National Park) and was established in 1965 to protect the important biodiversity of the region and its natural landscapes. In 1990 this park was declared ancestral territory for the Mojeño, Yuracaré and Chiman people and was renamed as the Indigenous Territory Isiboro Secure National Park (Tipnis). In 2009 the government ratified the decision giving a collective title to Tipnis, with almost 1.1 million hectares, legitimizing the territorial possession for 64 indigenous ethnic groups named at that time. Many of the Indians had demands concerning facts such as Tipnis having long been a target of invasion by coca producers and loggers, as well as others who intend to use the natural resources. There were already more than 700 families of illegal coca producers that were living in Tipnis, who currently claim definitive ownership of the land. Not surprisingly, the government has proven to be unable to resolve the situation in favor of the Indians, as justice has done in the past.

When the national government made the decision, without previous consultations, to build the highway, the Indians became concerned about the social and environmental consequences that this project would bring. Especially considering that, as is customary in the IIRSA projects, there is no provisional investment to promote sustainable development nor the least of effort to control the occupation of land along the new highway. Moreover, the social and environmental impact studies, which were hastily done by a local company with no recognized prominence, did not correspond to the most basic technical requirements and, as always in these cases, consultation with those who would be affected was a farce.

The Indians’ main concern, naturally, is the risk of accelerating invasions to their lands by Andean coca producers, as a road would facilitate this. This would imply the presence of drug traffickers with all the obvious risks that this could bring to their societies as well as for the natural environment. On that note, the forests of Tipnis, its marshes and other wetlands, regulate the flow of water in the Amazonian lowlands as well as the climate of the highly productive valleys. In the upper region, the rainfall reaches 5,700 mm / year. This means that Tipnis plays a fundamental role in the function of the region’s hydrologic cycle and therefore deserves protection.

One of the agreements between Bolivia and Brazil, with an aim for regional integration, was the construction of the road between San Ignacio de Moxos and Villa Tunari. This refers to part of the bi-oceanic Brazil-Bolivia-Chile-Peru corridor of the IIRSA. In 2008, the design and construction of this section was awarded to the construction company OAS Ltda. due to a controversial bidding process, for 415 million dollars, of which 80% of the money was financed by BNDES.

So, there are good reasons and justifications for the behavior, heroic in reality, of the indigenous Tipnis. This has nothing to do with, as the honorable Congressman states in his article, "green imperialism," or the "primitive communism" nor NGOs. The indegenous reaction has completely undermind the politics of the Bolivian state "hindered from exercising national sovereignty to the fullest extent in their territory as a result of various ethnic groups or nations embedded in it." It is fair to argue that "about 13,000 individuals from three ethnic groups reacted as if the land which they occupy were freestanding and not part of Bolivian territory." These Indians do what many people want to do, but do not have the courage to.

The fact is that no government has the right to do whatever it wants, neither going above the law nor common sense. The government cannot go about doing things so incorrectly when it is evident that these actions will not only be damaging to the Indians, who are directly affected, but to all Bolivians. This highway of "integration," just like two of three built or planned roads in Peru under this same Agreement (IIRSA and the Brazilian government), does not meet technical requirements according to a public query, from the first step and even throughout each of its following stages. Thorough and timely studies on the social and environmental impacts from this development indicate the option “to not build"; serious and noncontroversial studies on the cost-benefit and investments in rural development parallel the work done. This is not an opposition to regional integration, nor towards infrastructure development, it is only about being serious when considering these impacting decisions.

The victory of the brave Mojeños, Yuracares Chimanes and should be applauded. They were able to do what others have failed in doing, even better equipped, being the example of how seriousness and persistence can prevail. But beware, initiatives which create profit for few are like the Phoenix Bird, always reborn from the ashes.