Action Alert
Ask the Ecuadorian Government to protect the rights of Environmentaland Human Rights Defenders who participated in recent Anti-MiningDemonstrationsThe Ecuador Solidarity Network, an organization based in Canada andthe United States joins human rights and indigenous peoplesorganizations in calling on Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa torecognize campesino and indigenous groups opposed to a new mining lawand large scale metal mining as acting in defense of their economicand social rights as recognized by international treaties and inEcuador's constitution. In particular, we are asking the government ofEcuador to review various criminal charges that a number of people arefacing as a result of their participation in nationwide protests inthe highlands and Amazon between January 5th and 21st.Earlier this month in the Southern provinces of Azuay, Loja, ZamoraChinchipe and Morona Santiago, protests against large-scale metallicmining were met with police violence and repression. A number ofactivists were beaten and detained, and one leader was criticallyinjured after being shot in the head. Following from these events,three men remain in jail facing serious charges with the possibilitythat others have orders out for their capture.On January 20th, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities ofEcuador (CONAIE) in cooperation with a variety of environmental,campesino and indigenous organizations protested congress' recentapproval of a mining law, opening the country to large-scale metalmining. The CONAIE and other organizations contend that the new lawwill violate the new constitution and allow large-scale mining inprotected areas, as well as jeopardize critical community watersupplies.Following recent statements from the Ecumenical Human RightsCommission (CEDHU), the Regional Human Rights Advisory Foundation(Inredh), the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights (APDH), theChristian Youth Association (ACJ), the Peace and Justice Service(SERPAJ), and the Centre for Economic and Social Rights (CDES), theEcuador Solidarity Network calls on activists around the world tosupport the human rights of protesters against large-scale metalmining in Ecuador. These Ecuadorian based human rights organizationsrecognize thatcampesino and indigenous populations opposed to largescale metal mining are acting in defense of their economic and socialrights as recognized by international treaties and in Ecuador'sconstitution.Ask that the government review current detentions and legal proceedingto ensure that protesters' human rights are respected.We also denounce any attempt by right-wing organizations in the U.S.and Canada to opportunistically use the upcoming mobilizations toattack President Correa for motives that have nothing to do withindigenous rights or environmental protection.SAMPLE LETTER: (English precedes Spanish copy)President's Office of the Republic of EcuadorPresident Rafael Correa<Rafael.CorreaDelgad o@presidencia. gov.ec>;presidencia@ presidencia. gov.ecYour excellency President Rafael Correa,Based in the US and Canada, the Ecuador Solidarity Network cametogether to show to oppose North American economic, political andmilitary intervention in Ecuador and to show solidarity with itssocial movements. As a result, we would like to express our concerngiven various detentions and imprisonment of indigenous and campesinoactivists taking place during recent protests against the new mininglaw and large scale metal mining from January 5th and 21st, 2009.Various Ecuadorian human rights organizations including the EcumenicalHuman Rights Commission (CEDHU), the Regional Human Rights AdvisoryFoundation (Inredh), the Permanent Assembly for Human Rights (APDH),the Christian Youth Association (ACJ), the Peace and Justice Service(SERPAJ), and the Centre for Economic and Social Rights (CDES),maintain that campesino and indigenous populations opposed to largescale metal mining are acting in defense of their economic and socialrights as recognized by international treaties and in Ecuador'sconstitution.We also recall that the National Constituent Assembly recognized thesegroups as environmental and human rights defenders on March 15th 2008when they granted amnesty to hundreds of community leaders in variousprovinces across Ecuador such as Imbabura, Pichincha, Cotopaxi,Manabí, Esmeraldas, Bolívar, Azuay, Morona Santiago, Zamora Chinchipe,Sucumbíos and Orellana.Further considering that indigenous peoples in Ecuador claim not tohave been previously consulted about the mining law approved by thecurrent administration, in accord with disponsitions in theInternational Labour Organization Convention 169 and the UnitedNational Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, we are alsoconcerned that these arrests might represent violations of articles 12and 13 in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights Defenders(Resolution approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations53/144), a kind of situation identified by the Inter-AmericanCommission on Human Rights as an attack against democratic principlesin the Western Hemisphere: "Another particularly worrisome aspect is the use of legalactions against defenders, including criminal or administrativeinvestigations or actions that are pursued to harass and discreditthem. In some cases, the states use criminal laws that restrict orlimit the means used by defenders to carry out their activities....In other cases, criminal proceedings are instituted without anyevidence, fort he purpose of harassing the members of theorganizations, who must assume the psychological and economic burdenof facing a criminal indictment. ...These proceedings generallyinvolve charges of rebellion, attacks on public order or statesecurity, and the formation of illegal groups." (Organization ofAmerican States, Report on the Situation of Human Rights Defenders inthe Americas, OEA/Ser/L/V/ II.124, 2006, paragraphs 178-180)We respectfully ask you to:1. Review the criminal proceedings taking place against human rightsdefenders in light of what the Human Rights Commission of the OASdescribes, especially proceedings concerning the following people:Vicente Zhunio Samaniego from the province of Morona Santiago (beingprocessed for alleged sabotage in the Superior Court of Macas); MiguelCriollo from the province of Azuay; Miguel de la Cruz from theprovince of Azuay (being processed for alleged terrorism and for beinga threat against state security).2. To examine the judicial investigations against the following socialleaders: Hernando Pereira, Ernesto Pereira, Wilmer Montenegro, LeninRosero and Lenin Alvear from the province of Imbabura; as well as JoséEsteban Cuascota Quilumbaquín, Gavino Cabascango Cabascango, José JuanCastillo Pujota, Francisco Farinango Ulcuango and Alfredo Cabascangofrom the province of Pichincha.3. As well, to make a timely assessment of the health and safety ofthe following indigenous people detained on January 21st in theprovince of Zamora Chinchipe: Germán Naikiai, Giovanni Ullaguari,Kléver Lalbay, and Carlos Rumipuglla.Attentively,
jueves, 29 de enero de 2009
viernes, 23 de enero de 2009
ECUADOR: MINING PROTESTS MARGINALIZED, BUT GROWING
ECUADOR: MINING PROTESTS MARGINALIZED, BUT GROWING
Written by Jennifer Moore
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
On Tuesday, nation-wide protests over large scale metal mining called by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) demonstrated growing, broad-based participation. Roughly 12,000 people from indigenous, environmentalist, human rights, campesino and rural water organizations participated in diverse actions across eleven provinces of the small Andean nation.
Taking place only a few days after the popular President Rafael Correa celebrated two years into his first mandate, government and media reactions aimed to diminish the day's significance. The press and government insisted that protests were poorly attended trying to infer that national consensus has been reached over a new mining law.
Ecuador has been an oil producer for over forty years. Although large scale metal exploration has been ongoing since the early 90s, no project has yet reached production. Mining activities are currently suspended until the new law is passed.
Attempts to minimize conflicts aim to clear the path for largely Canadian transnational corporations to bring gold and copper finds into production. Future mining revenues are promoted as the next source of state revenue for recently expanded social programs.
Thousands protest in the central highlands
Particularly strong participation took place in the central highlands where around 9,000 indigenous people shut down transportation along the Panamerican Highway in the provinces of Cotopaxi and Tungurahua.
In Cotopaxi, men and women of all ages maintained blockades in high spirits animated by jokes and even laughter as they faced police and angry bus drivers. These demonstrations passed without serious incident.
While Cotapaxi is not the focal point of major mineral exploration, indigenous people in the area showed solidarity with communities in other parts of the highlands and the Amazon affected by large-scale metal mining. Defence of their right to water, enshrined in Ecuador's newly approved constitution, unites them.
Nancy, a young woman from the community of San Juan, emphasized the importance of access to clean water for indigenous communities. "In San Juan, we already have poor access to water. Without water, what can we do?"
President of the CONAIE Marlon Santi pointed out that the "majority of mining concessions are on indigenous and campesino lands." He also challenged President Correa's program of "change," saying that "the people who grow potatoes, who grow maize, who live in the Amazon and the mangroves, we are where change is coming from."
