In 2019 Kailasa, of Indian origin according to its promoters, proclaimed itself a country with a flag, a constitution, a central bank and a passport. It is seeking land in South American countries despite lacking official recognition.
Representatives of this fictitious state are seeking to establish perpetual leases on land with the indigenous peoples of Bolivia, as well as Ecuador and Paraguay. The Bolivian online newspaper Vision 360 reported on and even showed photos of Kailasa’s spokespersons wearing brightly coloured clothing as they signed documents that reflected their intention to acquire land in the region.
This goal has caused problems in several countries such as Ecuador, Paraguay, the United States and now Bolivia.
In Paraguay, the former chief of staff at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cattle, Arnaldo Chamorro, was fired from his job in 2023 after signing an agreement with Kailasa regarding help for the South American country.
That is why the Bolivian Chancellery ruled out any diplomatic link between the government and the ‘United States of Kailasa’: “The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, based on the powers recognised in Law 465, as the authority in Bolivian foreign policy, communicates that the Plurinational State of Bolivia does not maintain diplomatic relations with the supposed nation ‘the United States of Kailasa’ (…)”
According to the text, this supposed country is not recognised as a state under the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961 by any other actor in the international community.
The facts were revealed by the Bolivian press. The investigation “Fictitious state tempts indigenous peoples to lease their territories for a thousand years”, published in El Deber and carried out by Silvana Vincenti, revealed the existence of a memorandum of understanding to sign a “perpetual lease” contract in favour of the United States of Kailasa for 108,000 dollars annually in exchange for 60,000 hectares of Baure indigenous territory.
Similarly, according to the report conversations were held with representatives of the Ese Ejja and Cayubaba peoples, and with leaders of the Andean Committee of Indigenous Organisations and the National Council of Ayllus and Markas del Qullasuyu (Conamaq). The common denominator in all these actions is the quest for land to be handed over through co-operation agreements, understandings and leases.
According to the media, behind the scheme is the self-proclaimed guru Swami Nithyananda, recognised as the country’s “founder” in 2019, who sees himself as a god on Earth. There are no images of the territory where, according to its promoters, the country is established.
Following publication, Vincenti received phone calls and messages, according to the National Press Association. People from abroad and people who did not identify themselves demanded he withdraw the text from the newspaper’s social media.
El Deber reported that Vincenti “has been the object of threats for uncovering a network of land deals involving Beni and Pando indigenous leaders (…)”.
The newspaper specified that a voice message was sent from a mobile phone belonging to the Baure leader, Pedro Guasico, one of the agreement’s signatories.
El Deber also highlights that representatives of the putative state have allegedly had meetings and contacts with other indigenous nations under the banner of “mutual co-operation”. This includes the Ese Ejja and Cayubaba peoples, in whose documents there is an offer to pay 55,800 and 28,107 dollars per year respectively. The documents dated November 2024 are signed by several indigenous leaders. For the supposed state, their ‘ambassador’ Brenda Jung signed, along with other delegates. The newspaper claims these contracts were subsequently revoked. PL
(Translated by Philip Walker – Email: philipwalkertranslation@gmail.com) – Photos: Pixabay
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