CONAIE Press Release on Huaorani

CONAIE
CONFEDERATION OF INDIGENOUS NATIONALITIES OF ECUADOR
PRESS RELEASE: OCTOBER 29, 1992

PETROECUADOR DOES NOT TAKE THE HUAORANI PEOPLE SERIOUSLY

We denounce and condemn the lack of seriousness of the Oil Company of Ecuador, PETROECUADOR, which, after agreeing to meet with the indigenous organizations on October 28th at 4:00 PM, they canceled the dialog in a discriminatory and unilateral manner.

The Executive president of PETROECUADOR preferred to meet instead with executives of transnational oil companies, as they openly maneuvered together against the Huaorani People.

In the meeting planned between CONAIE and PETROECUADOR, they should offer a solution to the demands of the Huaorani People:

A moratorium on the exploration of oil in Block 16
Stop construction of Maxus's road through Huaorani territory
The right of the Huaorani to manage their own territory
The formation of an intra-institutional commission for investigation and vigilance

We are worried about the total absence of any answer on the part of the government, particularly PETROECUADOR, who have the main responsibility for responding to our demands.

We expect that the proposals presented by the Huaorani People will be addressed in the meeting today between the President of the Ecuador and CONAIE, which was agreed upon last 12th of October.

      LUIS MACAS                         VALERIO GREFA
      PRESIDENTE CONAIE                  PRESIDENTE CONFENIAE

      JOSE JACINTO GUAMAN                NANTO HUAMONI
      SECRETARIO GRAL. ECUARUNARI        PRESIDENTE ONHAE

(Posted to Native-l on Oct 29, 1992 by ccc@conaie)