May 26, 2004
Update

Declaration from the Indigenous Women's Association of Sarayaku AMIS in the Face of the Terrorists Actions of the Armed Forces of Ecuador in the Kichwa Community of Yana Yaku, in Pastaza.

The indigenous women's association of Sarayaku AMIS, as part of the Kichwa people of Sarayacu, and affiliated to the Indigenous Peoples organization of Pastaza OPIP, CONFENIAE, CONAIE, makes public its accusations of the barbaric actions that took place from the 17th of abril of this year, in which more than 400 Ecuadorian army soldiers entered the detachment of Tigre, on the South Eastern border of the Province of Pastaza, frontier with Peru. According to oficial declarations from the Comander of the Selva Pastaza brigade the objective of this military operation was to “capture, neutralize and annihilate armed elements” supposedly detected in the area. On this same date 8O solderies entered the community of Yana Yacu by surprise and accused them of being the “key logistical surport” of supposed subversive groups.

On the 21st of April the community held a meeting with the Comision for the Indigenous Peoples Organization of Pastaza OPIP and the army that had occupied the community of Yana Yacu. The community informed the army of the communities development program designed for the conservation of their ecosystem, natural resources and the Conservation of the Environment; they indicated that the communities of the area had never seen armed elements in their territory. On their part the army promised to leave after the inspection of the community.

Alter 15 days of searching the whole area the army found no evidence of supposed armed elements, never the less on the 30th of April, 60 elite soldiers heavily armed with rifles, granade throwers, rocket throwers and machine guns among other armaments, violently assaulted the community of Yana Yaku, abusing the families physically and verbally, they broke into the houses, forcefully attacking the women that opposed them, confiscated hunting tools and invading the family farms looking for supposed cocaine plantations, forcing the men of the community to pose for a foto carry hunting shot guns as “evidence of subversive activities,” and they invaded the school causing panic and terror amont the children. At five o clock in the afternoon of the same day the soldiers abandoned Yana Yaku by helicopter and threatened to return to investigate frontier communities due to the supposed link with subversive groups.

The women of Sarayaku are profoundly concerned and angry due to the violent environment created by the armed forces against the indigenous communities of Pastaza, operations linked to the so called 'Patriot Plan' initiated by Colombia on the borders with Ecuador, in the war in which the Ecuadorian Army is directly involved. On the other hand the process of militarization of indigenous territories of Pastaza, including Sarayaku, has increased in intensity of violence and it is evident that it subscribes to the Oil policies lauched by Crnl. Lucio Gutierrez in the province of Pastaza. It is worrying that on the one hand the military high comand publicly proclaims respect for the Constitution and democracy and on the other hand is chasing and threatening the lives of the communities in open violation of the collective rights of indigenous people stated in the Constitution and the International Workers Organizations agreement 169.

In the face of these extraordinary events, the Women's Association of Sarayacu, declare ourselves in solidarity with the women and children of the community of Yana Yaku. We support the ideals of SUMAK KAUSAI's alternative development proposal for its people, and at the same time we support the proposals put forward by the Kichwa people of Sarayaku to the National Government and the Armed forces:

* Immediate exit of the military armed groups that are abusing and threatening the psychological integrity, peaceful living and productive activities of the community of Yana Yaku and the community of Jatun Molino within the jurisdiction of Sarayaku.

* That all the communities of the Kichwa people and other indigenous nationalities that live traditionally in the Province of Pastaza, will never allow any form of military occupation which under the same pretext created and carried out by the army aim to back oil activities in the indigenous territories of Pastaza.

* Establish responsibility and ask for the removal of Dr Clara Fernandes, the judge in charge of the Public Ministery of Pastaza, involved in the dispicable events.

* From the National Congress we demand, a politcal lawsuit against the Joint Comand (Gral. Octavio Romero) and the Comands of the Fourth Amazonian Division (Gral Gonzalo Tapia) and of the 17th Brigade of the Selva of Pastaza (Crnl. Fausto Rentaria) for attempting against the rights of the indigenous peoples, women and children and creating an environment of insecurity in the communities, as well as unneccesary waste of large amounts of economic and logistical resources that belong to the Ecuadorian people.

* The creation of an interinstitutional commision intergrated by the Commision for Amazonian Affairs in National Congress, Human Rights organizations, the Catholic Church, the Interamerican Human Rights Commision, CONAIE and representatives from the media, to investigate thoroughly and inform national and international public opinion of these serious abuses and moral slander, in honesty and transparency with the indigenous Kichwa people of Pastaza.

* Call for an intergrated commision of delegates of the United Nations, the IWO, and the OEA to directly investigate the violation of the indigenous rights of Pastaza.

* Call for the intervention of the ALDHU and the various human rights organizations of Ecuador, to prevent the disturbance to the peace and integrity of the indigenous communities of Pastaza.

* Make an accusation to the Permanent Forum for indigenous peoples of the United Nations.

* Hold an assembly of the Indigenous Peoples Organization of Pastaza in solidarity with the community of Yana Yaku and adopt the necessary actions to preserve the rights to a peaceful life for the Kichwa people of Pastaza in the presence of the CONAIE.

* Claim indemnity for the community of Yana Yaku for economic, productive, psychilogical and moral damage caused by the incursions that affect the normal functioning of the community.

* As the Indigenous Women's Association of Sarayaku AMIS, in solidarity with the women of Yana Yaku, to Interamerican Court of Human Rights we claim the violation to the women's and families rights, consecrated in the Republic's Constitution, and therefore provide the means for the Interamerican court of Human Rights to carry out the correspondent legal actions against Dr. Clara Fernandes, Judge in charge of the Public Ministry of Pastaza.

We reaffirm that our fight for the dignity of the people of Sarayaku, our territory, projects and dreams for an alternative form of development, is not an isolated fight, it is a joint decision of all the Kichwa communities that belong to the OPIP and other areas that identify themselves with this cause, the OPIP will never allow any form of abuse in this sector, be these oil companies, government or military forces.

Sra. Marcia Gualinga
PORESIDENTA AMIS
SARAYAKU

Sr. Marlon Santi
PRESIDENTE TAUASARUTA
SARAYAKU