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EL COMERCIO

November 1, 2007 - 1 de noviembre del 2007

70 Waorani March in the Streets of Quito

70 huaorani marcharon por las calles de Quito

 

El Comercio

70 Waorani March in the Streets of Quito

Wearing their traditional clothing and shouting loudly, 70 Waorani marched through the streets of Quito yesterday in protest of the environmental license recently conceded to Petrobrás to drill for oil in Block 31. The men carried spears in their hands and some women carried their babies.

Accompanied by members of CONAIE (the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador) and by a group of environmentalists, the Waorani marched from the neighborhood of El Batán, in northern Quito, to the headquarters of Petrobrás, on Amazonas Avenue. They then marched to the Ministries of the Environment and of Energy and Mining.

Luis Macas, president of CONAIE, indicated that his organization will submit a constitutional appeal arguing that the concession is unconstitutional and anti-human rights.

But there are divisions among the Waorani. David Ahua, president of NAWE (the Waorani nations of Ecuador), accused CONAIE and other environmental NGOs of "manipulating and using my people against the decisions made by your national government." The indigenous leader expressed this sentiment yesterday in a letter directed to the president of the country, Rafael Correa.

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EN ESPAÑOL

El Comercio

70 huaorani marcharon por las calles de Quito

Luciendo sus atuendos típicos y lanzando gritos de protesta. Los hombres con lanzas en sus manos y algunas mujeres cargando a sus bebés. Así marcharon ayer alrededor de 70 huaorani por las calles de Quito en protesta contra la licencia ambiental del bloque 31 entregada a Petrobras.

Acompañados por miembros de la Conaie y de un grupo de ambientalistas, los huaorani caminaron desde el sector El Batán, al norte de Quito, hacia la sede de Petrobras, en la avenida Amazonas. Luego se dirigieron a los ministerios de Ambiente y de Energía y Minas.

Por su parte, Luis Macas, presidente de la Conaie, señaló que su organización presentará un amparo constitucional por considerar que la aprobación es en contra de la Constitución y de los derechos humanos.

Pero entre los huaorani hay división. David Ahua, presidente de la Nawe, acusó a la Conaie y ONG ambientalistas de "utilizar y manipular a mi pueblo en contra de las decisiones adoptadas por su Gobierno nacional". El dirigente indígena expresó eso ayer a través de una carta dirigida al presidente de la República, Rafael Correa.

 

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