Santi added that today's mobilizations shows that the opposition to mining is not relegated to "four nobodies," as Correa has charged.
Protesters violent and subversive
However, while government declarations and media coverage downplayed the day of action, they also portrayed activists as subversive and police as victims.
The President and the Minister of Government Fernando Bustamante were quoted by various national press saying that the indigenous confederation is trying to destabilize Correa whose popularity hovers around 70%. These unfounded allegations are based on the fact that the national indigenous movement has played an important role in the overthrow of two past governments, most recently in 2001.
The CONAIE emphatically denies that this was part of their objectives. Rather, the day of action was carried out in the spirit of building alliances between urban and rural organizations, as well as indigenous and non-indigenous communities. Demands focused on the need for greater democracy and respect for the collective rights of communities.
But media coverage emphasized injuries and arrests, emphasizing injuries sustained by eleven police in isolated confrontations with protesters. Police forces were more than doubled Tuesday and came into conflict with activists during efforts to reopen highway transportation north of the capital and in the Province of Imbabura.
"At the end of the day, we are always painted as the bad guys," says Janeth Cuji, Director of Communication for the CONAIE. The CONAIE reported ten arrests as well as two hospitalized with injuries. They added that several buses of activists were held back from attending demonstrations taking place in Quito and denounced heavy police presence saying that "repression and detentions aim to silence voices in defence of life."
Various Ecuadorian human rights and urban-based organizations also denounced the detentions. They expressed their solidarity with demands for debate over the country's dependence on extractive industries considering the social and environmental costs of large scale metal mining.
A long term struggle
Tuesday's mobilization is also seen as just one more step in lengthy struggles by communities already affected by large scale mining.
These groups, many of which have been struggling against mining at the local level for years, first coalesced in a national movement shortly following Correa's inauguration in 2007. Their key aim was that Correa declare Ecuador free of large scale metal mining. Most recently, ongoing efforts have taken place in protest of the new mining law which they say privileges transnational companies.
Within the last two weeks in the South of Ecuador, three days of road blockades were sustained in the Province of Azuay followed by a six day hunger strike in the provincial capital of Cuenca with participation from the highlands and the Southern Amazon. Demands focused on dialogue with the government and reiterated opposition to gold and copper mining in headwaters in high wetlands (paramos) and Amazonian rainforests. As a result of these earlier actions, two activists remain imprisoned and many others face charges.
Yet despite further anticipated repression this week, around 2,000 people from across the province joined a peaceful march Tuesday. A wider range of organizations and communities participated than has been seen for about a year and a half. The demonstration concluded with a pampamesa, or a mass communal lunch, in the city's central park.
Nidia Soliz from the Peoples' Health Movement of Cuenca outlines some persistent concerns with the new law.
She observes that it gives top priority to mining activities by declaring them a public utility in all phases of development, guaranteeing access to infrastructure, water, and energy for companies which could come in conflict with needs of local communities and lead to expropriation of their land. She concludes, "The bill pertains to an economic objective of the government, as well as the greater interests of multinational organizations and transnational mining companies, regardless of possible impacts on remarkable biodiversity and headwaters, as well as community health and well being."
Despite growing dissent, the government says community needs will be met and that the new mining law is ready for final approval this week. But hopes that those involved will simply accept that decisions around mining are already made is wishful thinking. Instead, it appears that a broader movement based upon the defence of water, nature and collective rights now enshrined in the country's constitution is emerging to continue the struggle for more profound changes in Ecuador.
Daniel Denvir contributed reporting from Cotapaxi. Photos are by Daniel Denvir, Klever Calle and Carlos Zorrilla.-- Ximena S. Warnaars PhD Candidate and Research AssistantSchool of Environment and Development -SEDThe University of Manchester
Written by Jennifer Moore
Wednesday, 21 January 2009
On Tuesday, nation-wide protests over large scale metal mining called by the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) demonstrated growing, broad-based participation. Roughly 12,000 people from indigenous, environmentalist, human rights, campesino and rural water organizations participated in diverse actions across eleven provinces of the small Andean nation.
