Nonviolent Peaceforce
Latin American Coordination
Second Travel Summary for Quito and Lago Agrio
Ecuador/Colombia Contact Group
February 9-11, 2005

David Hartsough, Alvaro Ramirez –Durini and Lina Cahuasquí, Comité Andino de Servicios (AFSC)
by Alvaro Ramirez-Durini, translated by Traci Brown

The violent situation that the country of Colombia is suffering has reached unexpected levels. The effects of a war declared by the political and military authorities of the Colombian government against the Guerilla and Paramilitary movements have the support of the US State Department. The famous "Plan Colombia" was created as an international tool to justify the violent acts in Colombia against these groups, with well known human consequences. Recently, neighboring countries are feeling the effects of this international plan, especially Ecuador over the last 2 years.
"Plan Colombia" is primarily a plan of military aid to the Colombian government whose goal is to contribute to the development of Colombia via the fight against narcotics. According to the Plan, the United States will offer half a billion dollars of military aid to Colombia for the antisubversive fight. This will be directed toward the intensification of the civil war in Colombia (even though the military equipment that was provided by the United States has been used in massacring civilians); the violations of human rights; and the forced displacement of thousands of people.
Even though "Plan Colombia" includes a component of social aid and institutional reform, there is a lack of understanding of the real causes of the Colombian problems.
The implementation of "Plan Colombia", one of the latest attacks against the border populations of Ecuador and Colombia, has caused for many months, grave harm at the level of health, nutrition, education and insecurity. The plan is now called "Plan Patriot".
The implementation of the Contact Group of Nonviolent Peaceforce is intended to begin the process of "Investigation" and offer the opportunity to obtain a better vision of the conflict that is developing, especially in the Ecuadorian provinces bordering Colombia (Esmeraldas, Carchi, Sucombios).

Main conflicts at the Ecuadorian/Colombian border:
"Plan Colombia", the Andean Regional Initiative (IRA), and the intensification of the Colombian conflict were intended to produce changes in the everyday life of the people at the Ecuadorian/Colombian border, where there exists displacement of the general population (especially on the Ecuadorian side); vulnerability of the general population on both sides, especially children and women, who are in the middle of armed conflict; environmental destruction; effects on human health resulting from fumigation of the Coca farms, especially in the Colombian zone; food security; as well as threatening the rights of the indigenous populations, Afro-Ecuadorians and Colombians.
The regionalization of the Colombian conflict is significant in Ecuador when acts of violence from the Colombian side, such as kidnapping and revenge, increase the levels of crime in the country. This leads to the routinization of violence for the people and they perceive it as normal.
The weakness of state institutions of both countries has lead to a situation in which the people of the border communities confirm that armed groups do travel through the zone, determine the rules, and have a place in some local conflicts. On the other hand, this weakness on the part of the State has made the residents on the border demand that the State provide additional police presence. Instead of resolving the problem, this requested presence has increased tensions at the border zone.

Meeting Number 1: Office of FORCOFES
Attendees: 17 rural residents from different communities in the region of Lago Agrio.

· Spraying on the Colombian side in December 2004 reached Ecuador via the wind affecting the planting in the zone and limiting the agricultural production. Children and the elderly (groups especially vulnerable) have been affected, including the death of several people in different communities.

· The presence of armed groups regularly or irregularly in the communities of Lago Agrio.

· Individual, familial and social insecurity.

 

a) Presentation of Nonviolent Peaceforce and the project of investigating the violent situation at the Ecuadorian border.

b) The conversation with the Mayor confirmed the existence of the problem described in this summary. He also expressed that the Ecuadorian government does not recognize the existence of the violent situations, insecurity, fumigation, etc. in Ecuador. In spite of the fact that he, as an authority, recognizes the problem, he does not have any alternative solutions or the collaboration necessary from the government authorities to offer support and security to the communities in the region.

c) Several ideas about nonviolent alternatives to approach the existing problem were shared. One idea was to declare the municipality of Lago Agrio as "Lagio Agrio, a Municipality of Peace," as well as support the creation of "Communities of Peace." This will begin to create spaces for nonviolent social action and reaction in these communities. Nevertheless, for the Mayor, it is not easy to embark on these projects, since he believes that there should exist a relationship between the Ecuadorian army and the communities in order to guarantee "definite" security.

