Tarahumara Blockade Suspends Logging; Violence Feared

Tarahumara Blockade Suspends Logging; Violence Feared

Chihuahua, Chihuahua Mexico
September 23, 2002

Last night, a federal judge from the Tribunal Agrario personally delivered an order suspending logging in the ejido Coloradas de la Virgen, ending a day-long blockade of SEMARNAT (Secretariat of the Environment) by 70 Tarahumara, Tepehuan and mestizos from Coloradas. The Tarahumara maintained a 36 hour vigil in front of SEMARNAT until a written agreement with the government was delivered this evening. The Tarahumara fear for their lives and one mestizo rancher was threatened since the blockade began Monday morning. International attention is needed to prevent a repetition of the violence that devastated this community a decade ago.

Coloradas de la Virgen possesses one of the last remnants of old growth forests in the Sierra. The Tarahumara have paid heavily for past efforts to defend their forests and lands. Between 1986 and 1994, 36 Tarahumara were murdered in Coloradas, leaving 146 dependent children and widows. Los Angeles Times, New York Times, Outside Magazine and other media covered the courageous efforts of Sierra Madre Alliance (SMA) partner, CASMAC to help this embattled community. CASMAC and community members combined political pressure and physical intervention to stop logging there in 1991 which was controlled by the Fontes family, headed by Artemio Fontes.

Coloradas is one of the most isolated Tarahumara communities in the Sierra. To the west and south are mestizo ranches, to the east are Tepehuan, and to the north the mile deep Sinforosa Canyon. The main economy has been cultivation of marijuana and opium since the late 1970’s. The illicit economy gave rise to the Fontes and other gangs in neighboring ejidos who sought to control both logging and drug trafficking in the region. With their profits and untouchable political prowess, they began to take over indigenous lands. In many areas, Tarahumara and Tepehuan are treated like serfs, working their former lands for the mestizo lords. In Coloradas, the Fontes attempted total domination of the Tarahumara through violence to produce more drugs.

When logging controlled by the Fontes commenced in Coloradas in 1986, Tarahumara leaders protested and the killings intensified. The first Tarahumara assassinated (although far from the first murder committed by the Fontes) was Julio Baldenegro in 1986. For the next six years, Tarahumara leaders were systematically assassinated for protesting logging in the region. In 1991, the World Bank financed road improvements in the region sparking an international campaign against the project. The first road “improved” with World Bank funds was to Coloradas de la Virgen. The World Bank effectively cancelled the program in 1992.

After a series of brutal murders in 1993, most Tarahumara fled Coloradas. They suffered greatly in exile in neighboring communities or hidden in the canyons. The widows with dependent children suffered most of all. Following years of pressure from the government and CASMAC, the violence subsided. Since 1996, the Tarahumara have returned.

In 2002, SMA and our new partner organization, Coalición Sierra Madre (COSIMA) finally received sufficient funding and help to begin anew to help this community. We had maintained contact with Coloradas but lacked resources to help for many years. The first planning workshops were promising. However, it was soon discovered that the Fontes had acquired a new logging permit via a fraudulent application of agrarian procedures known as PROCEDE. They registered 17 dead souls and a number of long absent residents on the agrarian registry and named themselves ejido authorities. They sent young gunmen to disrupt workshops, but Ramiro Castellano, David Curiel, and Manuel Garcia of COSIMA persisted with help from Ramon Alfonso Herrera of EcoLogic Development Fund. A number of courageous community leaders and indigenous promoters whose names are withheld for security brought the people together.

Meanwhile, the Fontes felt secure that the 37,000 acres of virgin and high quality forests were theirs for the taking. They began working with 5 contractors, mostly based in Parral, including one company reportedly tied to a high level authority in the state government. In late July they began marking and cutting trees, but were delayed by heavy rains. In late August, they began one of the heaviest forest clearing operations in the history of Chihuahua, reportedly taking all trees greater than 14 inches in diameter. Some of the old growth in Coloradas exceeds six feet in diameter. Disappearing was a forest even richer in ancient trees and wildlife than nearby Pino Gordo where 46 endangered, threatened and protected species have been identified. The total damage in Coloradas has yet to be assessed.