Taking place only a few days after the popular President Rafael Correa celebrated two years into his first mandate, government and media reactions aimed to diminish the day's significance. The press and government insisted that protests were poorly attended trying to infer that national consensus has been reached over a new mining law.
Ecuador has been an oil producer for over forty years. Although large scale metal exploration has been ongoing since the early 90s, no project has yet reached production. Mining activities are currently suspended until the new law is passed.
Attempts to minimize conflicts aim to clear the path for largely Canadian transnational corporations to bring gold and copper finds into production. Future mining revenues are promoted as the next source of state revenue for recently expanded social programs.
Thousands protest in the central highlands
Particularly strong participation took place in the central highlands where around 9,000 indigenous people shut down transportation along the Panamerican Highway in the provinces of Cotopaxi and Tungurahua.
In Cotopaxi, men and women of all ages maintained blockades in high spirits animated by jokes and even laughter as they faced police and angry bus drivers. These demonstrations passed without serious incident.
While Cotapaxi is not the focal point of major mineral exploration, indigenous people in the area showed solidarity with communities in other parts of the highlands and the Amazon affected by large-scale metal mining. Defence of their right to water, enshrined in Ecuador's newly approved constitution, unites them.
Nancy, a young woman from the community of San Juan, emphasized the importance of access to clean water for indigenous communities. "In San Juan, we already have poor access to water. Without water, what can we do?"
President of the CONAIE Marlon Santi pointed out that the "majority of mining concessions are on indigenous and campesino lands." He also challenged President Correa's program of "change," saying that "the people who grow potatoes, who grow maize, who live in the Amazon and the mangroves, we are where change is coming from."
Santi added that today's mobilizations shows that the opposition to mining is not relegated to "four nobodies," as Correa has charged.
Protesters violent and subversive
However, while government declarations and media coverage downplayed the day of action, they also portrayed activists as subversive and police as victims.
The President and the Minister of Government Fernando Bustamante were quoted by various national press saying that the indigenous confederation is trying to destabilize Correa whose popularity hovers around 70%. These unfounded allegations are based on the fact that the national indigenous movement has played an important role in the overthrow of two past governments, most recently in 2001.
The CONAIE emphatically denies that this was part of their objectives. Rather, the day of action was carried out in the spirit of building alliances between urban and rural organizations, as well as indigenous and non-indigenous communities. Demands focused on the need for greater democracy and respect for the collective rights of communities.
But media coverage emphasized injuries and arrests, emphasizing injuries sustained by eleven police in isolated confrontations with protesters. Police forces were more than doubled Tuesday and came into conflict with activists during efforts to reopen highway transportation north of the capital and in the Province of Imbabura.
"At the end of the day, we are always painted as the bad guys," says Janeth Cuji, Director of Communication for the CONAIE. The CONAIE reported ten arrests as well as two hospitalized with injuries. They added that several buses of activists were held back from attending demonstrations taking place in Quito and denounced heavy police presence saying that "repression and detentions aim to silence voices in defence of life."
Various Ecuadorian human rights and urban-based organizations also denounced the detentions. They expressed their solidarity with demands for debate over the country's dependence on extractive industries considering the social and environmental costs of large scale metal mining.
A long term struggle
Tuesday's mobilization is also seen as just one more step in lengthy struggles by communities already affected by large scale mining.
These groups, many of which have been struggling against mining at the local level for years, first coalesced in a national movement shortly following Correa's inauguration in 2007. Their key aim was that Correa declare Ecuador free of large scale metal mining. Most recently, ongoing efforts have taken place in protest of the new mining law which they say privileges transnational companies.
Within the last two weeks in the South of Ecuador, three days of road blockades were sustained in the Province of Azuay followed by a six day hunger strike in the provincial capital of Cuenca with participation from the highlands and the Southern Amazon. Demands focused on dialogue with the government and reiterated opposition to gold and copper mining in headwaters in high wetlands (paramos) and Amazonian rainforests. As a result of these earlier actions, two activists remain imprisoned and many others face charges.