d) The principle problems described by the Mayor were: fumigation, presence of armed groups (he affirmed that armed activity does not exist in Ecuador and that Ecuador is a site of rest for the armed groups), food insecurity resulting from the effects of spraying, Colombian refugees, displaced Ecuadorians, violence and crime.

e) He expressed that they do not require additional military presence, but what they need is guaranteed work and nutrition for Ecuadorian communities.

a) Presentation of the Project of the Community Fransciscana in Lago Agrio, where they emphasized that their work has a global focus intending to attend to food security of the rural population; teaching the people alternatives for production which permit secure subsistence when the fumigation problems begin; attention and first aid to Colombian refugees in collaboration with ACNUR (United Nations Commission for Refugees).

b) It was confirmed that 96% of the population of Sucumbios is rural and they do not have alternatives for diversifying their production.

c) The Franciscan Church confirmed cases of health effects among the rural residents resulting from fumigation, especially problems of the skin and respiratory system.

d) Also indicated were serious problems of xenophobia by Ecuadorians towards Colombian refugees. ACNUR only helps Colombian refugees and there are no options for Ecuadorians displaced by spraying and violence. There are also no alternatives for Ecuadorians nor Colombians who have left their communities looking for work.

e) Education in the zone is irregular. There are families that have left out of fear and so they have not attended their school classes. Other families simply don’t have enough money to pay for school fees and they choose to not educate their children.

f) It was also confirmed that border communities in Ecuador are considered sites for refueling and rest for the armed groups.

g) They have pastoral relationships with other projects in various communities in the region, as well as ethnic indigenous groups such as Kichuas, Sionas, Shuaras, Secoyas, Cofanes, Awa-.

h) Finally, they are ready to offer the necessary collaboration to the work of Nonviolent Peaceforce and other organizations that are working for peace. They identify completely, as a community, with the ideals of nonviolence and human justice. No process of peace or nonviolence should be separate from the process of food security, ecological security, etc.

Meeting Number 4 – Evaluation of the first meetings including Lina Cahuasquí, memer of CIF, (Comité Interinstitucional contra las fumigaciones/Multilateral Committee against fumigation), and employee of C.A.S. (Comité Andino de Servicios/Committee of Andean Services), Ivàn Piedra (Employee of Acción Ecologica/Ecological Action and member of CIF), Daniel Alarcón, President of FORCOFES, David Hartsough, Director of Strategic Relations for Nonviolent Peaceforce, Alvaro Ramirez – Durini, Latin American Coordinator of Nonviolent Peaceforce.

• Corazón Orense

• Puerto Escondido

• 5 de Agosto

• Santa Marianita

• La Punta

• El Condor

• San Francisco I

• San Francisco II

A. Community: CORZON ORENSE

· About 30 families live in this community. Some have been displaced, primarily resulting from lack of agricultural production and problems related to the fumigation.

· The fumigation primarily produces health problems such as headache, skin problems and stomachaches, especially in children.

· There is not a major problem with armed groups and these groups have not threatened them.

B. Community: PUERTO ESCONDIDO

· We arrived at the school, Jose Luis Tamayo, where we had the opportunity to share a short moment in the English class with the children and talking to the teachers, Fiscal Lodo, Jorge Pinchan.

· Armed groups are present, especially guerillas who, even though it is not common, pass onto the Ecuadorian side. Problems did not result.

· The Paramilitaries have not entered into Ecuador.

· In general, this population has not had problems with violence and fumigation because they are located on a curve where the River San Miguel forms an "S", making it strategically a poor location for the armed groups since they could be easily ambushed.

· They always hear bombs and gunshots from the Colombian side, but the children are already used to this.

C. Community: 5 DE AGOSTO

· In this community there were about 25 families, but now there are only 10 families because the spraying and the resulting agricultural effects have displaced many. In December 2004 they said the spraying created serious agricultural and health problems. The land does not support either the quality or quantity of crops that used to grow there – everything is destroyed.

· They have serious problems with drinking water because the fumigation chemicals filter through the ground into the water source.

· They ask that the spraying being stopped so that they can live and be respected like human beings.

· The Ecuadorian military has only come to this community when there has been a problem or confusion but they never even got out of their vehicles.

· They said that the idea is not to have more military, but to find alternatives for the people to not live in poverty and sadness.

