II International Forum on the Coca Leaf
“ The Frontiers of the Coca”
Buenos Aires, October 6th – 8th, 2006

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Argentina, where the “Chacchado” and the “Akullicu” are named as  “Coqueo”

The ritual and/or medicinal use of the Coca Leaf has a long history in Argentina and, in the same way the Quechua language has been the link to the Memory of our People, the Coca Leaf has remained as a ritual object that continues to remind them of their origins.

Before the Conquest, the Qollasuyu (one of the four Suyus or Regions of the Tawantinsuyu)  covered the territory which nowadays, the imposed frontiers have transformed into republics. Due to the important European inmigration, many of our border neighbors ignore that 56% of the population in our country is partially or totally of indigenous origin (1), therefore they are also unaware that, in the regions of the NOA (North West Argentina), the “Coqueo” is not a snobbish imposition but a Ritual and Traditional habit as well as in the rest of the Andean Community.
 
During the three-day debate we will try to throw light on the formal reality in the use of the Coca Leaf and its legal situation within the national context, the situation of our neighbors in the Region and the panorama on the Coca Leaf within the International context.

The debate will be about the following issues:

1. The Symbolic Frontiers:  The Tawantinsuyu. Cultural and Traditional Use of the Coca Leaf in the Andes.  National and International Legislation.
2. The Frontiers of the Coca: Producer and Consumer countries. The Coca Peasants. Legal commerce and the black market of illegal importation.  The illegal Coca, situation and consequences.
3. The Frontiers of Ignorance: The Coca we do not know. Medicinal and Nutritional use of the Coca Leaf. Its use in treatments to addicts.  The Coca as an instrument for damage reduction.

(1) Research carried out by the Genetic Fingerprint Service at the University of Buenos Aires,  Department of Genetic and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy and Biochemistry

 

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Registration:

During the event at Salon de Actos - Facultad de Ciencias Economicas - UBA
Av. Cordoba 2122 - 2º Piso - Buenos Aires, Argentina. Free entrance.

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Contact:

NGO Comunidad Tawantinsuyu

 

Web: www.comunidadtawantinsuyu.org/coca

E-mail: ayni@comunidadtawantinsuyu.org