Venezuelan Rain Forest Tribe Charges Government With Neglect

PUERTO AYACUCHO, Venezuela -- Three years after President Hugo Chávez expelled American missionaries from the Venezuelan Amazon, accusing them of using proselytism of remote tribes as a cover for espionage, resentment is festering here over what some tribal leaders say was official negligence that led to the deaths of dozens of indigenous children and adults.

Some leaders of the Yanomami, one of South America's largest forest-dwelling tribes, say that 50 people in their communities in the southern rain forest have died since the expulsion of the missionaries in 2005 because of recurring shortages of medicine and fuel, and unreliable transportation out of the jungle to medical facilities.

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Comments

[TimmySlagle]

Shortages of Medicine and Fuel?

I thought these were enlightened peoples, who live in balance with the earth?

What do they need that crap for?

[wm1066]

"Shortages of medicine and fuel?"
Well the ranchers and farmers have been burning down the rain forest for decades to graze their cattle! How can you live in balance when people are destroying your land?!!
Timmy your a fan of Sean Connery, well watch the movie "Medicine Man"

[wm1066]

Okay, I want to hear what Sting says about this, he has made a number of friends among the Yanomami tribes.
And if anyone wants to see how the indians live check out the movie Emerald Forest by John Boorman, made in the eighties. Somewhat "fantastique" but the feathers and make up on the indians was something to see, plus the nudity....Boorman showed the beauty of how they live and the tradegy in interfacing with the modern world.

[Semaj51]

Don't worry, Chávez will respond in the normal fashion -- blame Bush.

[Blutus]

Don't worry. Putin is on the way to help.