33 The State further alleges that the Kaliña and Lokono Peoples do not maintain the same relationship with the land that they previously had, and that in any event the issuance of land titles does not interfere in a substantial way with their ability to carry out their traditional lifestyle. Suriname adds that the alleged victims who were affected by the issuance of land titles “were not characterized by traditional, but by modern features like buildings rather than huts” and lacked “the cultural, social economic and spiritual uniqueness which is characteristic for the relationship between indigenous people and the land and resources which they traditionally occupy and use.”188 Suriname has provided no evidence in support of these assertions. 104. As has been proven, there is ample evidence in the record to reflect the special relationship between the Kaliña and Lokono Peoples and their traditional territory. The petitioners have provided a study titled “Traditional Use and Management of the Lower Marowijne area by the Kaliña and Lokono: A Surinamese Case Study in the Context of Article 10(c) of the Convention on Biological Diversity.”189 The study contains a comprehensive overview of the traditional lifestyle, economic activities, social organization, crop harvesting uses and customs, use of natural resources, cultural activities, special and forbidden traditional sites, and the relationship of the Kaliña and Lokono with their land and territories, as well as a specific description of each village. For instance, the study explains: “According to the Kaliña and Lokono everything on earth, as well as things that Westerners consider non-living such as stones, clay and water, are alive and connected to one another. All animal, plant and fish species, as well as stones, creeks and rivers have a spirit that protects them and that we as human beings should take into consideration. Preserving the right balance between man and nature is of prime importance. If this balance is upset, by incorrect or excessive use, there may be adverse consequences such as disease, accidents or misfortune.”190 The petitioners also provided evidence to this effect during the hearing on the merits of this case, when Captain Richard Pané explained, among other things, the Kaliña and Lokono’s struggle to maintain their traditional lifestyle without having legal rights over their ancestral territories.191 They have also expressed this in the numerous letters and petitions they have filed with various Surinamese governmental entities, given the absence of other legal avenues to obtain recognition of their collective ownership of their lands.192 105. 106. The State did not specifically challenge the findings of the anthropological study presented by the petitioners, or provide a contrary one. The IACHR considers that the special relationship between the Kaliña and Lokono and their lands, territories and natural resources still exists. As stated by the Inter-American Court, “the spiritual and physical foundations of the identity 188 Submission of Suriname, September 12, 2008, p. 12. Suriname also argues that at the time some of these land titles were issued, the Indigenous inhabitants of the communities were not living there. However, the State has failed to specify which specific titles this argument applies to. In addition, the petitioners have submitted ample evidence to show that the Kaliña and Lokono have inhabited these areas for centuries, through the present. 189 See Annex 5. Submission of petitioners, May 28, 2008, Annex E, “Traditional use and management of the Lower Marowijne area by the Kaliña and Lokono: A Surinamese case study in the context of article 10(c) of the Convention on Biological Diversity”, February 17, 2006. 190 Annex 5. Submission of petitioners, May 28, 2008, Annex E, “Traditional use and management of the Lower Marowijne area by the Kaliña and Lokono: A Surinamese case study in the context of article 10(c) of the Convention on Biological Diversity”, February 17, 2006, p. 93. 191 IACHR, Hearing on the Merits, March 27, 2012, IACHR 144 Period of Sessions, Case 12.639 – Kaliña and Lokono Peoples, Suriname. 192 See Section IV.C.