Last week’s dissolution by the Ecuadorian government of the NGO, Fundación Pachamama, has resulted in an outcry of international support from organizations around the world, calling for the immediate reversal of what they agree was an illegal act to repress civil liberties. Over 100 organizations have committed their support by signing a letter of solidarity on International Human Rights Day.
In their statement, the organizations say, “We agree with Fundación Pachamama’s position that this dissolution is an arbitrary act, looking to repress the organization’s legitimate right to dissent against the national government’s decision to hand over the territories of Amazonian indigenous peoples via concessions to oil companies.”
Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have issued statements decrying the actions by the government of Ecuador, as has the International Coalition of Organizations for Human Rights in the Americas in a letter signed by more than 60 of the region’s top human rights organizations. Solidarity statements have come in from individual NGOs and indigenous communities. More than 10,500 people have signed an Avaaz community petition to President Rafael Correa, demanding the NGO’s reinstatement.
The dissolution of Fundación Pachamama occurred On December 4th in Quito, Ecuador, when officials appeared at the offices of the NGO and proceeded to dissolve the organization, accusing it of interfering in public policy and “threatening the internal security and peace” of the country.
The government’s action comes on the heels of indigenous protests and public outcry against Ecuador’s plans to open some 2.6 million hectares of rainforest to new oil drilling. The oil auction was widely deemed a failure,
“Despite the shutdown of Fundación Pachamama, our work to secure permanent protection for the rainforest will not stop,” said Bill Twist, CEO and co-founder of The Pachamama Alliance, their sister organization based in San Francisco. “This attempt to silence the voice of the people won’t dampen our determination to ensure the oil stays in the ground and the most biodiverse area in the world, remains untouched.”
With the support of the international NGO community and citizens everywhere, Fundación Pachamama plans to appeal the government’s decision.
About The Pachamama Alliance
The Pachamama Alliance is a San Francisco-based organization dedicated to empowering indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest to preserve their lands and culture and to educating and inspiring individuals everywhere to bring forth a thriving, just and sustainable world.