· They mentioned that at night they hear vehicles that circle, but the people are afraid to go outside and see. It is clear that the vehicles are not of the Ecuadorian army because they are afraid of this zone and it wouldn’t be rural residents either at this time of night.

· We verify in this community the effects of the spraying in a child named Eduard Salas, who has skin problems on his legs and stomachaches.

· The Ecuadorian State does not pay any attention to the people of this community. They expressed that they don’t have any money to go to the doctor or pay for medications.

· This is a community abandoned by all. Neither the national nor the local governments attend to their needs; there is no medical assistance – nothing.

D. Community: SANTA MARIANITA

· We met with about 25 people from the community because there was a community assembly.

· There are 52 families that live in this community. Several families have left due to lack of agricultural production caused by the fumigation.

· The problems that have affected the community are basically the effects of the spraying and the lack of agricultural production to provide food.

· There exist serious health problems, but no medical assistance and no money to pay for medicines. The skin problems are terrible, especially in the children and elderly.

· The effects of the spraying irritate the skin, especially when the people go out to work in the heat and humidity.

· There is a great opportunity that has taken place in this community since some Colombian families have come to live in the village and have gotten along well with the Ecuadorians

· In this zone, a big problem with armed groups does not exist. The groups that are bothering the residents are their own Ecuadorian military that are trying to gain information.

· They mentioned that three people have died as a result of the spraying: Baltasar Cabrera, Betty Casanova, and Esperanza Silva.

· They expressed that they have received death threats on various occasions if they did not leave the community. They believe these are "jokes" but still feel scared. Nevertheless, from our point of view, we don’t consider these "jokes" but instead forms of creating fear among the people.

· From this community, the gunshots and exploding bombs from the Colombian side can be heard.

· When the Massacre in Puerto Mestanza happened in the middle of November 2004, about 150 people were assassinated. The Ecuadorian military came to obtain information, share medicines, used books. The Minister Nelson Herrera was present.

· This community believes that the international accompaniment can be effective to help guarantee security in the community, but only if the armed groups (guerillas and paramilitaries) respect the process.

E. Community: GRAL FARFAN (Dialogue with various members of the Ecuadorian military)

· In this precinct we relaxed and had lunch, but also had the opportunity to speak with a group of about 8 members of the Ecuadorian Army.

· They said that there were not problems in this sector, even though we were right across the river of San Miguel from Colombia.

· They were not helpful giving information about the presence or not of armed groups and said they knew very little because they were new in the zone and did not know about the problems.

· In the zone, the military controls the use of small docks that are used for the river and it is in the small military offices where the citizens register to travel to other Ecuadorian and Colombian communities. They said that at around 5pm or 6pm they close the office and they go to their military precinct so clearly after this time there is no control.

· In general, I can confirm that 90% were very young, and were certainly in their first stage of the annual "recruitment". This is to say that were being treated the same way that everyone over 18 is treated in the rest of Ecuador.

F. Community: EL CONDOR

· We interviewed with Rosa Suárez, who said that the community had 180 people even though various families had left due to the fumigation.

· She says that people pass through their community that nobody knows, but they don’t talk to them.

· They have not received threats from anyone and there are no Colombian families in the community.

· In general, there are no problems related to violence, but there is lack of food.

G. Community: SAN FRANCISCO I

· It is a small community because many people left to form San Francisco II, another community.

· The school in the community is called Río Upano and 32 children attend.

· The main problem in the community is the effects of the fumigation, poor agricultural production and the death of plants and animals.

· The guerilla movements cross through this zone, but they haven’t had problems with them.

· They have heard many rumors that paramilitaries are going to go to their zone and this scares them. However, they have not yet come.

· The military has come a couple of times to talk and get information but nothing more. It is not a permanent presence even though there exists gas contraband on the river.

H. Community: SAN FRANCISCO II

· There were initially 60 families but now there are only 20. The others were displaced by lack of food and insecurity.

· This is an indigenous community that separated from San Francisco I.

· They expressed that in this community the authorities never come, not even the local authorities.

· They are located 1,500 meters from the border with Colombia.

· From this community, the spraying on the Colombian side can be seen and they said that on various occasions, the planes have passed onto the Ecuadorian side. The last fumigation was in December 2004. They mentioned that the plane is always with 2 helicopters.

· They said that since the fumigation started in 2001, 8 children from the community have died. These children presented with stomachache, headache, fever, diarrhea, vomiting and skin problems.

