by DARIO ARANDA (trans. by Jim Rudolf)
The Nobel Peace Prize laureate said the Argentine government has a limited view of human rights, and stressed that the extractive model is moving forward, which includes the use of repression. He talks of the role of human rights organizations, the Qom community, Gildo Insfrán, La Cámpora, and others on the Right.
He describes himself as “an activist for human rights” and not as the recipient of the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize. Adolfo Pérez Esquivel began his activism in 1971. Two years later he founded the newspaper Peace and Justice as a common space for organizations and activists. In 1975, he participated in the creation of the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights (APDH). Between 1977 and 1978 he was imprisoned in Argentina on orders of the military dictatorship. Since the 1970s he keeps company with American indigenous peoples, and since 2010 he has been actively engaged with the Qom community of Formosa (Potae Napocna Navogoh, Puño de oso hormiguero – La Primavera). “The national government does not want to resolve the conflict, it gives priority to its provincial allies,” he says, summarizing the situation in Formosa while echoing the global perspective of the extractive model (of mining and soy): “The people say ‘no’ to these activities, for example in Esquel and Andalgalá, but the government says ‘yes’ to the companies because it gives priority to economic interests over the lives of the people.” Pérez Esquivel warns about the increased repression over those who oppose the extractive model, he condemns the INAI that “does not work for native peoples, but rather for the interests of governments,” he questions whether Kirchnerism encompasses human rights of the period 1976-1983, and he does not believe that new Secretary for Human Rights Martín Fresneda stands by the current victims of repression.
Darío Aranda: Félix Díaz was in an “accident” last week in Formosa. He was hit by a vehicle while he was riding a motorcycle, and he wound up in the hospital. Díaz was convinced that it wasn’t an accident.
Adolfo Pérez Esquivel: I spoke to Félix. What happened in Formosa is terrible: A feudal government that threatens anyone who demands his rights. In many provinces – the same thing is happening in Salta and Neuquén – the governments do what they want, they don’t recognize the rights of native peoples. And that has a direct connection to the policies of the national government.
DA: Which policies of the national government?
APE: The policy of not recognizing native peoples. A clear example is the INAI (National Institute of Indigenous Affairs). It does not work for native peoples, but rather for the interests of governments, whether provincial or national, but not for the development of native peoples.
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