---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Fri, 24 May 1996 13:41:07
From: verde@acecol.ecx.ec
To: ENVIRONMENT IN LATIN AMERICA NETWORK <elan@csf.colorado.edu>
Subject: Action Alert for the Secoya People
ACTION ALERT FOR THE SECOYA PEOPLE
The Secoya people have been legally granted 40,000 ha. of
territory on the shores of the Aguarico and Shushufindi rivers in the
Ne~ne~na area of the Ecuadorian Amazon and there is now intentions to
start seismic exploration within this area.
Occidental Petroleum Company has the concession inside this
territory which is called Block 15. Meanwhile, the government
has had a policy of exploiting oil in all of the indigenous lands
according to their own interpretation concerning their own laws of
above ground and underground territorial rights. The Secoya people
have a different understanding of these rights, to them their land is
one whole, they cannot be seperated because what harm comes to whats
beneath so comes to whats above.
We feel we are without the support of government rights, we are,
therefore, looking for a mechanism of understanding between the
government and the Secoya people since we feel we have come to a dead
end. Because of all of this, we as an ethnic people of the
Ecuadorian Amazon want to reach out to all friends and inform you
of our situation. Negotiations are still pending and as of the 15th
of June we will have a clearer view of our situation, we
will inform you accordingly.
Thank you all very much.
Elias Piyahuaje
Coordinator of O.I.S.E. (Secoya Indigenous Organization of Ecuador)
Correo General
Acci'on Ecol'ogica
INTERNET: verde@acecol.ecx.ec o verde@acecol.ecx.apc.org
Casilla 17-15-246-C
Paez 118 y Patria, Ed. FLACSO, Quito, Ecuador
Tel-Fax: (593 2) 547-516
Tel: (593 2) 235-880 ext. 130