Save Land Rights in Nicaragua
Tax deductible
SAVE INDIGENOUS LAND RIGHTS IN NICARAGUA!!
The Rama-Kriol Indians, a small, indigenous group living on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, are among some of the most vulnerable people in the world. They live in fear of loss of their land and cultural identity and of an uncertain future because they are in the path of a proposed megaproject—the Nicaragua Trans-Oceanic Canal, a potential environmental and economic disaster.
Land confiscation efforts have begun, which will lead to forced displacement from traditional territories of the entire indigenous Rama community of Bankukuk Taik, whose people are among the last speakers of the Rama language. Some leaders have been pressured or corrupted into signing dubious agreements without full consultation of the community as required by law.
We invite you to join us in providing financial help to Maria Luisa Acosta and her Center for Legal Assistance for Indigenous Peoples (CALPI), which has given legal counsel and representation since 1996 to indigenous and Afro-Caribbean communities living in autonomous regions of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua (www.calpi-nicaragua.org).
Working tirelessly under extremely difficult conditions in this very remote area of Nicaragua, CALPI defends collective property and natural resources rights guaranteed by national and international law. CALPI is now assisting the Rama-Kriol people and the Creole Community of Bluefields with a petition brought before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) demanding that the state of Nicaragua reach Free, Prior and Informed Consent, as required by its constitution, before continuing with land confiscations and building the Interoceanic Canal.
Funding for CALPI will help in:
1) Gathering significant documentation of human rights violations from community leaders and members and public officials. $2000
2) Providing legal assistance to authorities of the Rama-Kriol people and Creole community of Bluefields in local and national courts of law; ongoing updating of information for the IACHR; and preparing for the IACHR hearing in October-November 2016. $4000
3) Funding one Rama and one Afro-Caribbean leader and the Coordinator of CALPI to present their case at the IACHR hearing in Washington DC in October-November 2016. $7000
4) Producing informational videos and publications about their plight in English and Spanish, and updating CALPI´s web page and Facebook page. $2000
Total Request- $15000
The funds are needed as soon as possible as the hearing in Washington, DC will take place in October!
We of NICCA will greatly appreciate any help you can give , and your help will be GREATLY appreciated by the affected people in Nicaragua - the beautiful people in the path of the Canal and by Maria Luisa Acosta of CALPI, who has very limitd means for gathering support here in the US!
NICCA, a sponsored project of the Institute for Central American Studies and the sponsor of this request, is a small U.S.-based, grassroots, volunteer organization whose purpose is to do solidarity work in support of the Nicaraguan people's struggle to build an independent and just Nicaragua. Since 1988, we have taken inspiration from their example, and strive as well to build a more just society in our own country.
The Rama-Kriol Indians, a small, indigenous group living on the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua, are among some of the most vulnerable people in the world. They live in fear of loss of their land and cultural identity and of an uncertain future because they are in the path of a proposed megaproject—the Nicaragua Trans-Oceanic Canal, a potential environmental and economic disaster.
Land confiscation efforts have begun, which will lead to forced displacement from traditional territories of the entire indigenous Rama community of Bankukuk Taik, whose people are among the last speakers of the Rama language. Some leaders have been pressured or corrupted into signing dubious agreements without full consultation of the community as required by law.
We invite you to join us in providing financial help to Maria Luisa Acosta and her Center for Legal Assistance for Indigenous Peoples (CALPI), which has given legal counsel and representation since 1996 to indigenous and Afro-Caribbean communities living in autonomous regions of the Caribbean Coast of Nicaragua (www.calpi-nicaragua.org).
Working tirelessly under extremely difficult conditions in this very remote area of Nicaragua, CALPI defends collective property and natural resources rights guaranteed by national and international law. CALPI is now assisting the Rama-Kriol people and the Creole Community of Bluefields with a petition brought before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) demanding that the state of Nicaragua reach Free, Prior and Informed Consent, as required by its constitution, before continuing with land confiscations and building the Interoceanic Canal.
Funding for CALPI will help in:
1) Gathering significant documentation of human rights violations from community leaders and members and public officials. $2000
2) Providing legal assistance to authorities of the Rama-Kriol people and Creole community of Bluefields in local and national courts of law; ongoing updating of information for the IACHR; and preparing for the IACHR hearing in October-November 2016. $4000
3) Funding one Rama and one Afro-Caribbean leader and the Coordinator of CALPI to present their case at the IACHR hearing in Washington DC in October-November 2016. $7000
4) Producing informational videos and publications about their plight in English and Spanish, and updating CALPI´s web page and Facebook page. $2000
Total Request- $15000
The funds are needed as soon as possible as the hearing in Washington, DC will take place in October!
We of NICCA will greatly appreciate any help you can give , and your help will be GREATLY appreciated by the affected people in Nicaragua - the beautiful people in the path of the Canal and by Maria Luisa Acosta of CALPI, who has very limitd means for gathering support here in the US!
NICCA, a sponsored project of the Institute for Central American Studies and the sponsor of this request, is a small U.S.-based, grassroots, volunteer organization whose purpose is to do solidarity work in support of the Nicaraguan people's struggle to build an independent and just Nicaragua. Since 1988, we have taken inspiration from their example, and strive as well to build a more just society in our own country.
Organizer
Diana Bohn
Organizer
Berkeley, CA
INSTITUTE FOR CENTRAL AMERICAN STUDIES
Registered nonprofit
Donations are typically 100% tax deductible in the US.
