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Bolivia Resounding Defeat of the U.S. in the Organization of American States After Adoption of Caribbean ResolutionOn December 18, the U.S. and Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) Luis Almagro suffered a resounding defeat in the OAS, when the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) succeeded in getting a resolution on Bolivia adopted in the Permanent Council. Before the meeting of the Permanent Council, the Bolivian representative had proposed amendments to the CARICOM draft resolution. Grenada opened the meeting by pointing out that the Bolivian proposal did not constitute amendments to the CARICOM Project, but a new draft Resolution. The representative of the coup government of Bolivia responded that he did not agree, that it was not a new document. He thought the draft CARICOM Resolution could have been more constructive if, instead of supporting the intention of setting the country on fire as Evo Morales wishes, it contributed to pacifying it. He added that many are not interested in what happened in Bolivia, which was not actions taken against the Indigenous people, but actions by armed groups that supported Evo Morales, as well as his call to cut off the cities. Belize put forward a point of order proposing that the draft amendment proposed by Bolivia be put to a vote. The result of the vote on the Bolivian amendment was as follows: In favour, 8: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, USA, Ecuador, Panama, Paraguay and Venezuela. Against, 17: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Suriname, Uruguay, Bahamas, Saint Kitts and Nevis. Abstentions, 8: Canada, Costa Rica, Chile, Guatemala, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Peru and Honduras. Absent, 1: Haiti. The Bolivian amendment was therefore defeated. Then the ambassador of the United States proposed that a vote be taken on the draft CARICOM Resolution, which resulted in the following: In favour, 18: Antigua and Barbuda, Argentina, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Dominica, Guyana, Grenada, Jamaica, Mexico, Trinidad and Tobago, Nicaragua, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Suriname, Uruguay and Panama. Against, 4: Bolivia, Colombia, USA, Venezuela (the representative of the self-proclaimed president Guaidó). Abstentions, 11: Canada, Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Peru, Honduras, Brazil, Chile and Paraguay. Absent, 1: Haiti. As a result, the Resolution "Rejection of Violence and Call for Full Respect for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Plurinational State of Bolivia" was approved. An explanation of their vote by several delegations appeared as footnotes. Among them what the Colombian ambassador said stood out for its aggressive and even offensive language against the sponsors of the resolution and those who supported it. Both the representative of Colombia and of the USA attacked Venezuela, while the representative of Guaidó also attacked Nicaragua. Permanent Council Resolution"Rejection of Violence and Call For Full Respect For the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the Plurinational State of Bolivia" moved by the members states of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM): THE PERMANENT COUNCIL OF THE ORGANIZATION OF AMERICAN STATES, TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and those of the Charter of the Organization of American States (OAS); BEARING IN MIND that international and hemispheric conventions on Human Rights contain the values and principles of liberty, equality and social justice that are intrinsic to democracy. HIGHLIGHTING the United Nations Declaration on
the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which in its
Article 1 states that "Indigenous peoples have the
right to the full enjoyment, as a collective or as
individuals, of all human rights and fundamental
freedoms as recognized in the Charter of the
United Nations, the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights and International Human Rights Law"; the
United Nations International Convention on the
Elimination of Racial Discrimination; and the
American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples (AG/RES. 2888 (XLVI-O/16), which, in
Article XII, states that "Indigenous peoples have
the right not to be the object of racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia, or related
intolerance. States shall adopt the preventive and
corrective measures necessary for the full and
effective protection of that right." TAKING NOTE of the deep concerns about the human right situation, including violence in racist and discriminatory ways, expressed by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in its preliminary observations on December 10, 2019, after its visit to Bolivia; ALSO NOTING the findings of the IACHR that, following the electoral process a wave of violence occurred, and serious allegations were made of human rights violations, including arbitrary detentions and arrests, massacres and murder, wounding of the civilian population, criminalization and persecution of political opponents, violations of freedom of expression. RECALLING the declaration, "Rights of the Indigenous Peoples of the Americas" [AG/DEC. 79(XLIV-O/14)], which reaffirms that progress in promoting and effectively protecting the rights of the Indigenous peoples of the Americas is a priority for the OAS; RECALLING ALSO Article 9 of the Inter-American Democratic Charter which states that "The elimination of all forms of discrimination, especially gender, ethnic and race discrimination, as well as diverse forms of intolerance, the promotion and protection of human rights of Indigenous peoples and migrants, and respect for ethnic, cultural and religious diversity in the Americas contribute to strengthening democracy and citizen participation;" RECOGNIZING that, notwithstanding improvements over the last decade, the Indigenous peoples in Bolivia have suffered from historic injustices as a result of, inter alia, their colonization and the dispossession of their lands, territories and resources thus preventing them from fully exercising, in particular, their right to development in accordance with their own needs and interests; EMPHASIZING THAT the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples in Bolivia, which derive from their political, economic, and social structures and from their cultures, spiritual traditions, histories and philosophies, especially their rights to their lands, territories and resources, must be respected and promoted; REAFFIRMING that Indigenous peoples, in the exercise of their rights, should be free from discrimination of any kind. CONSIDERING the importance of eliminating all forms of racial discrimination and/or violence that may emanate therefrom that may affect citizens of the Americas including and especially Indigenous peoples, and taking into account the responsibility of States to combat them; AFFIRMING that any existing doctrines, policies and practices based on advocating superiority of peoples or individuals on the basis of national origin or racist ideas, religious, ethnic or cultural differences, are scientifically false, legally invalid, morally condemnable and socially unjust; WELCOMING the agreement signed between Bolivian authorities and the IACHR to install an independent group of international experts to investigate the acts of violence that occurred between September and December 2019. RESOLVES TO: 1. CONDEMN the human rights violations and the use of violence against any citizen of Bolivia, especially any and all forms of violence and intimidation against Bolivians of Indigenous origin; 2. FURTHER CONDEMN intolerance of symbols, traditional vestige, religious practices and unequal treatment or mention of any element of Indigenous civilization; 3. UNDERSCORE the need for the authorities of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to fulfil their inherent responsibility as a part of the community of nations to protect all human rights for everyone in Bolivia; 4. URGE the authorities of the Plurinational State of Bolivia to respect, comply with and effectively implement all their obligations under international law as they apply to Indigenous peoples, particularly those related to human rights; 5. REITERATE the call made by the Permanent Council of the OAS on November 20, 2019, in CP/RES. 1140 (2259/19) rev. 1, to all political and civil actors in Bolivia, including all authorities, civil society, the military and security forces, and the general public, to immediately cease from violence, preserve peace, and seek a frank dialogue to promote national democratic reconciliation; and 6. CALL UPON the Bolivian authorities to ensure full and unrestricted observance and protection of human rights and to ensure that any violators thereof are held to account, in accordance with international human rights law as reflected in Resolution, CP/RES. 1140 (2259/19) rev. 1, of the OAS Permanent Council. (December 18, 2019. Translated from original Spanish by TML; Permanent Council Resolution from OAS website.)
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