The Tarahumara had little recourse but to protest publicly against the logging of their traditional lands. Over thirty years ago, the ejido was carved out of the community of the same name, taking all of the rights to the forests from the Tarahumara majority. Currently, 61 Tarahumara and mestizos are applying for ejido membership based upon their traditional use of the ejido lands. The Tarahumara wish to reunite their divided lands as one community, which will include all of the 360 Tarahumara families and a over a dozen mestizo families who live in the community. However, these applications must be processed in the agrarian courts, which will take over a year. Meanwhile, the forest was disappearing at alarming rates.

In late July, COSIMA and the land agency, Procuraduria Agraria, helped two recognized ejido members, both poor mestizo ranchers, file a claim with the Tribunal Agraria denouncing the fraudulent ejido acts. These ranchers signed the claims in solidarity with the Tarahumara. Poor mestizos are often as bad off as the Tarahumara and sympathize with them. Returning from vacation in August, the Tribuanal Agraria reviewed the case but refused to suspend the logging, despite irrefutable evidence of fraud. The community decided to protest in Chihuahua until the logging was halted.

Yesterday's action began with a short protest in front of Palacio Gobierno and a march down University Avenue and Avenida de los Americas to SEMARNAT headquarters. The state director of SEMARNAT, Jose Treviño, was present but hid (and later slipped out of the building). SEMARNAT locked the doors to prevent the Tarahumara from entering. Lawyers and subdirectors of SEMARNAT with other authorities from Reforma Agraria and Coordinacion Estatal de la Tarahumara (CET) tried to stop the protest, promising the Tarahumara they could see the SEMARNAT Director on Wednesday. CET offered housing and food. The Tarahumara refused to accept a delayed negotiation and immediately swung into action and blockaded Avenida de los Americas, one of Chihuuahua's busiest streets with banners and human shields. The public was incredibly supportive despite the inconvenience of the blockade. Local television and newspapers came in force.

Finally at 7:00 pm Monday evening, the Tribunal Agrario arrived with the order for suspension. SEMARNAT, thinking that it was over, asked the Tarahumara to leave. The Tarahumara refused to leave until completion of negotiations with state and federal agencies scheduled for the following day. The Tarahumara demanded a full investigation into the
logging and protection from certain retribution from the Fontes. The Comission for Solidarity and Defense of Human Rights (COSYDDHAC) facilitated the negotiation. In addition to COSIMA staff, the Tarahumara were supported throughout the action by attorney Agustin Bravo, Director of Fuerza Ambiental. The Tarahumara were also supported by Frente Democratico Campesino, Instituto Nacional Indigenista (INI) and representatives from ANIPA (Independent National Assembly of Autonomous Pueblos).

Today, the Tarahumara and advisors were locked in negotiations with an extremely aggressive group of state and federal agencies. Only INI consistently offered support. The Subdirector of Natural Resources from SEMARNAT, Guadalupe Ramirez was very respectful and showed concern for the plight of the Tarahumara. However, the outcome of the negotiations is quite favorable:

1. SEMARNAT and PROFEPA (the federal environmental protection agency) agreed to suspend the logging permit as ordered by the Tribunal Agraria. The suspension will be delivered from one to seven days , as soon as the ejido authorities are located.
2. The Tribunal Agraria agreed to cancel the PROCEDE authorization that included the fraudulent ejido registry.
3. PROFEPA will launch an official inspection and technical audit of the logged area.
4. The state of Chihuahua will cancel all timber transport permits from the area.
5. CET will pay part of the travel costs for the people to return to Coloradas.
6. INI and COSYDDHAC offered to document any threats or human rights abuses (however, the people in fear of retribution have not submitted any claims yet.)
7. The Secretaria de Gobernación of the State of Chihuahua will speak directly with the Artemio Fontes who has a residence in one of the wealthiest areas of Chihuahua.
8. SEMARNAT has delivered a copy of the logging plan to the Tarahumara.

