Today, September 22, the offices of the Zapara organization were broken into. Computers, files and more were stolen. This break-in comes just as investigations are underway on two recent attacks on the Zapara.

On August 26 Gloria Ushigua and Rosa Gualinga Dahua were brutelly attacked by four men. Two of their attackers have been identified as Nelson Santander Viteri and Juan Carlos Freire, who is a police officer.

One week earlier, in a community in Zapara territory Washu Mucushigua was stabbed in the eye and stomach with a broken bottle. He lost his eye. His wife, Amada, who is pregnant, was beaten badly and kicked repeatedly in the stomach. The Zapara leaders had been receiving threats for months before the attacks occurred. Land is Life has asked the government of Ecuador to provide them with police protection. We have been told that the Minister of Government has ordered the Governor of Pastaza to provide police protection two weeks ago, but so far no action has been taken. Their lives are in danger. Please contact the government of Ecuador and urge them to provide immediate protection for the Zapara leaders.


MAKE APPEALS TO:

Governor of Pastaza

Ismael Fabricio Arcos Lopez

Calle Atahualpa y 10 de Agosto

Puyo, Pastaza

Ecuador

Telephone: 03-2885308 03-2885423

Fax: 03-2885457

E-MAIL:  secretariagober@yahoo.com


COPIES TO:

Gustavo Larrea

Ministro de Gobierno

Espejo y Benalcazar

Quito, Ecuador

Telephone: 593 2 2955666

e-mail:  gustavolarreacabrera@hotmail.com.



Dra. Lourdes Tiban

Secretaria Ejecutiva Nacional

Consejo de Desarrollo de las Nacionalidades

y Pueblos del Ecuador (CODENPE)

Ave. Garcia Moreno

Quito, Ecuador

Telephone: 593 2 258 1319

Fax: 593 2 258 1559, ext. 109

E-Mail:  ltiban@codenpe.gov.ec