Document #1043087
IRB – Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (Author)
No information on a hostage-taking incident
involving officials of the Ecuadorean Institute of Agrarian Reform
and Settlement (Instituto Ecuatoriano de Reforma Agraria y
Colonización--IERAC) in a community called Domingo Comin in
Gualaquiza, province of Morona Santiago, between 1992 and 1995,
could be found among the sources consulted by the Research
Directorate.
During two 26 February 1999 telephone
interviews, staff of the Federation of Shuar-Achuar Centres in the
province of Morona Santiago, Ecuador, were unaware of the existence
of an indigenous community called Domingo Comin. However, the staff
stated that Domingo Comin is the name of the street in the town of
Sucúa, province of Morona Santiago, where the Federation has
its headquarters. The staff also indicated that the period
1990-1996 was rife with land conflicts in the province of Morona
Santiago, including the cantones of Gualaquiza and
Sucúa, adding that some of the conflicts included the taking
of hostages. They also said that provision of a more precise date
or period might facilitate further inquiries on the subject.
A directory of indigenous organizations in
Latin America also indicates that the Ferderation of Shuar-Achuar
Centres is located on the street of Domingo Comin, in the town of
Sucúa (1999).
Please note that IERAC was abolished
through legislation passed in June 1994 (MAR 17 July 1997; see also
ECU31219.E of 26 February 1999).
This Response was prepared after
researching publicly accessible information currently available to
the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is
not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any
particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please see below the
list of additional sources consulted in researching this
information request.
References
Ferderation of Shua-Achuar Centres,
Sucúa. 26 February 1999. Telephone interviews with
staff.
Fundación de Artistas e
Intelectuales por los Pueblos Indígenas de
Iberoamérica, Costa Rica. 1999. "Indice de Organizaciones
Indígenas." [Interenet] http://www.
Funindio.org/links2.html [Accessed 26 Feb. 1999]
Minorities At Risk Project (MAR),
University of Maryland at College Park, Maryland. 17 July 1997. Pam
Burke. "Indians of the Sierra Highlands and the Coast in Ecuador."
[Internet] http://www.bsos.umd.edu/cidem/mar/hindecu.htm
[Accessed 25 Feb. 1999]
Additional Sources Consulted
Andean Newsletter [Lima].
1992-95.
Human Rights Watch World
Report. 1993-96.
Latinamerica Press [Lima].
1992-95.
Latin American Regional
Reports: Andean Group Report [London]. 1992-95.
News from Americas Watch [New
York]. 1997-98.
Electronic sources: IRB Databases,
Global NewsBank, NEXIS, Internet, Refworld, WNC.
Two oral sources contacted were unable
to provide information on the subject.
Note:
This list is not exhaustive.
Country-specific books available in the Resource Centre are not
included.