These results are remarkable, however, future actions of the government are unpredictable. In another indigenous land case in Pino Gordo, all the agrarian agencies have worked against Tarahumara claims. The Fontes are even less predictable. Artemio Fontes, allegedly a financial supporter of governor Patricio Martinez and business associate with high
level state functionaries, reportedly threatened one of the demonstrators as he drove by.

The 70 Tarahumara, mestizo and Tepehuan who protested have recently forged their alliance, but the the pueblo consists of over 1,000 Tarahumara and approximately thirty mestizos. Solidarity will take
time to build in a community torn by over a decade of violence. The region needs much attention and support. The Tarahumara and friends have a long and dangerous trip home and a much more difficult struggle to survive in the long term.

Coloradas de la Virgen has always been neglected by the Government . Once considered beyond governmental control by distance and rugged terrain, Coloradas and most of the municipio of Guadalupe y Calvo has been left in control of local bosses, narcos and timber companies. In
1990, a narco threatened the school teacher in Coloradas, who immediately fled. The government did nothing to intervene, nor replaced the teacher, but continued planning World Bank funded logging roads.
In 1992, CASMAC helped restore the school. However, lacking sufficient classrooms, dormitories, cafeterias and food, hundreds of children are
unable to attend school. Due to the violence and lawlessness, an indigenous pueblo that once drew over eight hundred to week-long ceremonies has declined into chaos and anarchy, but not without hope.

The 70 Tarahumara and friends who journeyed to Chihuahua have gained solidarity and confidence that they can change things. They are the nucleus that has resisted the Fontes for the past sixteen years.
Sierra Madre Alliance and our partner organizations are dedicated to helping them improve the quality of life in their community. Our first goal is to help resolve the land issues, while cultivating local, national and international vigilance to help maintain the peace. With help from EcoLogic Development Fund, we have begun processes with the community to plan a better future. But, until security is developed with cooperation from the government, the Catholic church and nongovernmental organizations, progress will be difficult.

In ten years, SMA has never forgotten the Tarahumara of Coloradas. We have supported incredibly courageous Mexican and indigenous partners in the region. We are making great strides in neighboring Baborigame and Pino Gordo. We appeal for international support to continue to build
hope for the future.

International pressure is needed immediately to bring resources and security to this region. Please write President Fox:

SAMPLE LETTER

Presidente Vicente Fox Quezada
Palacio Nacional, edificio 10, planta baja
Colonia Centro, Delegacion Cuauhtemoc
C.P. 06067 Mexico, D.F.
Mexico

Dear President Fox,

I am disturbed to learn that the Tarahumara of the community of Coloradas de la Virgen, in the state of Chihuahua have been defrauded of their forested lands and now are threatened with violence. In the past month, local caciques, known drug traffickers and murderers, have been logging one of the last remnants of ancient forests in the Sierra Madre.
The logging was recently suspended but the entire pueblo is now at risk from threats made by the Fontes family, whose leader, Artemio Fontes has terrorized the region for decades.

I urge you to do everything in your power to prevent violence in Coloradas de la Virgen. The world is focused on eliminating terrorism, but narco-terrorists continue to control large areas of the Sierra Madre in Chihuahua and other states. Mexico signed the free trade agreement with the United States and Canada, pledging to protect the environment and uphold international standards of human rights, justice, and democracy. Mexico has progressed in many areas in recent years, however, regions like Coloradas de la Virgen remain neglected.

I urge you to grant land rights to the Tarahumara in Coloradas and neighboring communities such as Pino Gordo. I urge your government to invest in schools, jobs, environmental protection and restoration, agriculture, and infrastructure needed to build alternatives to drug trafficking in these regions. Above all, I urge your government to cooperate with local communities and nongovernmental organizations in the region to create democratic and culturally appropriate processes to plan a better future.

Sincerely,

________________________________________________________
About Sierra Madre Alliance

Our Mission

SMA’s mission is to advise, strengthen, and support the Mexican organizations that serve these pueblos advance sustainable community development and preserve and restore traditional indigenous culture and
the natural environment in conservation priority areas of the Sierra Madre Occidental in Mexico.

