Following eight days of protest by Shuar Indigenous People in the Ecuadorian Amazon and violent clashes with police forces that left one Indigenous teacher dead, Ecuador’s President Rafael Correa initiated negotiations with Indigenous leaders in Quito. The Indigenous delegation of 130 people included the leadership of three Indigenous Federations representing three geographical regions of the country: the Amazon, the highlands, and the coastal region.
The four-hour meeting October 5 achieved consensus on six agreements
-- Acceptance of the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador’s (CONAIE) agenda for dialogue and negotiation.
-- Institutionalization of a process of negotiation on bilingual education.
-- CONAIE’s recommendations on the Water Act will be studied and discussed by the appropriate legislative committee with CONAIE’s participation The government will receive a proposal from Indigenous Peoples on reform of the Mining Law.
-- An investigation will be conducted into the death of Shuar teacher Wizuma Bosco during the violent police confrontation on Sept 30.
-- An investigation will be conducted to determine whether or not a Shuar radio station, Arutam, transmitted information that fanned the flames of violence.
-- A process of “permanent dialogue” between the government and Indigenous Peoples.
Pepe Acacho, president of the Shuar Federation expressed frustration that the government still has not agreed to declare Morona Santiago an “ecological province, free of mining and oil exploitation.” This is the principal demand that ignited the Shuar protests and bridge blockades more than a week ago.
CONAIE characterized the meetings as positive and constructive.
Hundreds of Indigenous people kept vigil in the rain outside the Carondelet Palace for the duration of the four-hour meeting.
Sources: CONAIE, Infoamazonia, FICSH
October 6, 2009
