FRONT LINE, has sent the following letter and issued an Urgent Action For partners and Rosario López Manuel Peláez members of the Association of Peasants of ACLI Indanza Lemon, who were summoned to the police station just because of their views on what the Chinese-Canadian mining-EXPLORCOBRE Corriente Resources, EXSA, is doing in San Miguel de Conchay Region Limon province of Morona Santiago.
May 6, 2011
Subject: Ecuador human rights defenders Mr. Manuel Pelaez and Ms. Rosario Lopez referred to the police station
On May 2, 2011 human rights defenders Manuel Peláez and Mrs. Rosario Lopez were summoned to the police station Limón Canton in the province of Morona Santiago, Ecuador. Manuel López Peláez and Rosario are respectively director and member of the Farmers Association Indanza-ACLI Limón, which is an organization affiliated with the National Coordinator for the Defense of Life and Sovereignty "CNDVS.
On May 2, 2011 Manuel Peláez and López Rosario were summoned to the police station to answer allegations they were involved in the disappearance of a sign that was a meeting that took place on April 25, 2011 in San Miguel de Conchay. This sign was placed a Chinese-Canadian corporation Corriente Resources, affiliated with Explorcobres-EXSA. It is reported that EXSA has created an organization called "New Horizons", which aims to make agreements on behalf of the entire community. Hernan Samaniego, Conchay Political Lieutenant has been appointed to the position of President of that organization.
During the social gathering of April 25, 2011, which were gathered all system users water from San Miguel de Conchay and what officers of the National Secretariat of Water - SENAGUA, were present, Rosario Manuel López Peláez and disagreed with New Horizons, which is making agreements on behalf of all the community, with offices open community. Stating its opinion that the organization also is making arrangements with people with the intention of buying their support and to legitimize its mining activities that are detrimental to the interests of the community.
When human rights defenders were presented to the police station informed that they were summoned to respond to a complaint he had filed relating them Hernan Samaniego the disappearance of the sign about the social gathering. Reportedly the charges were filed on the basis that they were the two who had fought against the mining. ACLI is convening a meeting with the Ombudsman's Office to discuss the case next week. Reportedly
Hernan Samaniego has been linked to death threats against members of ACLI and against Zhunio Vicente Samaniego, President of the CNDVS.
In February 2011, after a meeting between members of the ACLI and CNDVA, Vicente Samaniego Zhunio was summoned for allegedly stealing balls from the place where the meeting took place. On 10 December 2010 is reported that, Hernan Samaniego asked the police to attend a peaceful sit-in organized by ACLI.
Front Line believes that the citation of Manuel and Rosario López Peláez is directly related to their legitimate and peaceful activities in defense of human rights and specifically to his opposition to certain process undertaken for mining operations in their community.
Front Line calls upon the authorities in Ecuador:
1. No charges brought against human rights defenders Rosario Manuel López Peláez and it is believed that such charges would be motivated only by their legitimate and peaceful defense of human rights
2. Ensure in all circumstances all the composers / defenders of human rights in Ecuador to carry out their legitimate activities in defense of human rights without fear of reprisals, and free of restrictions.
COMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT CNDVS
6 May 2011
Re: Ecuador - Human rights defenders Mr Manuel López Peláez and Ms Rosario
Summoned by police
On 2 May 2011 Human Rights Defenders Mr Manuel López Peláez and Ms Rosario Were Summoned to the police station of Limón, in the province of Morona Santiago, Ecuador. Manuel Pelaez Rosario López and are respectively director and member of the Association of Peasants Lemon Indanza - ACLI (Peasants' Association of Lemon Indanza), WHICH IS a member of the National Coordinating Organisation por la Defense of Life and Sovereignty - CNDVS (National Co- Coordinating Committee for the Defence of Life and Sovereignty.
On 2 May 2011 Manuel López Peláez and Rosario received the summons to the police station in order to Respond to Allegations That They had Been Involved in the Disappearance of the sign Relating to the community meeting Tooker also place on 25 April 2011 in San Miguel de Conchay. The sign in question had Been put up by the Chinese-Canadian mining Current Resources Corporation, affiliated to Explorcobres-exsA, that is stationed there. EXSA has reportedly set up an organisation called Nuevos Horizontes (New Horizons) which purports to make agreements on behalf of the whole community. Government official Hernán Samaniego has been appointed by the mining company to the position of President of this organisation.
During the community meeting of 25 April 2011, which convened all users of the water system in San Miguel Conchay and was also attended by officials from the Secretaría Nacional del Agua – SENAGUA (National Secretariat for Water), Manuel Peláez and Rosario López objected to the fact that Nuevos Horizontes is making agreements with the mining company, on behalf of the entire community, without full and open consultation with the community. They put forward their opinion that the organisation was also coming to arrangements with people in order to buy their support and legitimise the mining activities that go against the interests of the community.
When the human rights defenders presented themselves at the police station they were informed that they had been summoned to answer to a complaint that had been filed by Hernán Samaniego linking them to the disappearance of a sign relating to the community meeting. The allegation was reportedly made on the basis that they were the two who had opposed the mining company. The ACLI is arranging a meeting with the Ombudsperson's Office next week in order to discus the case.
