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Tag Archive | "autonomy"

The Interamerican Commission on Human Rights admits case against the State of Nicaragua

Saturday, December 4, 2010

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The case regarding the assassination of Fransisco José Garcia Valle – the husband of prominent human rights lawyer Dr María Luisa Acosta – has been admitted to the Interamerican Commission on Human Rights for alleged violations of the right to a fair trial.

The Rama-Kriol Territorial Government (GTRK)

Tuesday, July 27, 2010

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The Rama-Kriol Territorial Government (GTRK), based in Bluefields, is responsible for administering a territorial bloc that broadly corresponds to ancient Rama ancestral lands. As a local authority, it provides political representation to both indigenous and Afro-descendant communities. Interamericana talked to the GTRK's President, Mr Santiago Thomas, about Law 445, the demarcation process and recent acts of violence that have occurred in Rama lands.

A Brief History of Autonomy

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

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Nicaragua's Caribbean Coast followed a very different course of development from its Pacific cousin. It was the English, not the Spanish, who made colonial strides here, drawing together the region's indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples under the banner of the Miskito Kingdom. This article gives a brief history of the region and its on-going dream of autonomy, 1710-2003.

Located in Nicaragua’s most remote and disconnected province – the North Atlantic Autonomous Region – the diminutive settlement of Waspam is the centre of the Miskito universe. This short video clip, featuring music from Miskito musician Li Lamni, was shot on take-off from town’s modest airstrip.

Mr Edgar ‘Rasta’ Coulsen is a native of the Caribbean town of San of Juan del Norte – an end of the world settlement perched at the mouth of the Rio San Juan. In this short video interview, Interamericana talked to him about the changes that have taken place in the region since his childhood.

One day, me and my compadres took a trip up the Río Istiam – a tranquil waterway that meanders inland at the isthmus between Ometepe’s two volcanoes, Concepción and Maderas. The river is home to abundant bird life, caimans, turtles and herds of indolent livestock. Many thanks to Jennifer Kennedy and the three Matts – Barwick, Hicks and Ashford, who appear in this video clip.

Via Via is something of a León institution, attracting Nicas and foreigners alike with its buzzing multi-cultural atmosphere, dirt-cheap bottles of rum and rousing Friday night music sets. Amalgama, featured in this video, are an institution in themselves, playing everything from rock ballads to crowd-pleasing revolutionary classics. In this clip they are accompanied by itinerant musician Richard Crandell and his Zimbabwean imbira.

As a poor chele, or white boy, rhythm was never going to come naturally to me. Nonetheless, my militant salsa instructor, Angel, patiently tried to teach me to dance. And when he could be patient no longer, he simply ordered me to the nearest disco…

Granada’s international poetry festival kicked off yesterday, 14th February 2010, with a belting set from Katia Cardenal. Performing at the Plaza Independencia, Katia sang a mixture of rousing folk songs and revolutionary ballads, including a superb homage to the Miskito people of the Atlantic coast (2nd song featured, actually in the Miskito language). Turn up the volume, pour yourself a rum, kick back and enjoy…