Yet despite further anticipated repression this week, around 2,000 people from across the province joined a peaceful march Tuesday. A wider range of organizations and communities participated than has been seen for about a year and a half. The demonstration concluded with a pampamesa, or a mass communal lunch, in the city's central park.
Nidia Soliz from the Peoples' Health Movement of Cuenca outlines some persistent concerns with the new law.
She observes that it gives top priority to mining activities by declaring them a public utility in all phases of development, guaranteeing access to infrastructure, water, and energy for companies which could come in conflict with needs of local communities and lead to expropriation of their land. She concludes, "The bill pertains to an economic objective of the government, as well as the greater interests of multinational organizations and transnational mining companies, regardless of possible impacts on remarkable biodiversity and headwaters, as well as community health and well being."
Despite growing dissent, the government says community needs will be met and that the new mining law is ready for final approval this week. But hopes that those involved will simply accept that decisions around mining are already made is wishful thinking. Instead, it appears that a broader movement based upon the defence of water, nature and collective rights now enshrined in the country's constitution is emerging to continue the struggle for more profound changes in Ecuador.
Daniel Denvir contributed reporting from Cotapaxi. Photos are by Daniel Denvir, Klever Calle and Carlos Zorrilla.-- Ximena S. Warnaars PhD Candidate and Research AssistantSchool of Environment and Development -SEDThe University of Manchester
miércoles, 21 de enero de 2009
THIRD REPORT JANUARY, 20 2009
Third Report January, 20 2009.
CONAIE Denouces Repression and Violence against the Indigenous Protesters
CONAIE denouces instances of repression and violence against indigneous men, women and children who are participating in the protest to Quito.
On the other hand CONAIE disagrees with declarations of the Ministry of Government that indigenous groups and militarists may be trying to conduct a coup. Violent resistance against security forces would deminish the integrity and the right of resistance of the protestors; finally the movement seeks to confirm its respect for the democratic process and respect for the Constitution of Ecuador.
In Cayambe, reports state that helicopters have been intimidating the protestors and five people have been arrested, Luis Alberto Yamberla, Juan Castillo, Jose Cuascote and two others whose names are still unknown.
Reports in the region of González Suarez in Imbabura state that violent force by police against protestors Daniel Chicota and José Manuel Quispe has resulted in injuries for which they have been transported to the hospital in Ibarra.
In Intag, inside the province of Imbabura, arrests have occured at Cotacachi. The names of those who have been detained are: Rodolfo Pereira, Lenin Albear, Lenin Rosero y Wilmer Rosero, Hernando Pereira Montenegro.
In Pedro Moncayo, inside the sector of San Juan Loma three protestors have been arrested: José Cuascota, Alfredo Cabascango y Galvino Cabascango. This information was given to us by the reporter, Francisco Farinango who was subsequently arrested in Cayambe. We do not know the whereabouts of the detainees.
CONAIE takes responsibility for the physical and moral integrity of the President of the Republic, Rafael Correa Delgado, the Ministers of Government Fernando Bustamante and the Ministry of the National and International Security, Gustavo Larrea.
In various provincial capitals: Guaranda, Ambato, Latacunga, Riobamba, Loja, Cuenca, Cañar, Macas, in cities like Otavalo, Cayambe, Pastaza, thousands of indigenous march peacefully marchan pacíficamente to their respective local governments in order to deliver clear messages as reflected in their fundamental claims of rights.
"The indigenous peoples are people of peace. The indigenous peoples are not part of the problem, we are part of the solution."
Janeth CujiDirigente Información CONAIEwww.conaie.orgwww.movilizacionantiminera.blogspot.com
CONAIE Denouces Repression and Violence against the Indigenous Protesters
CONAIE denouces instances of repression and violence against indigneous men, women and children who are participating in the protest to Quito.