· There is a medical dispensary in the community, that is administered by the Red Cross, but even though they recognize and know that the illnesses are caused by the spraying, they won’t admit it and don’t mention it.

· The people drink water from tanks or wells that are contaminated. They cannot drink water from the river "Rabbit" because that is also contaminated and they can’t fish.

· The school in the community is called Pedro Francisco Tanguila and 17 students attend.

· They confirmed that uniformed guerillas come into their zone but don’t harm the population. They said this would be a problem for a long time.

· There is no work and they explained that a rural resident can earn $2US per day but this doesn’t amount to anything.

· In general, the town is afraid as they hear rumors that the paramilitaries are going to come and this produces anxiety.

· They mentioned that the spraying occurs about every 3 months and they ask that they stop the spraying.

· They are afraid of the guerillas and paramilitaries in the zone.

· They expressed that for there to be peace, there must also be food and health.

• Interview on radio Cuyabeno, where the objective of the project of Nonviolent Peaceforce was mentioned, as well as a short analysis of the visit to the countryside from the day before, identifying some of the problems that were encountered in the region.

• · The representative of ACNUR in Lago Agrio, Oscar Butrageño, was not there. The social worker was available.

• · The activities of ACNUR are basically to offer first aid to the Colombian refugees that arrive in Ecuador, helping them with legal representation necessary to obtain refugee status, as well as offer them refugee housing.

• · ACNUR mentioned that they offer to collaborate with nutrition, medicines and housing.

• · They explained that to request refuge, they have to have three interviews at different times, one of which is with the Ministry of Exterior Relations.

• · They explained that ACNUR does not support organizations in the region directly but, instead, they offer support through other private NGOs with headquarters in Quito such as the Foundation for Environment and Society and the Foundation ADIS.

• · In this meeting, Daniel Alarcón, President of FORCOFES, was present and he expressed to the representative from ACNUR that everything that was said was a lie, that ACNUR was not doing satisfactory work, that the projects that supposedly provided financing to the mentioned organizations was a lie, and that on many occasions there was mismanagement and alteration of the total amount financed for the projects.

• · They expressed that the Red Cross works for these sectors and that they have monitored the situation. Nevertheless, it was indicated that the only location where they were sure that the Red Cross was doing something was in San Francisco II.

• · Daniel Alarcón is a rural resident from the zone that has taken on leadership roles over the past few years in the accompaniment of the different communities in the Province of Sucumbios and is starting his second term as President of FORCOFES.

• · His work has been very important in the border communities and he has been able to unify various organizations, including about 1,500 people.

• · The basic activities have been helping in the developing and securing of resources for community projects at various levels, such as: economic, social, medical and infrastructure development; and especially in the denunciation of human rights violations. These activities also include denunciation of Oil Companies that explore and exploit the oil in the zone and offering support to the rural communities to denounce oil spills and international demands.

• · The work done by Nonviolent Peaceforce was clearly explained to Daniel Alarcón. This work includes offering accompaniment to the rural communities whose rights are violated, as well as accompaniment to human rights leaders that have been threatened in the communities.

• · He explained that he has been threatened on various occasions and expressed fear about threats to his family, but in the case that the Peaceforce considers the possibility to offer international accompaniment he would be ready to accept it, especially if 24-hour a day accompaniment is possible when needed.

• · He expressed his interest in Peaceforce accompaniment for certain communities that are especially vulnerable or threatened and he mentioned that the presence of 6 people would be enough.

• · The criteria for the international guards were discussed with Daniel Alarcón. It was discussed that they should be Latin Americans because of the possibility that "gringos" are an easy target for kidnapping or the people believe they have a lot of money. It was recommended that the international guards be Latin Americans, but people that clearly have international backing and standing.

• · This meeting was about evaluation and coordination of the next steps. Participatns in included Jhonny Jiménez from SERPAJ, Adolfo Adolfo Maldonado – ACCION ECOLÓGICA, Jaime Olivo Pallo – Defensoría del Pueblo, María Augusta Calle and Patricia Carillo de –ALTERCOM.

• · Dr. Macas spoke about the existence of the indigenous communities, especially in the Province of Chimborazo that are call "Groups for the defense of rural populations". These groups are armed and are organizing to recruit and train people to create fear and to kill those whom they consider to be subversives or guerillas.