Hernán Samaniego has also reportedly been linked to past threats that have been made against members of the ACLI and also Vicente Zhunio Samaniego, President of the CNDVS.
In February 2011, following a conference that had been organised by ACLI and members of the CNDVS, Vicente Zhunio Samaniego was called in for questioning over the reported theft of sports equipment from the venue where the meeting had been held. On 10 December 2010 Hernán Samaniego reportedly requested the police to attend the scene of a peaceful sit-in protest that had been organised by the ACLI.
Front Line believes that the summoning of Manuel Peláez and Rosario López is directly related to their legitimate and peaceful activities in defence of human rights and specifically their opposition to certain processes being carried out in support of mining operations in their community.
Front Line urges the authorities in Ecuador to:
1. Refrain from bringing any charges against human rights defenders Manuel Peláez and Rosario López as it is believed that any such charges would be motivated solely by their legitimate and peaceful work in defence of human rights;
2. Ensure that all human rights defenders in Ecuador are free to carry out their legitimate human rights work without fear of restrictions or reprisals.
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El Frente de Mujeres Defensoras de la Pachamama expresa su solidaridad con Rosario López and Manuel Peláez, and other members of the Association of Peasants of Limon Indanza ACLI, the trampling of their rights and fundamental freedoms which are suffering from the authorities as political lieutenant of San Miguel de Conchay, parish affected by mining Chinese-Canadian Current-Explorcobre-EXSA Resources, which seeks to silence all voices coast of Rights Defenders and in Morona Santiago.
---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Association
Date: May 2, 2011 20:16
Subject: FARMERS CITED BY COMMISSIONER TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINION ON EXSA
To: coornvidasoberania@gmail.com FARMERS
CITED BY COMMISSIONER TO EXPRESS YOUR OPINION ON EXSA
Comrade Manuel Peláez, a board member of the Association of Peasants
Indanza Lemon (ACLI) and the companion Rosario López de la
same organization were quoted today at the Canton Police Station
Limón province of Morona Santiago,
for having expressed their opinion against what the mining company has been doing
EXSA in your community.
Both partners are in the parish of San Miguel de Conchay
invaded by the Chinese-Canadian transnational corporation Corriente Resources
there appears with the name of Explorcobres-EXSA.
the company implements an aggressive acquisition strategy of consciousness in search
social license, and this has created a puppet
organization called "New Horizons", with which it conducts "agreements" to
behalf of the entire community.
On Monday 25 April at a meeting where officials were
National Secretariat for Water (SENAGUA), which were summoned
all users of the water system
Conchay San Miguel, peers and Rosario López Manuel Peláez expressed their
disagree that New Horizons is doing
agreements with mining on behalf of the entire community, including
subscribed to "improvements" in the water system without informing even the
managers, let alone users. At this meeting the comrades spoke
and rejected as crafty as the company tries to win
social license to impose their crumbs and the presence
SENAGUA accomplice.
days after the meeting, a sign had been attached to this agreement
disappeared, and so today
peers were summoned to the Commissioner of Limon
denounced as suspects in the alleged theft of the sign only "because spoke against the mining
SENAGUA the meeting, "according to the complainant and the puppet president
New Horizons, nothing more and nothing less than the arch
known pro-mining Hernan Samaniego who is also Deputy Political
Conchay the current government of the "revolution
citizen" award in body and soul to the mining
EXSA and that by repeatedly abusing his authority was insulted and even threatened with death
of colleagues and the ACLI, including
Own Association President Vicente Zhunio. (See urgent appeal issued by Amnesty International
:
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa13209.pdf).
These acts of harassment by officials and government
are becoming the norm whenever the Association
do any activity for more peaceful, legal and legitimate it is.
On December 10, 2010 while the ACLI
held a protest to protest the delivery of plastic chairs by the
EXSA Indanza Farmers Insurance, Hernan Samaniego called the police and ridiculously arrogant attitude
wanted to intimidate the
protesters. In February this year, after the ACLI and other member organizations
the National Coalition for the Defense of Life and
CNDVS Sovereignty, Dialogue held on 25 for Life
Lemon, Vicente Zhunio ACLI president, was summoned at the police station
by Councilman Miguel Ortega,
the alleged disappearance of the balls where the dialogue was developed, it
worst case is that the council did not even
complainant presented the citation for standing up for their ridiculous accusations,
and should be remembered that this council is part of the list 5, the traditional
partidocracia that life has dealt
positions in the Morona Santiago and now are part of the Alianza País
government.
other hand we see no authority in our province
no commissioner, no sheriff, no council, no tax
cares to do something to complain about the unwise, illegal and illegitimate
Awards Corriente Resources mining company. No worries
authority to require the implementation of the Mining Mandate
despite concessions
EXSA should be extinct for several causes of that mandate, especially not
consultation with communities.
