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In Ecuador, Eduardo Mendúa, leader of International Relations of CONAIE (Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador), was murdered on February 26. The visible face of the resistance to oil exploitation in the Dureno region was shot dead a few hours after the breakdown of negotiations with the Executive. CONAIE blames the Government of Guillermo Lasso, who, for his part, has promised justice.
Although it does not directly blame the Government, the Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador (CONAIE) does hold it responsible for the murder of its leader, Eduardo Mendúa. Other associations go further and also point to the responsibility of the public company Petroecuador.
The Executive, however, showed solidarity with the family and with the indigenous community: “We have arranged that all investigative actions be carried out to find those responsible and bring them to justice,” said President Guillermo Lasso on social networks.
Confrontation “over the mining presence”
“We have held the national government directly responsible. Although it is true that we cannot attribute the act as a crime, the confrontation between communities is due to the mining presence, it is because the government does not guarantee the right to prior, free, and informed consultation in this new process of opening the new oil wells. ”, explains Leonidas Iza, president of CONAIE, to RFI.
“That is why it generated an internal confrontation, pressure from the oil companies that now effectively ends with the murder of compañero Eduardo Mendúa. We will continue to defend and demand in the streets. We practically do not return to a dialogue table where they do not want to implement the agreements that were established in advance ”, he emphasizes.
“Radicalize the fight”
Regarding the upcoming actions, Leonidas Iza assures that they will “radicalize the struggle in the territories. On March 8, for International Women’s Day, we are going to accompany them with a mobilization agenda and on this same day we are going to file the unconstitutionality action. We do not rule out declaring ourselves in a national mobilization immediately.”
“It cannot go unpunished. Here it has to do with the Government, the State. Possibly a State crime can be configured”, concludes the indigenous leader.
Since the harsh demonstrations last June, in which six people died, CONAIE has denounced threats and persecution of its leaders. This indigenous organization, which brings together 18 peoples and 14 nationalities in Ecuador, has brought down several governments with its protests in recent decades.