• · He expressed that the violent situation can continue growing with time and that it could be very important to analyze the possibility of and offer international accompaniment to these rural zones in the Province of Chimborazo, as well as investigate the violent situations that are occurring in rural communities in the Province of Carchi.

• · He is ready to support any proposal that benefits the indigenous communities in favor of nonviolence and peace.

• The Ecuadorian and Colombian States

• The United States

• The armed groups of Colombia (Guerillas, Paramilitary)

• The Armed Forces and Ecuadorian police

• The general population of both countries (in the border zone), refugees and those displaced

• Civil society and human rights organizations

• Social organizations

• The implementation of "Plan Colombia" and the Regional Andean Initiative (IRA).

• United States military politics in the region (politics of hemisphere security).

• The implementation of ALCA and TLC.

• The poor distribution of wealth.

• The rural and indigenous populations in Ecuadorian border zones.

• The Colombian population that has been displaced to Ecuador, especially children, women and indigenous populations.

• The Ecuadorian population that has abandoned their land or been displaced to the Interior.

• · We can confirm that fumigation is occurring and affecting people, plants and animals in the zones at the Colombian border, but on many occasions, the airplanes pass over to the Ecuadorian territories and/or the wind causes the chemicals to reach communities on the Ecuadorian side.

• · Total abandonment and lack of social reform, nutrition, health, etc in the affected zones by the Authorities of Ecuador.

• · Displacement of rural Colombians and Ecuadorians.

• · The surrender of affairs by some of the armed, Colombian groups.

• · Enrollment of youth in armed Colombian groups

• · Young people searching for work in the harvesting of coca. "raspachines"

• · Increase in the indicators of crime in the zone of Lago Agrio.

• · Threats against community leaders or defenders of Human Rights, as in the case of Daniel Alarcón, President of FORCOFES, who has received death threats if he approaches the communities close to the border with Colombia.

• · Threats against organizations that defend and promote Human Rights, who are called "Leftists and Guerillas", by the Ecuadorian authorities.

• · Lack of medical attention and nutrition for the entire population at the border.

• Since 1999, when the US signed the agreement to implement "Plan Colombia".

• Municipalities and local counsel within the Provinces

• ACNUR

• OIM

• National and international human rights organizations

• The Church

• CIF (Multilateral Committee Against Fumigation)

• OIPAZ: International Observer for Peace

We can confirm the existence of the following situations:

• · Fumigation in the zone and collateral effects at the level of health and food security.

• · Presence of armed groups in Ecuador, who are using this as a site for rest and refueling, generating fear and insecurity.

• · Crimes, like revenge, between the armed groups.

• · We can also confirm the total abandonment of this sector of the country by the Ecuadorian government.

• · Continue the process of investigation in the Provinces of Esmeraldas and Carchi to obtain an overview of the violent situation on the Ecuadorian side.

• · Provide support and participate in the next International visit with various international organizations in order to create an International Impact regarding the situation in Ecuador. In addition, work together with these organizations to find alternatives for working in different areas with the affected populations.

• · Try to send one or two people from Nonviolent Peaceforce to accompany community leaders, such as Daniel Alarcón, as well as carry out a process of more intensive investigation lasting 15 days and 1 month in these communities.

• · Strengthen relationships between communities in Colombia and rural communities in Ecuador, with the goal of sharing the nonviolent experiences of these communities.

• · Share with Daniel Alarcón about the experiences of the Peace communities in Colombia including "San Jose de Apartado, Community of Peace" so that there can be an interchange of experiences and knowledge. Perhaps facilitate a visit to foster deeper understanding.

• · Organize and begin the international training in Nonviolent Third Party Intervention in Latin America to be able to send to the border zone the first group of people who can accompany these threatened leaders.

We are grateful for the help and collaboration of:

• · Lina Cahuasquí, member of CIF, (Comité Interinstitucional contra las fumigaciones), and employee of C.A.S. (Comité Andino de Servicios),

• · Ivàn Piedra (Employee of Acción Ecologica and member of CIF),

• · Daniel Alarcón, President of FORCOFES,

• · Jhonny Jiménez, President SERPAJ- ECUADOR

• · Adolfo Maldonado, Acción Ecológica.

Completed by:

Dr. Alvaro Ramirez Durini

February 15, 2005

  top