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| Diseño: Angie Vanessita |
BY EMIL SIRÉN·MARTES, 20 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2016
“The military came with thirty
trucks and two helicopters that shot at us. I’ve been told one of us is injured
but I don’t know anything about the others. Everyone ran off to the forest”,
says an indigenous person who was a target of the helicopter shooting [1]
On the 15th of December, the
Ecuadorian government sent troops, tanks, and helicopters against an indigenous
community in Ecuador. The civilians got shot at from two helicopters with
automatic weapons while fire bombs were dropped on houses and crops that the
indigenous people feed on. The president of Ecuador refused to have a dialogue,
in contrary, he threatened with even more violence.
Background:
Background:
The indigenous people in Ecuador
have a long history of conflict with the government, which mercilessly has
invaded their territories to exploit natural resources, violating their
constitutional rights. For example, the heavily criticized company Lundin Gold
operates large scale mining operations in areas nearby to the current
conflicts.
Among others, the Shuar people
have been protecting their land against entrance of Chinese mining companies
(EXSA China, Ecuacorrientes) for a long time, but now it has escalated to a
violent situation with military repressing the indigenous people.
Timeline with continuous updates:
2008: After finding out that the
president Rafael Correa is planning to sell what’s left of their land, the
Shuar organization FISCH proclaims that they will not under any circumstances
accept mining in their territory.[2]
2009: Rafael Correa ignores the
Shuar protests and closes deals with Chinese companies (EXSA China), and
proceeds to initiate preparations for mining, leading to a series of conflicts.
[3]
Those who oppose the mining are subject to repression. For example, three
Shuar leaders have been killed during this conflict: Bosco Wisum in 2009,[4]
Freddy Taish in 2013,[5] and José
Tendentza in 2014.[6]
The shuar people then establish a
strategic point, Nankints, and manage to halt the advances of the mining
companies from further entering into their lands.[7]
2016: The Shuar people try to
have a dialogue with the government, insisting that the mining project violates
their constitutional rights, and therefore plead the government to remove
mining companies from Shuar territory. This dialogue however, is interrupted by
police raids in which the indigenous are forced away from the Nankints area.
[8]
On the 21st of November, a group
of Shuaras manage to retake control over Nankints. Unfortunately, this leads to
confrontations between police and Shuaras. The government then sends hundreds
of police and military troops to Nankints, which result in injuries on both
sides.[9]
On the 22nd of november, the
organization CONAIE (Confederation Of Indigenous Nationalities Of Ecuador) put
out a press release in which they request the government to cancel all military
activity in the area, and participate in a dialogue instead. The request is
ignored, and the military occupation of the area is continued.[10]
On the 15th of December, police
officer is unfortunately killed in the violent clashes.[11]
The government
responds by sending tanks, dozens of trucks loaded with soldiers, and two
helicopters. According to victims, the helicopters shot at civilians including
women and children, who all ran out to the forest to hide. [12]
Witnesses also
say the military dropped fire bombs on houses, crop fields that the Shuar feed
on, and also a part of primary forest. Number of injured is unknown. Schools
cancel all their activities in nearby communities Panantza and Gualaquiza.
On the 17th of December: There
are continuous shootings during the morning. Military forces now occupies
multiple shuar communities. Various Shuar leaders get arrested in the Tananza
area. [13]
On the 19th of December, the
president of Ecuador Rafael Correa proclaims that he will not hold any
dialogues with the Shuar people until those responsible for the death of the
police officer are held responsible .[14]
On the same day, CONAIE proclaims
that three shuar people have been injured, one of them severely with a bullet in the scapula with
no access to medical attention, and one child has disappeared. Twelve innocent
people are arrested. CONAIE also proclaims that the
government, besides violating their rights, is using government controlled media
to manipulate information, spreading false news, defaming the Shuar people.
 |
| Government vehicles at Acción Ecológica offices. |
On the 20th of December, the
Ecuadorian ministry of environment tries to shut down environmentalist NGO
“Acción Ecológica”, for supporting the
Shuar people.[15]
On the 21st od December, the
shuar organisation FISCH office is raided by 100 police. President of FISCH,
Agustin Wachapá, is detained. [16]
Rumors also say that the
government is trying to provoke an armed conflict between the majority of Shuar
people, who wants to protect their lands, and the minority, that due to
economic interests are on the governments side. This strategy of control is
nothing new, it has long been used in Ecuador, other South American countries
and the world: by dividing and conquering.
Sarayaku
Similar things are also happening
in other parts of Ecuador, in the Kichwa village Sarayaku, which is
internationally known for its successful struggle against oil companies:
 |
| Militars in Sarayaku |
19th December, in Sarayaku:
Eleven soldiers are stopped by Sarayaku leaders due to suspicious activity in
Sarayaku territory. Normally the military informs Sarayaku leaders before
entering their territory, but this time they had not informed anyone. On their
Facebook page ”Sarayaku Defensores De La Selva”, they proclaime that they had
to interrogate the soldiers for safety reasons, and they also guarantee that
the human rights of the soldiers will be respected. [17]
On the 20th of December, the
Pastaza province governor and military commander enter the Sarayaku Community
to hold a dialogue and to find a solution regarding the situation. The
president Rafael Correa states that this is a kidnapping, and that he is
worried about armed indigenous groups in this territory. The Sarayaku leaders
on the other hand, insist that this is in line with their constitutional
rights, which grant them rights to take such actions in order to maintain
safety in their territory.[18]
After a peaceful agreement with the governor,
the soldiers are finally released in good condition.
Hours later, Rafael Correa
disavows these disagreements made by the governor and the commander, requesting
a change of governor. He warns Sarayaku that there will be consequences.[19]
Various indigenous organizations
(CONAIE, CONFENIAE, FISCH) now plead to the government to cancel all military
activity to avoid further escalation of the violence, and a possible genocide.
They also ask human rights organizations for help to defend the Shuar and other
indigenous peoples rights.
BY EMIL SIRÉN·MARTES, 20 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2016
BY EMIL SIRÉN·MARTES, 20 DE DICIEMBRE DE 2016
CONAIE Public pronouncement: http://conaie.org/2016/12/19/pronunciamiento-a-la-opinion-publica-desde-nankints/
For more updates please follow:
#nankints #resistenankints
#sospuebloshuar #sarayaku
