Indigenous peoples from all over the Ecuadorian Amazon came to Quito to demand respect for an historic court ruling. The natives of Ecuador came to the rescue of several hundred acres of Indigenous territory in the Amazon rainforest from oil drilling by 52 mining concessions granted by the government.
As Yahoo News reported more than 32, 000 hectares were freeing up by Pastaza Provincial Court immediately and stopped plans to sell 180,000 hectares of restricted Waorani territory of oil exploration to firms from the devastating cultural and environmental impact of gold mining.
The tribal Kofan people of Sinangoe, with the help of Amazon Frontlines and the Ceibo Alliance, have succeeded in forcing the Ecuadorian government to cancel all mining concessions on its ancestral territory, a landmark achievement for native rights in Ecuador.
The Waorani people of Ecuador save the planet and their homes from destruction by winning a historic lawsuit. The community of Sinangoe and the surrounding provincial ombudsman presented the court with environmental evidence that the court imposed on the government for not having consulted the tribe and the judges recognized had violated the rights of the natives to life, liberty, and liberty and to keep informed of information.
“This is a great victory for our community, for our people and for all indigenous peoples. We are not just fighting for our people, but for everyone who depends on clean water and clean air. This victory is a huge step forward for our children and for future generations. We will remain vigilant in our territory and will continue fighting until we have legal title over our entire ancestral homeland.”– Mario Criollo, President of the community of Sinangoe.
The lawsuit alleged that under the Ecuadorian constitution the Waorani’s rights granted to them “were violated due to an improper consultation process”. The Ecuadorian Human Rights Ombudsman co-filed with Pastaza CONCONAWEP against the Secretary of Hydrocarbons and the Ministry of Environment, and the Ecuadorian Ministry of Energy and Non-Renewable Natural Resources.
Ecuador is ranked among the smallest oil producers in the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The most biodiverse place in the world is currently the area which has been freed from coal mining activity. It’s home to not only the Kofan people who are accustomed to relying on its fresh water for their survival, but also to 3,725 species of plants and more than 650 species of birds and 50 species of mammals.
“This is a major win for indigenous rights in Ecuador, and a huge wake up call to the Ecuadorian government. Before viewing the land for the minerals underneath it, the Courts now forces authorities to obtain consent from the indigenous peoples who call it home, and to properly evaluate the environmental and cultural costs of allocating such biodiverse hotspots to gold miners.”– Maria Espinosa, Amazon Frontlines’ legal coordinator and Sinangoe’s lawyer.
It took months to raise awareness of destructive mining practices by using land patrols, satellite imagery, indigenous-driven media campaigns as well as the use of special equipment such as drones, camera traps.
The Kofan people have succeeded in demonstrating the importance of indigenous-led environmental monitoring along with the support from indigenous partners from the Ceibo Alliance, Amazon Frontlines and innovative legal methods sustained them in protecting their land and rights.
“Now is the time to put even more pressure on the appeals court to ratify this ruling and for the government to respect our right to free, prior and informed consent and self-determination. Tonight, we celebrate, but tomorrow we go back to work to ensure that our territories are oil-free forever,” added Oswando Nenquimo.
The Ecuadorian Government has announced that they will appeal the court’s decision. For centuries, the indigenous Waorani have lived on their land. They have continuously called upon the international community to help them protect their land. You can help them by signing this letter to Ecuador’s government to demand respect for Indigenous Rights and the court’s ruling.
References:
independentmediainstitute.org
leonardodicaprio.org
amazonfrontlines.org