Bolivia Deports 20 Members of Fictional Country Kailasa
Alleged Land Grab by Indigenous Communities
On Tuesday, Bolivia announced the deportation of 20 members of Kailasa, a fictional country established by preacher Nithyananda, for allegedly attempting to seize land from indigenous communities.
Expulsion of Kailasa Members
Katherine Calderón, Bolivia’s Immigration Director, confirmed the expulsion at a press conference. “They are no longer in our national territory,” she said, adding that the action was taken over the weekend.
Nithyananda and the United States of Kailasa
Nithyananda, accused of rape in India, claims to have founded the United States of Kailasa, an island off the coast of Ecuador.
Calderón stated, “This sect has arrived in our country and has attempted to violate the good faith of our indigenous population and also their rights, trying to deceive them into using their native lands.”
Investigative Reporting and Lease Agreements
The expulsion followed investigative reporting by Bolivian newspaper El Deber on March 16, which revealed that three indigenous groups – the Baure, the Cayubaba and Esse Ejja – had signed lease agreements with Kailasa for nearly 4.8 lakh hectares of public land between September and November.
According to the agreements, an annual rent would be paid in exchange for the use of the land for “a thousand years”.
International Recognition and Government Response
Bolivian foreign ministry, quoted by another news outlet, La República, said that Kailasa did not have international recognition. Although indigenous communities can manage their lands, relations with other countries are the exclusive responsibility of the national government.
Yamil Flores, the minister of rural development and lands, said, “The government has never endorsed, nor will it ever endorse, these types of hidden contracts.”
Investigation and Deportation Details
An investigation is being carried out to look into the contracts signed between indigenous leaders and the representatives of the fictional country. Action is being taken to punish these crimes.
Calderón said that three of those expelled were found in the municipality of Exaltación and taken to Viru Viru Airport in Santa Cruz to be deported. The remaining 17 persons were found in Santa Cruz and notified of their expulsion from the country.
“The people found in the various operations in both cities are no longer in our territory,” Calderón said. “They have been issued final mandatory departure orders, which prevents them from re-entering Bolivia.”
Nithyananda’s Background
Nithyananda had fled India after being accused of rape and illegally confining children in his ashram. In 2019, India cancelled Nithyananda’s passport and rejected his application for a fresh one. He is accused of abducting children and using them to raise money for his ashram.
Previous Incidents Involving Kailasa
In December 2023, an official from Paraguay resigned from his position after realizing that he had signed a cooperation memorandum with Kailasa. Arnaldo Chamorro, the chief of staff at Paraguay’s agriculture ministry, told reporters that he was deceived by persons who claimed to be officials from the United States of Kailasa.
In January 2023, Newark city in the United States was also duped into signing an agreement with the fictional country.
