Quito, 7 Feb. 1995
Press Bulletin
CONAIE REJECTS THE PERUVIAN BOMBING OF AMAZONIAN FRONTIER INDIGENOUS
COMMUNITIES
The indigenous peoples of this country (Ecuador) reject the genocide
practiced by the Peruvian military that is using bombing attacks as
part of its military strategy, which destroy the dwellings, plots and
ranches of the indigenous communities - as in the case of the community
of F'atima which was bombed Monday, February 6.
Hundreds of indigenous families and a pristine jungle are being
destroyed before the slow and irresponsible behavior of international
organizations.
Those affected include families and communities of the Shuar, Achuar,
Siona, Secoya, Cof'an, Shiwiar and Quichua nationalities in the
provinces of Zamora Chinchipe, Morona Santiago, Pastaza, Napo and
Sucumbios that are located in the area of conflict and are seriously
affected by the war carried out by the Peruvian and Ecuadorian
militaries.
SHUAR PEOPLES
In Zamora Chinchipe and Morona Santiago 400 communities are organized.
Of these, 21 Shuar centers are directly affected by the war. Various
Ecuadorian military detachments have been the targets of areal and
artillery assaults by the Peruvians. The communities of Kapukna,
Kutsunas, Pe'nas, Jempekat, Chichis, Tsapa, Tsuis, and Mayalikus are
located near these targeted detachments. Women, children and the
elderly have been evacuated to north of the Santiago river. People in
other communities populated by colonists stay in their communities and
do not want to leave.
Due to the bombings and military confrontations, the civilian
population has had to take refuge in disorderly fashion with little
concern for survival. At this moment there exists 1,050 families in
the 21 Shuar communities located in the area of conflict with a
population of about 8,400 people.
ACHUAR PEOPLES
In the provinces of Morona Santiago and Pastaza there are 30 Achuar
communities of which 11 are located on the Ecuadorian-Peruvian
frontier. There are 406 families that live in constant tension due to
the war. Any prolonging of the conflict is certain to cause loss of
life, homes, crops and animals.
QUICHUA PEOPLES
In total the number of Quichua communities on the border are 25, with
10 in Pastaza and 15 in Napo. the number of families that directly
suffer the consequences of the war is 800 (200 in Pastaza and 600 in
Napo). There are a total of 2,500 families and 20,000 total
inhabitants affected by the war in the frontier zones. This includes
3 Siona communities, 3 Secoya communities, 5 Cof'an communities and 5
Shiwiar communities.
We call on national and international organizations to demand that the
OAS and the Security Council of the UN to intervene in the conflict and
obligate the Ecuadorian and Peruvian governments to stop the fighting.
Signed-
Luis Macas
President of CONAIE