They demand that the plebiscites against oil and mining held in Ecuador be fulfilled

The environmental and indigenous groups that promoted the plebiscites held last year in Ecuador to stop the extraction of Petroleum in a deposit in the Amazonian Yasuní National Park and prohibiting all types of mining in the Chocó Andino, they demanded this Tuesday that what was voted by Ecuadorians be fulfilled after six months of both votes having passed.

In both cases the result of the votes was favorable to the initiatives, with more than 60% of the votes in favor of each approach.

Regarding the oil consultation, which involves the dismantling of Block 43-ITT (Ishpingo, Tiputini and Tambococha), the representative of the Waorani indigenous nationality Ewene Ima warned of the intention of the President’s Government Daniel Noboa to propose a cessation of exploitation in the next five years and not next August as indicated by the Constitutional court to accept the holding of this popular consultation.

“Unfortunately, six months have passed, and we see that in local governments and the National government They want to break the popular vote of Ecuadorians“said Ima, whose Waorani people are the largest in Yasuní, with a territory that covers 60% of the National Park.

The Waorani delegate asserted that the inhabitants of Yasuní have not seen a brake on the part of the oil companies.

“Our rights are violated when the State should guarantee it to us“, indicated Ima, who supported the statement made days ago by the Waorani Nationality of Ecuador (Nawe), which brings together the entire community of this ethnic group and which demanded the immediate closure of Block 43-ITT.

With this decision, the Ecuadorians set a world precedent as it was the first time that a vote was taken to abandon a oil exploitation in exchange for preserving one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet.

This decision means leaving underground oil reserves valued by the Ecuadorian authorities at about US$ 13.6 billion for the coming years in this field that produces about 58,000 barrels of oil daily. Petroleumequivalent to around 11% of the national production of Ecuador.

Current mining concessions

For his part, the coordinator of the Chocó Andino Commonwealth, Inty Arcos, assured that there are companies that seek to carry out communication and awareness processes about the mining concessions that were already granted before the plebiscite was held and that are still in force in this natural space. of Andean forests located partially within the Metropolitan District of Quito.

Arcos even warned that “democracy is at stake Ecuador” given the risk that the decisions taken in this popular consultation may be unfulfilled, which, unlike in the case of the ITT, was held only among the voters of the Ecuadorian capital.

In that sense, he called on the authorities to review the concessions granted with the aim of revoking them, since he considered that they will never be able to enter into exploitation after winning the ‘Yes’ to prohibit any type of metal mining in the Chocó Andino. classified as a biosphere reserve by UNESCO.

Arcos recalled that the mining concessions granted in the Chocó Andino area have large extensions, with one of 9,000 hectares and others of 6,000 and 5,000, respectively.

They warn of possible dismissal of authorities

Thus, lawyer Ramiro Ávila explained that the environmental groups that supported and promoted both consultations are requesting the Constitutional court to begin the phase of evaluating compliance with both decisions.

Ávila indicated that the highest court of guarantees of Ecuador must evaluate whether they are being breached, and if so “determine responsibilities and eventually dismiss the authorities who are failing to comply, be they ministers, directors or the president of the Republic, (because) the Constitution of the Republic does not distinguish”.

The lawyer pointed out that officials, including the president, can be dismissed for failure to fulfill their mandate and even mentioned article 282 of the Ecuadorian penal code, which sanctions between one and three years in prison for those who comply with legitimate legal mandates.

“It seems that the political class does not want to understand that this country is basically being an environmentalist country, which rejects extractivism by popular majorities“said Ávila, who reiterated his concern that the political class “is not being taken seriously” this popular mandate.