This message consists of two parts:
1) Press Release on recent savage violence in Yuracruz
2) CONAIE's Indigenous Plurinational Mandate that states our principal
needs and demands.
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1) P R E S S R E L E A S E
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CONFEDERATION OF INDIGENOUS NATIONALITIES OF ECUADOR
WE DENOUNCE SAVAGE VIOLENCE IN YURACRUZ
Quito, November 12, 1992
The Association of Agricultural Workers of Yuracruz, in the province of
Imbabura, made up of 61 members and their families, received the title
of the ex-hacienda lands from IERAC (the Agrarian Reform and
Colonization Institute) on October 8th, 1992, after a long period of
debate and the payment of the respective price.
Since that moment they have been victims of the ex-owners of the
hacienda, who, working with land traffickers of Carchi, have resorted
to arms to try to expel the members of the cooperative.
October 15, the ex-land owners attacked violently, resulting in one
death. Today, November 12, they again invaded the property belonging to
the Yuracruz cooperative, accompanied by two cars filled with armed
paramilitary men, and they have been burning the houses of the
cooperative, keeping the members cornered in the highest parts of the
ex-hacienda.
We have sent urgent communications to the Minister of Government, and
to the Governor of the Province of Imbabura, asking for police control
of the situation because the consequences of such violent aggression
could be dreadful. Concurrently we have asked for an comprehensive
investigation into the illegal possession of arms, because under the
protection of the paramilitary bands, the ex-landowners feel they have
the right to invade and attack whoever opposes their interests.
We inform the country and the world of this situation, including human
rights and popular organizations, so that they may protest and reject
these actions which are in violation of many basic legal rights, and
the rights to life of the members of the Yuracruz cooperative.
We hold the relevant authorities responsible. Now that they are aware
of what is occurring, it is their obligation to protect the rights of
the cooperative members. Please fax letters of support demanding
prompt action to: The Minister of Governement,
Dr. Roberto Dunn Barreiro - (5932) 580-067
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2) M A N D A T E
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Indigenous Plurinational Mandate - CONAIE
This mandate contemplates the principal necessities of the indigenous
people of Ecuador, which we present to the Ecuadorian state, as an
urgent proposal to be implemented through compensatory measures in the
face of the recent economic measures.
1. JURIDICAL POLICY
1.1 Constitutional recognition of the Plurinational and Pluricultural
character of the Ecuadorian State.
1.2 Ratification of Agreement 169 of the OIT, concerning Indigenous
and Tribal Peoples.
1.3 Reform of the Municipal Regulations Law, referring to the
Non-Payment of Rural Property Taxes.
1.4 Participation in the 1% of the cost-per-barrel of oil exploited in
the territories of the indigenous peoples.
1.5 Amnesty for prisoners and penal defendants who have been sentenced
as a result of the fight for land or in defense of land.
1.6 Revision of the signed agreements between Religious Missions and
the Government that refer to indigenous peoples.
1.7 The Government, the National Congress and the Supreme Court of
Justice, must express their lack of accord with the commemorations
of the quincentennary, and ask an indemnity for damages of the
Spanish government and the European Economic Community, which
should be used for the benefit of the indigenous people and
popular sector.
2. ECONOMY AND PRODUCTION
2.1 Creation of a fund in the amount of ten billion sucres annually
for the solution of land conflicts.
2.2 Delimitation and legalization of the ancestral territories of the
indigenous peoples within parks and natural reserves throughout
the country.
2.3 Creation of a Special Indigenous Fund for Integrated Development
Programs.
2.4 Freezing of the prices of necessary industrial products as well as
of machinery and fertilizers.
3. EDUCATION AND CULTURE
3.1 Continuation of the Bilingual and Intercultural Education Program,
properly financed and with respect to the administrative,
technical and financial autonomy of the National Directorate of
Bilingual and Intercultural Education.
3.2 Respect for and continuation of the Agreement signed by CONAIE and
the Ministry of Education, as well as for other cultural programs,
infrastructural projects, etc.
3.3 Establishment of scholarships to support the training of
indigenous students.
3.4 We declare that the Bilingual and Intercultural Education Program
be directed towards all of Ecuadorian society. The government
proposal should not be limited to learning the Quichua language
alone, but should include the study of the different Peoples that
constitute Ecuador.
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!!!!!READ THIS!!!!
CONAIE WOULD LIKE TO GET IN CONTACT WITH YOU! Or any person/organization
interested in the struggle of the Ecuadorian Indigenous Peoples and
related environmental issues.
As we are just beginning to aquire our firts E-Mail contacts could you
PLEASE SEND US YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS?!
and some information about your organization (or yourself); your area of
interest etc.
We would be much obliged!
Centro Computo CONAIE.
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C O N A I E
CONFEDERACION DE NACIONALIDADES INDIGENAS DEL ECUADOR
INTERNET: ccc@conaie.ec OR ccc%conaie@ecuanex.apc.org
UUCP: cdp!ecuanex!conaie!ccc
P.O.Box: Casilla 17171235, Quito, ECUADOR.
Direcci' on: Los Granados 2553 y 6 de Diciembre, Quito, ECUADOR.
Tel' efono: (593-2) 248930 TeleFax: (593-2) 442271
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