For all pointed to the Association of Peasants of Limon Indanza ACLI
complaint with the national and international public opinion this new
abuse of the right to freedom of expression of our Manuel Pelaez and colleagues
Rosario Lopez, as this means that the affected farmers
invasion
Resources-Current-EXSA Explorcobres we can not even speak,
have no right to express our thoughts, we have no right to claim for
what you are doing this mining in our communities, because then we
charged with any nonsense and called before
authority.
The ACLI constant harassment complaint against
managers and members of our organization by the current company-Explorcobres
-EXSA, the pro-mining, and especially
part of government officials and state in this case
political lieutenant of the parish of San Miguel Hernán
Conchay Samaniego, for our work in defense of a healthy environment that
means a healthy life not only for today but for future generations
. We reject the puppet
workhorse of the mining "
New Horizons" which is President Hernán
Samaniego political lieutenant, which is indicative of how the authorities of the current government
are intimately linked to the mining corporations and defend
swashbuckling their interests.
We call the Office of the Ombudsman of Morona Santiago
comment on what is happening
those who defend human rights in our province, and
media to support us in raising public awareness of the
outrages being committed against our rights.
Lemon, May 2nd, 2011 Farmers Association
Indanza Lemon (ACLI)
Summoner FARMERS TO THE POLICE STATION FOR HAVING THEIR OPINION ON EXSA EXPRESSE
Comrade Manuel Peláez, a board The Lemon Indanza member of Farmers' Association (ACLI), and comrade Rosario Lopez, of the Same organization, Have Been Summoned at the police station of Canton Limón Morona Santiago province today for having expressed their opinion against what the EXSA mining company has been doing in our
community.
Both are from the parish of San Miguel de Conchay, which has been invaded by Corriente Resources, a Chinese-Canadian transnational corporation, which has changed its name into Explorcobres-EXSA in that area. This company carries out an aggressive acquisition strategy. It has created a puppet organization called New Horizons with which it makes "agreements" on behalf of the entire community.
On Monday 25 April, at a meeting where there were civil servants of the National Secretariat for Water (SENAGUA) as well as users of water in San Miguel Conchay, comrades Manuel Peláez and Rosario López expressed their disagreement with the fact that New Horizons is making arrangements with the mining company on behalf of the entire community, as it is the case of an agreement to make "Improvements" in the water system; this agreement has been made without informing the managers or the users. At this meeting, both comrades rejected the way the company does things and the presence of SENAGUA, which is an accomplice of the company.
Days after the meeting, a sign about the agreement disappeared, and so today our comrades have been summoned to the police station of Limón as suspects of the alleged theft of the sign, only "because they spoke against the mining company at the meeting with SENAGUA”, according to Hernán Samaniego, the complainant, who is the president of New Horizons, well-known for his pro-mining ideas and who belongs to the present government of the "citizen revolution” and is the Political Lieutenant of Conchay. Hernan Samaniego is in favour of the mining company EXSA and has repeatedly abused of his authority, even insulting and death threatening ACLI members, including the association president, Vicente Zhunio. (See Urgent Action issued by International Amnesty):
http://www.amnestyusa.org/actioncenter/actions/uaa13209.pdf).
Many acts of harassment are often carried out by civil servants whenever the Association organizes an activity, even if the activity is peaceful, legal and legitimate.
On December 10, 2010, while ACLI members were protesting for the delivering of plastic chairs to the Farmers Insurance of Indanza by EXSA, Hernan Samaniego called the police and with a ridiculously arrogant attitude wanted to intimidate demonstrators. Last February, after the ACLI and other organizations, all members of The National Coordinator for the Defence of Life and Sovereignty (CNDVS), held the 25th Dialogue for Life in Limón, Vicente Zhunio, the ACLI president, was summoned to the police station by Council man Miguel Ortega, for the alleged disappearance of some balls from the place where The Dialogue was held; the worst was that that councilman didn’t even show up at the police station; on the other hand, it must be remembered that this councilman is in list 5, a list of those who have always shared the ruling posts in Morona Santiago and are now part of the Alianza País government.
On the other hand, no authorities in our province complain about the Corriente Resources mining company concessions, which are illegal and illegitimate because they were granted without consulting our communities Authorities have not enforced The Mining Law, although EXSA mining concessions should be extinct for several reasons, especially because our communities have not been consulted.
Therefore, The Limón Indanza Farmers' Association (ACLI) wants to complain and inform national and international public opinion about the fact that our comrades Manuel Peláez and Rosario López have not been able to express their opinion.
The ACLI wants everybody to know about the constant harassment of managers and
members of our organization by the Corrientes-Explorcobres-EXSA company, by pro-mining people, and especially by civil servants of the government and the state, in this particular case by Hernán Samaniego, Political Lieutenant of the parish of San Miguel de Conchay. We are harassed because they are against our task in defence of a healthy environment and of a healthy life, not only for today but for future generations.
We reject New Horizons, whose president is Political Lieutenant Hernán Samaniego. The authorities of the current government are closely linked to mining corporations and
defend their interests.
We want The Office of the Ombudsman of Morona Santiago to comment on what is happening to human right defenders in our province, and we also ask the media to give us support and raise public awareness of the abuses that are being committed against our rights.
Limón, May 2, 2011
Limón Indanza Farmers’ Association (ACLI)
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