Colombia: Nukak Return to the Forest

Source: Survival International
mr@survival-international.org

14 August 2006
COLOMBIA: NUKAK RETURN TO THE FOREST
The isolated tribe of Amazonian nomads who fled their rainforest home in
Colombia as fighting engulfed them are returning to the forest.

In response to a concerted national and international campaign, the
Colombian government has announced that it is returning the Nukak to a safe
haven of 20,000 hectares of forest. But the Nukak's new home is just 2% of
the size of their own reserve, and is not part of their traditional
territory, which is still the scene of violent conflict.

The group of 170 Nukak Indians have seen much of their territory taken over
by coca-growers, guerrillas, paramilitaries and the Colombian army, as
their
once-remote forest has become a battle-ground in Colombia's long-running
civil war. The Indians fled their land in March. Over half the tribe had already died
since their first contact with white people in 1988, leaving barely 500
survivors. Survival Director Stephen Corry, said today, 'We're delighted that the
outpouring of concern around the world for the Nukak's plight has prompted
the Colombian government to act. This is a real demonstration of how public
concern can nudge governments into taking action. But the Nukak won't
survive in the long term unless they can return to their own homes.'
Photos available. For further information contact Miriam Ross on (+44)
(0)20
7687 8734 or email mr@survival-international.org

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'AMAZON ALLIANCE' FOR INDIGENOUS AND
TRADITIONAL PEOPLES OF THE AMAZON BASIN
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Washington, DC 20036-1860
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there-in.

Todos los derechos de autor pertenecen al autor originario. La Alianza
Amazonica no ha verificado la veracidad de este mensaje. Enviar este
mensaje
no necesariamente significa que la Alianza Amazonica este de acuerdo con el
contenido. La Alianza Amazonica para los Pueblos Indigenas y Tradicionales de la
Cuenca
Amazonica es una iniciativa nacida de la alianza entre los pueblos
indigenas
y tradicionales de la Amazonia y grupos e individuos que comparten sus
preocupaciones por el futuro de la Amazonia y sus pueblos.
Hay mas de ochenta organizaciones del norte y del sur activas en la Alianza
Amazonica. La Alianza Amazonica trabaja para defender los derechos,
territorios, y el medio ambiente de los pueblos indigenas y
tradicionales de
la Cuenca Amazonica. The Amazon Alliance for Indigenous and Traditional Peoples of the Amazon
Basin is an initiative born out of the partnership between indigenous and
traditional peoples of the Amazon and groups and individuals who share
their
concerns for the future of the Amazon and its peoples. There are over
eighty
non-governmental organizations from the North and South active in the
Alliance. The Amazon Alliance works to defend the rights, territories, and
environment of indigenous and traditional peoples of the Amazon Basin.