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| ALBA sin Pueblos no es Alianza |
| ALBA without Indigenous Peoples is not a True Alliance of the Americas |
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Otavalo, June 24, 2010. Otavalo—a city two hours north of Quito that is known for its verdant mountains and tranquil lagoons—is anticipating the arrival of Latin American heads-of-states, including Bolivian President Evo Morales and Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez. These high- profile guests are participants in the Summit of the Bolivian Alliance for the Peoples of the Americas (ALBA), held in Otavalo from June 24 to 25, 2010.
Summit themes include cultural diversity, the rights of nature, climate
change, racism, and foreign trade.
While the Ecuadoran government coordinated a delegation of 300
indigenous and afroecuatoriano participants, the CONAIE and its member
organizations did not receive invitations.
“[The government] has not taken into account the active participation of
the indigenous peoples,” said Marlon Santi, president of the CONAIE in a
press conference this morning at the headquarters of FICI, an
organization which represents indigenous peoples from the Ecuadorean
province Imbabura. “...furthermore, they have been persecuted and jailed
for thinking differently and coming from the point of view of a
plurinational state,” said Santi.
According to the CONAIE, the indigenous delegates participating in this
summit—which is organized by Ecuador´s Secretariat of the People and
Social Movements—are members of the government and not leaders of the
indigenous movement.
However, exclusion from the ALBA Summit has not prevented the CONAIE and
its member organizations from traveling to Otavalo today to host an
alternative event.
From June 24 to June 25, the CONAIE, CONFENAIE (amazon), CONAICE
(coast), ECUARUNARI (highlands) and FICI (Imbabura) are holding the
Plurinational Assembly of Ecuador. During this event, members of the
indigenous organizations will hold their own discussions about climate
change, the fight against racism and discrimination, the rights of
nature, and cultural diversity.
“What happened to the rights of indigenous peoples, the right to
education, the right to health care and the right to participate?” asked
Delfín Tenesaca, president of the ECUARUNARI, during today´s press
conference.
Olindo Nastacuaz, president of the CONAICE added “We are united in our
diversity and will continue fighting for the construction of Sumak
Kawsay [a Kichwa word that means to live well] for all peoples of
Ecuador.”
Tomorrow, the Plurinational Assembly participants will march through the
main streets of Otavalo at 9am to protest the ALBA summit.
Communications-CONAIE
