Quito, February 3, 1994
Dear Friends:
Greetings. By way of this letter we would like to provide you with general
information and ask for your help in regards to the needs of the civilian
Indigenous population located in the conflict zone [on the
Ecuadorian-Peruvian border] who have been evacuated.
Our affiliated organizations in the Amazon have told us about the current
situation which they are facing. Here is a summary:
The Indigenous peoples in the Province of Morona Santiago where the
Kapupna, Kusumas, Penas, Jempekat, Chichis, Pitiu, Tsapa, Kushapuk,
Yapapas, Kiin, Kuankus and other centers are found on the banks of the
River Cenepa number about 6,000 people, the great majority of them being
women, children, and old people. Of this total, 600 are currently
seriously threatened and the number rises daily as the area of conflict
grows larger.
This population is in a precarious situation as a result of the constant
bombardments which began to dislodge these centers since January 20. Until
the present moment they have not received any type of assistance. Given
the emergency they did not have time to take many belongings with
themselves to communities far from the border where they arrived 3 weeks
ago. This situation means that the condition of food, health, clothing is
serious and urgent.
The members of these communities need food, medicine, blankets, light
clothing such as pants, shirts, etc. suited to a tropical climate.
CONAIE is in direct coordination with its affiliates in the affected region
including the Organization of Indigenous People of Pastaza (OPIP), the
Organization of Indigenous of the Nationality Achuar (OINAE), and the
Federation of Shuar Centers. These organizations are in charge of
distributing aid to this zone.
We have organized a group of professionals which includes 6 doctors who
will go to this area in order to attend to various needs there. They are
in charge of making an evaluation of the needs.
These people are in need of immediate medical assistance to ease their pain
in such troublesome circumstances. For this reason we ask you for your
help to buy medicine.
We would also like to point out that once peace has been reestablished it
is necessary to place these resources and territory in the hands of the
Indigenous people who live there in order to preserve the peace. Placing
this territory on both sides of the border legally in the hands of
Indigenous people will help avoid military conflicts in this region in the
future.
Similarly, we ask that natural resources in this area be used to help
develop the education, infrastructure, and health of our countries.
Particularly in this strategic region these resources should not be
delivered into private (whether national or international) hands which
would result in them not being used for our own development.
We want to thank you in advance for your help, and hope to receive a prompt
reply to this request for help.
<signed>
Luis Macas
President, CONAIE
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C O N A I E
CONFEDERACION DE NACIONALIDADES INDIGENAS DEL ECUADOR
INTERNET: ccc@conaie.ec
P.O.Box: Casilla 17171235, Quito, ECUADOR.
Address: Los Granados 2553 y 6 de Diciembre, Quito, ECUADOR.
Telephone: (593-2) 248930 Fax: (593-2) 442271
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South and Meso American Indian Rights Center (SAIIC)
Box 28703
Oakland, CA 94604
(510) 834-4263 Fax: (510) 834-4264 Email: saiic@igc.apc.org
Home Page: http://www.igc.apc.org/saiic/saiic.html
For more information about SAIIC, send e-mail to <saiic-info@igc.apc.org>