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

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