| Mbuti |
| |
The Mbuti people are the indigenous inhabitants of the forests of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the second largest rainforest in the world. The Mbuti are commonly referred to as Pygmies, and have endured a long history of suffering. Fighting in the DRC over control of natural resources has had a devastating affect on them. They have been killed, forced into slavery, and even cannibalized by armed factions who believe that eating the Mbuti will give them supernatural powers.
Sinafasi Makelo, Adolphine Muley and Pacifique Mukumba are representatives of the Mbuti people who have been leading the struggle to get the Mbuti a space in the DRC peace process. Land is Life, with these dedicated activists, began the Mbuti Peace Campaign. The campaign is a cooperative effort between Land is Life and over 30 Mbuti communities and organizations in the Democratic Republic of Congo. The campaign aims to bring the Mbuti into the DRC peace process, to bring to justice those responsible for recent atrocities committed against them and to achieve the legal recognition of their human, economic and cultural rights, and demarcation of their homelands.
Since May 2003, Land is Life has:
Arranged travel for Mbuti representatives to attend meetings at the United Nations in New York and Geneva.
Arranged for testimony at the United Nations on human rights violations committed against the Mbuti.
Held a press conference at the United Nations in New York, and arranged interviews with press from around the world (CNN, Democracy Now, BBC, New York Times, television and newspapers in Europe, Africa, etc.) concerning cannibalism and other atrocities being committed against the Mbuti.
Arranged meetings with representatives of governments involved in the DRC peace process.
Arranged for Mbuti representatives to travel to South Africa for the World Congress on National Parks.
Raised funding to allow Mbuti activists to visit communities and gather testimony on human rights abuses.
Supported Mbuti demands that the World Bank alter its development plan for logging concessions in the Mbuti rainforest, a plan that was designed without the free, prior and informed consent of the Mbuti people (in violation of international conventions and the World Bank’s own policies).
|
|
|
