Despite the fact that we have the right over land recognised, oil companies are invading our territory, often using violence and supported by the government," says the leader of the Sarayaku, an indigenous Kichwa community from Equador's Amazon region. 
 
I am a leader of Sarayaku, an indigenous Kichwa community from the Ecuador’s Amazon region.

My community has about 1000 inhabitants and we have had many struggles over the past years.  We had a remarkable achievement in 1992 when we legalized our land rights.

But now we face a major threat to our right to land, territory and other natural resources because of the expansion of trans-national oil companies on this region.

Despite the fact that we have the right over land recognized, oil companies are invading our territory, often using violence, violating our rights.

The government is supporting these actions by the trans-national companies. We are resisting them and are struggling to not allow oil companies, such as Burlington, to establish themselves on our lands.

The company and government are responding to our fight for rights through militarization of the region, death threats, arrest orders and torture against leaders.

The Sarayaku community has filed a case on the Inter-American Court of Human Rights against the Ecuadorian government.

The same situation occurred in other communities where many other companies including as Burlington, CGC and Petrobras are trying to violate the rights of indigenous communities such as Chuar, Achuar and Huaoranes.

There is also a law suit against TEXACO for the environmental destruction of Northeast Ecuador. More information is available at www.sarayaku.com