A group of Maleku natives made a visit to the wetland sector in Caño Blanco in Guatuso a few days ago to protest about an alleged diversion of the rivers out of their natural canals.
According to Marconi Lacayo, representative of the indigenous group,
apparently, farmers and people who are not indigenous intend to dredge this area to dry it and then plant grass and bring their animals to a protected area. For this reason, we went to see what was happening. Upon arrival, we saw a dredge that was buried about a month ago, but we also observed stagnant animals. There were many dead fish, lizards and turtles underground that we managed to set free, we saw deforested areas… it’s a savagery caused by that dredge and those responsible for this,”
explained the man.
Lacayo said that they, together with the police, released more than five thousand fish that were in the mud.
The representative of the Maleku mentioned that they also made a ritual to call nature.
For the Maleku, God is in the wetlands and hence all the wealth and tradition that we have. Therefore, we had to call nature in defense of those places and although we are in summer we managed to get the symbols pronounced. There were lightning flashes and signs of rain (…)”
The group of 50 indigenous made this visit guarded by eight officers of the Public Force.
We didn’t inform the people who are working with the dredger because if we had maybe they would have been prepared. And also because the wetlands are a sacred place, and you have permission from nature, not them.”
Marconi Lacayo indicated that due to this situation, they will seek legal consequences,
in fact, we invite whoever wants to support us.”