Ecuador's President Receives the Huaorani
(Quito, Ecuador, Nov13)
By D. Rothschild & G. Delgado-P., The South & Mesoamerican Indian
Information Center, Oakland, CA)
The Huarani did finally meet with the President Sixto Duran Ballen and with
the minister of Energy and Mines.
The president of Petroecuador reiterated that his decision to construct the
freeway that crosses the Huarani territory is irreversable, without even
giving the time to discuss other alternatives. (October 31, 1992)
One the 31st of October President Sixto Duran Ballen met with the
representatives of the indigenous groups and a future round of meetings was
set up. The first of the meetings is set for the 12th of November in Coca
(an oil boom town in the Amazon).
During the meetings the Huaorani will be able to meet with Representatives
of IERAC, and the ministers of Defense, Agriculture, and Energy and Mines.
CONAIE is also hoping for a response to the proposal regarding this issue
submitted to the government on September 22, 1992.
The main theme of these dialogues is to arrive at concrete resolutions for
the new dialogue between Sixto Duran Ballen and the director of CONAIE, Luis
Macas planned for the 25th of November.
Luis Macas stated that, "It truly is a calvary and crucifixion" to get to
the President of the Republic, just because we are Indigenous peoples."
Rafael Villaman, the director fo IERAC (Ecuadorian Institution Agricultural
and Peasant Resources) stated that, "The Huaorani should understand their
adjudication (agreement), their rights," referring to their land titles
which specifically include only the surface and nothing underground.
Villaman also stated that, "The Huaorani are claiming their adjudication,
but they have to read it."
The Ecuatorian Constitution guarantees to each person the right to live in
an environment free of contamination. The international solidarity with the
Huaorani people must demand the right the Huaorani have to manege their own
territory.