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For 15 years, Fundación Pachamama has successfully supported processes for territorial defense by the indigenous peoples and nationalities of Ecuador and the wider Amazon region, earning the respect of those communities, government, civil society, and other NGOs.
Now, as the stakes get higher for Ecuador’s indigenous communities and its ecologically irreplaceable natural environment, it appears the organization’s work is being threatened in very direct ways.
Pachamama Staff Followed by an Unidentified Car
On Monday, January 10, 2012, Fundación Pachamama held a meeting for important academics and indigenous leaders to discuss the new round of oil concessions threatening Ecuador’s south central Amazon region.
Later that day, three unidentified people in another car followed María Belén Páez (at right in photo above), Executive Director of Fundación Pachamama, Communications Director Joke Baert, and Bartolo Ushigua, director of International Relations of CONAIE (the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), as they drove away from the foundation’s office.
At one point, they were stopped and harassed by the other vehicle, which repeatedly came at their car while shining its high beams before finally fleeing the scene.
Confusing Police Incident at CONAIE Offices
During the morning of Tuesday, January 11, a police contingent entered the offices of the CONAIE without prior warning or a clearly stated intention.
When first questioned by the receptionist, the police announced that they were there because they had received news of a bomb threat.
When questioned by the president of the CONAIE, Humberto Cholango, the police said both that they were there to provide protection for a private meeting between three regional subsidiary federations of the CONAIE, and also because they had received information of a threat against Cholango’s life.
Events Thought to Be Related
Both the threat against Pachamama staff and the confusing police incident at CONAIE may be related events aimed at discouraging the continuation of their activities.
Fundación Pachamama’s work in defense of the collective and territorial rights of the indigenous peoples and nationalities of the south central Amazon can certainly be seen as challenging by individuals and organizations invested in the current exploitive economic model.
Join Us in Rejecting These Acts of Intimidation
Fundación Pachamama has alerted the Ecuadorean government so that precautionary measures are taken to ensure the wellbeing of staff and allies.
Furthermore, Fundación Pachamama asks allied organizations and friends everywhere to stand in solidarity, to stay alert, and if necessary, inform national and international human rights defenders of what is happening in Ecuador.
You can support the Fundación Pachamama staff and members of CONAIE by writing messages in defense of their human rights to the following government bodies:
- President of the Republic
- Ministry of Justice, Human Rights, and Worship: pesantezj@minjusticia.gob.ec
- Ministry for the Coordination of Security: info@mics.gob.ec
- Secretary of Peoples and Social Movements