On the other hand CONAIE disagrees with declarations of the Ministry of Government that indigenous groups and militarists may be trying to conduct a coup. Violent resistance against security forces would deminish the integrity and the right of resistance of the protestors; finally the movement seeks to confirm its respect for the democratic process and respect for the Constitution of Ecuador.
In Cayambe, reports state that helicopters have been intimidating the protestors and five people have been arrested, Luis Alberto Yamberla, Juan Castillo, Jose Cuascote and two others whose names are still unknown.
Reports in the region of González Suarez in Imbabura state that violent force by police against protestors Daniel Chicota and José Manuel Quispe has resulted in injuries for which they have been transported to the hospital in Ibarra.
In Intag, inside the province of Imbabura, arrests have occured at Cotacachi. The names of those who have been detained are: Rodolfo Pereira, Lenin Albear, Lenin Rosero y Wilmer Rosero, Hernando Pereira Montenegro.
In Pedro Moncayo, inside the sector of San Juan Loma three protestors have been arrested: José Cuascota, Alfredo Cabascango y Galvino Cabascango. This information was given to us by the reporter, Francisco Farinango who was subsequently arrested in Cayambe. We do not know the whereabouts of the detainees.
CONAIE takes responsibility for the physical and moral integrity of the President of the Republic, Rafael Correa Delgado, the Ministers of Government Fernando Bustamante and the Ministry of the National and International Security, Gustavo Larrea.
In various provincial capitals: Guaranda, Ambato, Latacunga, Riobamba, Loja, Cuenca, Cañar, Macas, in cities like Otavalo, Cayambe, Pastaza, thousands of indigenous march peacefully marchan pacíficamente to their respective local governments in order to deliver clear messages as reflected in their fundamental claims of rights.
"The indigenous peoples are people of peace. The indigenous peoples are not part of the problem, we are part of the solution."
Janeth CujiDirigente Información CONAIEwww.conaie.orgwww.movilizacionantiminera.blogspot.com
FIRST REPORT, MONDAY 20
Human Rights Watch
First Report
12h00
Cañar, 09h00 in the morning. In Panamericana Cuenca Street - Loja, the entrance to Nabon around 600 people met and were repimanded by the National Police who used tear gas bombs against the protesteres, in the middle of the group of protesters were children, young people and women. No one was arrested.
In the region Pedro Moncayo, San Juan Loma. At approximately 10:45h in the morning, three protesters were arrested: José Cascota, Alfredo Cavascango y Galvino Cavascango. We received additional information that Franciso Farinango, a reporter, was also arrested in Cayambe at approximately 11h00 in the morning. The whereabouts of the detainees are unknown
National Police impede the progress of the indigenous people to Quito: 5 buses with groups of indigenous protesters from Imbabura where halted in their progress to El Arbolito Park. They were intercepted at Rumiñahui Stadium. The uniformed officers began to take the indigenous people prisoners when they exited the buses, without more of an argument other than pretending that the indigenous peoples had been responsible for "acts of violence" which violated the peoples' rights to a peaceful protest. The five buses are being escorted by the National Police to Quito.
Pisalqui-Otavalo. Entrance to Cotopaxi. People experienced repression by aproximately 200 police officers who threw tear gas bombs at the approximately 1,000 people who had gathered in a peaceful meeting. We have learned that five people have been arrested but at this time thier names and whereabouts are unknown.
Armenia – Nanegalito: Approximately 40 people of the province of Intag have met in Calacali road. At La Indipendencia, a small community along the road the movement met with violent reprimands from members of the National Police. We do not know if anyone was injured by police violence.
Imbabura: At the end of this report we know that 4 police have been injured in Imbabura and are being transported in an ambulance to quito.
Report of the Human Rights Watch
Anaité VargasAPDH del EcuadorTelefax: (593-2) 2569823Email: anaite@apdh.ecWeb: www.apdh.ec
First Report
12h00
Cañar, 09h00 in the morning. In Panamericana Cuenca Street - Loja, the entrance to Nabon around 600 people met and were repimanded by the National Police who used tear gas bombs against the protesteres, in the middle of the group of protesters were children, young people and women. No one was arrested.
