CONAMAQ

CONAMAQ
Name	Consejo Nacional de Ayllus y Markas del Qullasuyu
Abbreviation	CONAMAQ
Formation	1997
Type	Indigenous organization
Headquarters	La Paz, Bolivia
Region served	Andes, Bolivia
Languages	Aymara, Quechua, Spanish

CONAMAQ The Consejo Nacional de Ayllus y Markas del Qullasuyu (CONAMAQ) is a national indigenous organization representing Aymara, Quechua and Qullasuyu-origin communities in the highlands of Bolivia. Founded in the late 20th century, it functions as an umbrella body for traditional ayllu and marka authorities, engaging with regional movements, international indigenous fora, and Bolivian political institutions. CONAMAQ has been a prominent actor in indigenous rights advocacy, land claims, and cultural revitalization while interacting with parties, unions, and state agencies.

History

CONAMAQ emerged amid social mobilizations that included the Coca growers’ movement, the 1990s Bolivian crisis, and the rise of indigenous political visibility with actors such as the Tupac Katari Guerrilla Army alumni and social leaders from the Altiplano. The organization traces its institutional founding to assemblies bringing together ayllu and marka authorities who sought recognition similar to the Movimiento al Socialismo’s indigenous base and older entities like the Confederación Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia. CONAMAQ participated in national protests alongside the Cochabamba Water War movements and stood in dialogue and sometimes contestation with the Plurinational State of Bolivia project under President Evo Morales. Over time CONAMAQ allied or clashed with entities such as the Asamblea Permanente de los Derechos Humanos de Bolivia, the Pachakuti Indigenous Movement, and international bodies like the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.

Organization and Structure

CONAMAQ’s internal structure mirrors traditional Aymara and Quechua authority systems including the ayllu, marka and suyus, with assemblies and elected jilanqas and mallkus. Its national congress convenes delegates from departmental organizations such as the Departamento de La Paz, Departamento de Oruro, Departamento de Potosí, Departamento de Cochabamba and Departamento de Chuquisaca. Leadership posts have been occupied by indigenous authorities who frequently interact with courts like the Constitutional Tribunal of Bolivia and institutions including the Plurinational Legislative Assembly. CONAMAQ maintains coordination with peasant federations, urban indigenous collectives, and transnational networks such as the International Indian Treaty Council and regional alliances like the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon River Basin.

Ideology and Objectives

CONAMAQ articulates an ideology grounded in indigenous autonomy, ancestral governance, territorial rights and the principles of Ayllu social organization. It frames demands in terms of indigenous rights recognized in the 2009 Constitution of Bolivia, the Indigenous and Tribal Peoples Convention, 1989, and regional frameworks like the San Andrés Accords. The organization advances objectives that include defending collective land titles, recuperation of indigenous patrimony, promotion of intercultural education tied to the Aymara language and Quechua language, and asserting customary legal pluralism vis-à-vis national jurisprudence exemplified by rulings of the Supreme Court of Bolivia.

Activities and Campaigns

CONAMAQ has organized mobilizations, legal petitions, and community assemblies to contest extractive projects such as those related to the San Cristóbal mine, the TIPNIS highway debate, and gas and mining concessions promoted by administrations including those of Gonzalo Sánchez de Lozada and Evo Morales. It has mounted campaigns for agrarian reform linked to historical processes like the Bolivian National Revolution (1952) legacies, and engaged in cultural projects with museums like the Museo Nacional de Etnografía y Folklore and universities such as the Universidad Mayor de San Andrés. Internationally, CONAMAQ delegates have attended forums in Geneva, New York City (United Nations), and Quito to present cases on indigenous rights and environmental protection.

Relationship with Bolivian Government and Other Indigenous Organizations

CONAMAQ’s relationship with state actors has oscillated between cooperation and confrontation. Early dialogues occurred with ministries created under the Morales administration, including the Ministry of Cultures and Tourism and the Ministry of Rural Development and Lands, but tensions arose over resource policies and autonomy statutes. CONAMAQ has formed tactical alliances with peasant and labor organizations like the Central Obrera Boliviana while sometimes contesting the political hegemony of the Movimiento al Socialismo and rival indigenous federations such as the Confederación Sindical Única de Trabajadores Campesinos de Bolivia (CSUTCB). It also interacts with international NGOs, academic centers like the Instituto de Estudios Indígenas and human rights groups.

Controversies and Internal Disputes

CONAMAQ has experienced internal disputes over leadership legitimacy, representation of urban versus rural constituencies, and responses to state policies. Factional splits led to competing claims to authority, legal registrations contested in courts including the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and disputes involving community sanctions and land adjudications. Critics have pointed to episodes of alleged collaboration with political parties, while supporters argue decisions reflect tactical diversity. High-profile conflicts sometimes intersected with protests that involved police forces from units tied to ministries and security apparatuses such as the Policía Boliviana.

Impact and Legacy

CONAMAQ’s legacy includes strengthening indigenous institutional visibility in Bolivia’s public arena, influencing debates that shaped the 2009 Constitution of Bolivia, and contributing to international indigenous jurisprudence through participation in multinational fora. Its advocacy has affected land titling processes, bilingual education programs, and the recognition of customary authorities in municipal governance structures like those in La Paz (department). Despite internal challenges, CONAMAQ remains a reference for ayllu-based organization models and a point of comparison for indigenous movements across the Andes, influencing scholars and activists associated with institutions such as the National Autonomous University of Mexico and networks of indigenous legal defenders.

Category:Indigenous peoples of Bolivia Category:Organizations established in 1997