Restored commission demarcating indigenous lands in Bolivar State


Ciudad Bolivar, 03 ABN .- In order to reactivate the demarcation process and subsequent delivery of collective property titles and use the lands occupied since ancient times by 18 indigenous people in the Bolivar state, was revived this Wednesday Interinstitutional Commission on the Demarcation of Indigenous Lands.

The reactivation of this committee was held in the Multi-Ethnic Cultural Center of Ciudad Bolivar, and was led by the state director of People's Power Ministry for Environment (Minamb), Mily Hernandez, accompanied by 10 indigenous spokespeople chosen by communities from all entity and representatives of various public agencies involved in this issue.

Mily Hernandez said that for various reasons, this demarcation was paralyzed for 3 years in Bolivar state, "so that reactivation of this work is of great importance to enforce the provisions of the Organic Law of Indigenous Peoples and Communities ( Lopci) as well as several presidential decrees that call for recognition of the physical and cultural presence of native peoples in various states of the country.

He noted that the Minamb is the lead agency in this process and that the committee is composed of 10 indigenous representatives and 10 other spokesmen of various ministries and institutions of the Venezuelan State.

These entities include ministries of People's Power for Defense, Interior and Justice, Education for Basic Industries and Mining and Foreign Affairs.

Also included in the Attorney General's Office, an agency at the end of the process will be responsible for delivering the collective titling of ancestral lands to each Indian village.

"For its part, the 10 spokesmen representing indigenous peoples Pemon, Sanema, Curripaco, Arawaks, arutani, sape, ENAP, jiwi, Piaroa Mapoyo, piapoco, Hoti, Akawaio and Karin, whose communities are distributed in the municipalities of Sucre, Cedeño, Gran Sabana, Heres, Angostura, Piar and Sifontes "he added.

He explained, however, given that since 2006, when the commission was appointed, new ministries were created, at the meeting on Wednesday raised the addition of 5 new spokesmen on behalf of the Government of Bolivar, the Legislative Council Bolivar and the Ministry of Popular Power for Indigenous Peoples and communities.

"As the joint committee is also to be extended by five the number of spokespersons for the indigenous peoples", advanced the state director of Minamb.

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