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Ecuador: A hostage taking incident involving IERAC officials in the community of Domingo Comin, Gualaquiza, province of Morona Santiago (1992-1995)

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.