Our Programs and Services

SMA provides financial support, technical assistance, educational services, and international representation towards the overarching goal of protecting the natural resources and traditional cultural of the region by improving the quality of life for the inhabitants, creating locally declared protected areas, all planned through participatory processes. Cultural survival in the Sierra requires a collective vision and practical strategies to preserve the indigenous people’s knowledge and to defend the indigenous people’s rights to land and natural resources. Three program areas:

Culture-Based Conservation ● Restorative Development ●
Land Tenure and Management

each encompassing the priorities of the Tarahumara and Tepehuan people and their environment.

Summary of Needs

Sierra Madre Alliance’s total 18-month budget is $928,000, of which $378,000 has been committed to date by several foundations and agencies. SMA needs to raise an additional $550,000 in order to cover 18 months of operational expenses for six conservation initiatives, six restorative development projects, two land tenure cases, and nine new
projects currently being developed, together which will directly affect the lives of over 500 Tarahumara and Tepehuan families in five communities, set regional conservation initiatives for neotropical migratory birds, protect three of the most important biological hotspots
in the Sierra Madre Occidental, and improve forest management of over 750,000 acres of endangered pine-oak woodland and tropical canyons.

The SMA-funded team of agriculturalists, biologists, foresters, anthropologists and twenty-five indigenous promoters is committed to bringing about a lasting transformation for these embattled communities
and their forests.

Program Summaries

SMA’s Culture-Based Conservation Program provides training, biological and ethno-ecological research, legal services, and technical assistance
to indigenous communities to sustain their forests and natural resources through strengthening of traditional knowledge and integrating environmental restoration and conservation science with traditional management practices. Projects include ethno-ecological education programs, community declared protected areas, conservation planning, training indigenous research assistants and promoters, biological research to support local conservation goals, and watershed restoration.


Goals for 2002-2003 are to improve management and reduce risks to the biodiversity and ecosystem functioning of 300,000 acres, through strengthening traditional culture, resolving land conflicts, and
planning protected areas and restoration zones in three communities with active participation of 180 families.

SMA’s Restorative Development Program facilitates self-diagnostic and planning processes in indigenous communities to set direction and develop specific development projects for each community. Program
staff then helps communities acquire financial support, training, and technical advice to achieve their objectives. Projects include school construction and participatory curriculum design, soil and watershed
restoration projects, biodynamic gardening projects, women’s education and craft cooperatives, educational projects to preserve knowledge of
traditional medicine and healing, and an initiative to build community-based sustainable forestry operations in areas of ongoing exploitation, which currently benefit outside contractors and local mestizo leaders.

Goals for 2002-2003 are to plan and begin implementation of ten projects in three communities and seven rancherias to directly benefit 180 Tarahumara and Tepehuan families and to begin the process of community organization to transform forest management to the benefit of the community and the environment in three communal forests.

SMA’s Land Tenure and Management Program defends the agrarian rights of indigenous people and other campesinos through local training, conflict resolution, historical research, participatory planning, negotiation with government agencies, and legal action.

Goals for 2002-2003 are to restore the land rights for 500 Tarahumara families in two ejidos, restore traditional management, and defend the limits of those ejidos from outsiders who threaten to log the area.

SMA’s Mexican Partners

SMA supports the following Mexican partner organizations that share its vision for the Sierra:

Coalisión Sierra Madre A.C. (COSIMA) is the principal partner in the region, dedicated to building community based conservation, land tenure, and a growing list of development projects in four indigenous communities.

Fuerza Ambiental is one of the most effective public interest environmental law groups in Mexico and a key advisor to COSIMA and indigenous pueblos in the Sierra.

MITYTAC is a Tarahumara and Tepehuan women’s craft cooperative and support organization based in Baborigame.

Additionally, SMA collaborates with a number of researchers, volunteers, consultants, national and international agencies, Mexican and international NGOs, including EcoLogic Development Fund, to meet its program goals.