January 22, 2020

THE NAHUAT INDIGENOUS GRANDPARENTS AND GRANDPARENTS OF NAHUIZALCO, CUZCATLAN [EL SALVADOR] AND OTHER COMMUNITIES TODAY UPON THE 88TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE GENOCIDE OF 1932,
WE DECLARE:

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That this day, we commemorate eighty-eight years of a terrible genocide, whose terror and pain still dwells in our memories and whose stigma is still in felt in our youth and children. This genocide totally changed the life not only of we Indigenous Peoples but of the entire country. It is necessary therefore, a clarification of the facts and a process of reparation. We are still waiting for this gesture from the Salvadoran State.

On January 22, 2019, we filed a Habeas Corpus lawsuit in the case of the forced disappearance of three individuals from our community during the Genocide of 1932 before the Supreme Court of Justice. This legal petition before the Supreme Court of El Salvador has now been acknowledged as an order for protection, in an emblematic decision.

This has been the very first time in 87 years, that attempts have been made to resort to the justice system to address the genocide of 1931. Until now, we have been intimidated by the fear of reprisals since in the past we have frequently been marginalized from access to the legal guarantees of our rights.

With this decision, the Supreme Court establishes a watershed: it is an act of justice that reintegrates us with the rest of the country and consolidates us as a nation. We hope, then, that this process of issuing an order of protection arrives at a resolution of the issues that will lead us to find the truth and that we have achieve a proper reparation.

In the same manner, on November 27, 2017, we presented a draft Law on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples before the Legislative Assembly, which reflects our expectations in order to be recognized as Indigenous Peoples, an effective tool to change our difficult reality.

We know that the Justice and Human Rights Commission of the Legislative Assembly is discussing this proposal, but we also know that there are dark interests at work on the part of a group of people who have always taken advantage of our position, acting as oportunists and profiteering from the issues of indigenous peoples. We therefore call on the deputies of the aforementioned Commission, that they should not be manipulated in their good faith, that they carry out a transparent and honest process, without allowing the twisted maneuvers in favor of those indigenous NGOs that do not represent us. All in all, our hopes are that this proposed law will become legislation that establishes national norms to the benefit of our indigenous communities.

We are mindful that the Plan Cuscatlan of the present Government contemplates the issue of Indigenous Peoples, namely the National Policy of Indigenous Peoples and other programs. We highlight the work of the Ministries of Public Works, Local Development and the Ministry of Culture, which have taken important steps in favor of our rights, promoting projects for our benefit and emphasizing the need for the direct involvement of communities. We hope that this effort will continue for the benefit of our communities.

We are concerned that in our municipality, dam projects on the Sensunapán River are being developed without properly consulting indigenous communities, allowing companies to violate our free consent with miserable token gifts, even using the aforementioned Indigenous NGO to attempt to convince us to accept these projects.

We demand the direct intervention from the Government protecting our rights, such as the right to a territory where we carry out our activities, the right to our sacred places, all prescribed in the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and in the Municipal Ordinance of Indigenous Rights of Nahuizalco, the very same municipal ordinance which the honorable father of our President, Dr. Armando Bukele Kattán (RIP) had the good conscience to support. Therefore, we call for no more concessions of permission from the government to build more dams on an already overexploited river system.

We send greetings to Dr. James Anaya, an indigenous brother of emblematic stature whom we had the honor of receiving in 2012 in Nahuizalco when, in his capacity as Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples of the UN, he visited El Salvador to prepare an important report that is still a relevant aide today for the fulfillment of our rights. We receive with gratitude in our hearts, Dr. Anaya’s offer of continued support to the Indigenous Peoples of El Salvador.

On this 88th anniversary of the 1932 genocide, we are determined to look forward, we want a country integrated in our diversity, where interculturality is in force, where young people, all children, take pride in their ancestral heritage and participate in our still unfolding history, cultural manifestations and the worldview that we have preserved for them. We want, then, to return to the harmony that emanates from the ancient wisdom of our grandmothers and grandparents.

Sisters and brothers, we have no doubt that we will defeat the death and darkness of genocide: we will ignite the light flame of truth and justice.

Sisters and brothers, let's walk together!

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