In the region Pedro Moncayo, San Juan Loma. At approximately 10:45h in the morning, three protesters were arrested: José Cascota, Alfredo Cavascango y Galvino Cavascango. We received additional information that Franciso Farinango, a reporter, was also arrested in Cayambe at approximately 11h00 in the morning. The whereabouts of the detainees are unknown
National Police impede the progress of the indigenous people to Quito: 5 buses with groups of indigenous protesters from Imbabura where halted in their progress to El Arbolito Park. They were intercepted at Rumiñahui Stadium. The uniformed officers began to take the indigenous people prisoners when they exited the buses, without more of an argument other than pretending that the indigenous peoples had been responsible for "acts of violence" which violated the peoples' rights to a peaceful protest. The five buses are being escorted by the National Police to Quito.
Pisalqui-Otavalo. Entrance to Cotopaxi. People experienced repression by aproximately 200 police officers who threw tear gas bombs at the approximately 1,000 people who had gathered in a peaceful meeting. We have learned that five people have been arrested but at this time thier names and whereabouts are unknown.
Armenia – Nanegalito: Approximately 40 people of the province of Intag have met in Calacali road. At La Indipendencia, a small community along the road the movement met with violent reprimands from members of the National Police. We do not know if anyone was injured by police violence.
Imbabura: At the end of this report we know that 4 police have been injured in Imbabura and are being transported in an ambulance to quito.
Report of the Human Rights Watch
Anaité VargasAPDH del EcuadorTelefax: (593-2) 2569823Email: anaite@apdh.ecWeb: www.apdh.ec
martes, 20 de enero de 2009
Comunicação Social no Equador
Comunicação Social no Equador
O Equador de todos os povos é um dos menores países da América do Sul. Dotado de uma diversidade cultural e natural extraordinária, abriga uma população de 12 milhões de habitantes, dos quais mais de 60% pertencem a povos indígenas.
Uma riqueza natural extraordinária foi gravemente afetada no país pela pior de todas as tragédias ambientais: A destruição da Amazônia do Norte pela exploração do Petróleo. O julgamento da Texaco é uma prova da gravidade dessa situação.
O Equador é também conhecido por uma vida política em que nós, indígenas, temos sido atores contundentes e pacíficos na construção da democracia. Em 1992, uma marcha de mais de dez dias, resultou em uma vitória histórica aos indígenas amazônicos: o reconhecimento de seus direitos territoriais.
Desde então, temos lutado pacificamente pela sobrevivência da Amazônia e pela nossa própria sobrevivência, porque dependemos dessa.
Os grandes interesses econômicos das empresas multinacionais tem sido a causa de um desconhecimento irreparável de nossos direitos. Os sucessivos governos neoliberais têm sido rejeitados por não garantir os direitos fundamentais dos povos do Equador. Três presidentes do Equador foram objeto de uma interrupção de mandato sem que fosse derramada sequer uma gota de sangue. Dois deles estão exilados por corrupção.
No dia 20 de janeiro, nós, povos indígenas, retornaremos aos nossos caminhos legítimos de protesto e de exigência de respeito e garantia de nossos direitos e dos equatorianos de modo geral. Uma grande mobilização se dará em todo o país. Exigimos a não imposição em nosso país da exploração de minerais a céu aberto: a experiência de outros países nos confronta a irreparável e irreversível destruição do ecossistema, a contaminação de importantes e fundamentais bacias e fontes de água, a perda da capacidade de produção dos solos na agricultura, e as graves conseqüências para a saúde de todos.
Com a entrega dos países a empresas de mineração, se questiona fortemente a soberania nacional e se indeferiu todos os pedidos de diálogo.
Nós seremos milhões se manifestando pelos direitos reconhecidos e garantidos pela Constituição Política do Equador, no convenio 169 da OIT (Organização Internacional dos trabalhadores) e na declaração da ONU pelos Direitos dos Povos Indígenas. Por isso, nós temos sido ameaçados, nosso protesto tem sido criminalizado e estigmatizado por altos órgãos do governo, através de discursos e posicionamentos racistas. Temos sido violentamente reprimidos por exercer o direito a resistência. O mundo deve saber que lutamos pelo direito a vida de todos e do planeta.
