Land titles in the hands of Loma and Marina Kue
Revista Emancipa - Paraguay
In a historic event, the Loma indigenous community of the Guaraní Ñandeva people and the Marina Kué colony (now San Óscar Romero) have made important achievements in their long struggle for land rights. After 41 years of resistance to invasions and state indifference, the Loma community in the Paraguayan Chaco received title to its first 10,000 hectares of ancestral territory.
At the same time, the Marina Kué colony celebrated the beginning of the payment for the plots, a fundamental step for 250 peasant families to gain access to their land titles. This process, promoted by the National Institute for Rural and Land Development (INDERT), has come to fruition after years of waiting and mobilisation. Cristina Ozuna, one of the community leaders, expressed with emotion that ‘the title for us means bread, life, family, and community development’.
Challenges remain while obtaining land titles marks a significant milestone for both communities. In the case of Loma, the invasion of their ancestral territory has destroyed more than 3,000 hectares of native forest, putting their livelihoods at risk. For San Oscar Romero, the joint work between the Association of Relatives and Victims of Marina Kué, INDERT, and other institutions continues to complete the titling process for all families.
These advances result from years of struggle and perseverance on the part of the Loma and Marina Kué communities, who have tirelessly defended their right to land. Obtaining the titles is a fundamental step towards guaranteeing a dignified future and the recognition of their ancestral rights and their rights as land workers in Paraguay.
