Post by RedFlag32 on Nov 23, 2008 12:08:40 GMT
La Paz, Nov 21 (Prensa Latina) The Bolivian government authorized the
National Institute of Agrarian Reforms (INRA) to verify relations of
servitude, which could be motive to revert or take away plots of land.
According to Cliver Rocha, Head Director of Lands, this measure will
be put into effect due to the existence of slavery in the eastern part
of the country, which violates the Economical and Social Function
(FES) of the lands.
"Now, INRA has the power to verify and establish existence of forced
labor or any other kind of slavery in any region of the nation," said
Rocha.
He also mentioned that this gives legal competence to INRA to take
away lands where slavery is detected, which then become legal state
grounds.
Likewise, he said that in 2007 a similar process took place in two
localities of the region of Chuquisaca, properties of the Reynaga and
Cuentas families.
"The definition we use for a servitude relation is the development of
any agrarian activity in communities, families or places, whose work
done for the owner of the land violates fundamental human rights,"
confirmed Rocha.
In April of this year, Community Justice Viceminister Valentin Ticona
denounced to the UN Human Rights Commission the existence of slavery
on 197 farms in Bolivia.
Ticona said then that Evo Morales' government insisted on a national
program of land distribution, in which Indian communities have
priority.