Nós seremos milhões a nos manifestar para exigir respeito e direitos fundamentais, a água, a terra e territorios, a nao ser deslocados. Lutamos pelo direito de viver em um meio ambiente saudável e livre de contaminação. Lutamos pelo direito a vida dos últimos povos livres que vivem na Amazônia sem contato com a sociedade dominante; estes povos estão ameaçados de desaparecer pela pretensão governamental de explorar petróleo em territórios ancestrais. Um genocídio está sendo anunciado, e a humanidade não deve permiti-lo.
Lutaremos sempre pela vida e pela dignidade de todos os povos.
Janeth Cuji
Conselho da CONAIE.
O Equador de todos os povos é um dos menores países da América do Sul. Dotado de uma diversidade cultural e natural extraordinária, abriga uma população de 12 milhões de habitantes, dos quais mais de 60% pertencem a povos indígenas.
Uma riqueza natural extraordinária foi gravemente afetada no país pela pior de todas as tragédias ambientais: A destruição da Amazônia do Norte pela exploração do Petróleo. O julgamento da Texaco é uma prova da gravidade dessa situação.
O Equador é também conhecido por uma vida política em que nós, indígenas, temos sido atores contundentes e pacíficos na construção da democracia. Em 1992, uma marcha de mais de dez dias, resultou em uma vitória histórica aos indígenas amazônicos: o reconhecimento de seus direitos territoriais.
Desde então, temos lutado pacificamente pela sobrevivência da Amazônia e pela nossa própria sobrevivência, porque dependemos dessa.
Os grandes interesses econômicos das empresas multinacionais tem sido a causa de um desconhecimento irreparável de nossos direitos. Os sucessivos governos neoliberais têm sido rejeitados por não garantir os direitos fundamentais dos povos do Equador. Três presidentes do Equador foram objeto de uma interrupção de mandato sem que fosse derramada sequer uma gota de sangue. Dois deles estão exilados por corrupção.
No dia 20 de janeiro, nós, povos indígenas, retornaremos aos nossos caminhos legítimos de protesto e de exigência de respeito e garantia de nossos direitos e dos equatorianos de modo geral. Uma grande mobilização se dará em todo o país. Exigimos a não imposição em nosso país da exploração de minerais a céu aberto: a experiência de outros países nos confronta a irreparável e irreversível destruição do ecossistema, a contaminação de importantes e fundamentais bacias e fontes de água, a perda da capacidade de produção dos solos na agricultura, e as graves conseqüências para a saúde de todos.
Com a entrega dos países a empresas de mineração, se questiona fortemente a soberania nacional e se indeferiu todos os pedidos de diálogo.
Nós seremos milhões se manifestando pelos direitos reconhecidos e garantidos pela Constituição Política do Equador, no convenio 169 da OIT (Organização Internacional dos trabalhadores) e na declaração da ONU pelos Direitos dos Povos Indígenas. Por isso, nós temos sido ameaçados, nosso protesto tem sido criminalizado e estigmatizado por altos órgãos do governo, através de discursos e posicionamentos racistas. Temos sido violentamente reprimidos por exercer o direito a resistência. O mundo deve saber que lutamos pelo direito a vida de todos e do planeta.
Nós seremos milhões a nos manifestar para exigir respeito e direitos fundamentais, a água, a terra e territorios, a nao ser deslocados. Lutamos pelo direito de viver em um meio ambiente saudável e livre de contaminação. Lutamos pelo direito a vida dos últimos povos livres que vivem na Amazônia sem contato com a sociedade dominante; estes povos estão ameaçados de desaparecer pela pretensão governamental de explorar petróleo em territórios ancestrais. Um genocídio está sendo anunciado, e a humanidade não deve permiti-lo.
Lutaremos sempre pela vida e pela dignidade de todos os povos.
Janeth Cuji
Conselho da CONAIE.
Suscribirse a:
Comentarios (Atom)