Aaaaaaaaaaand Here We Go: Ecuador Govt Shuts Down Indigenous Rights NGO Over Oil Policy

[hatrack]

Last Wednesday, the government of Ecuador shutdown the indigenous rights NGO, Fundación Pachamama, in Quito over the group's opposition to oil drilling in indigenous areas. More than a dozen government officials showed up at Pachamama's office with a resolution by the Ministry of Environment that officially dissolved the organization, the first such moved by the government which in June passed an Executive Decree that tightened governmental oversight of the country's NGOs.

The Ecuadorean government, under Rafael Correa, contends that Pachamama was involved in physically harassing an ambassador from Chile and a businessman following a recent presentation on oil concession in the Amazon. But Pachamma denies the allegations, instead accusing the government of violence.

EDIT

According to the Correa Administration, Pachamama violated two regulations of the recent Executive order: "Deviation from the aims and objectives for which it was created" and "Engaging in political activities reserved for political parties and movements registered in the National Electoral Council, that affect the public peace or that interfere in public policies that threaten the internal or external security of the state."

Critics say the Ecuadorean government has been increasingly hostile to freedom of speech and that the Executive Decree threatens the ability of non-governmental organization to operate. "This closure [of Pachamama] is an arbitrary act that seeks to suppress our legitimate right to dissent from the decision of the National Government to concede areas of Amazonian indigenous nations to oil companies, without respecting their constitutional rights and to free, prior and informed consultation," says Belén Páez.

EDIT

http://news.mongabay.com/2013/1210-hance-pachamam-shut-down.html

[pscot]

1. K&R