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Waorani natives and members of the Yasunidos collective protesting in Quito, April 12, 2014 (Photo d'illustration). AFP PHOTO / RODRIGO BUENDIA

This Thursday, August 15, the Yasunidos, a collective formed to try to prevent oil exploitation in the Yasuni area, one of the richest in biodiversity on the planet, have symbolically occupied the National Electoral Council to demand a referendum.

Six years ago, on August 15, 2013, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa ended the Yasuni-ITT initiative. The idea was to keep crude oil from the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini (ITT) deposits underground in exchange for financial compensation from the international community. A collective, the Yasunidos , was formed to try to prevent oil exploitation in the Yasuni area, one of the most biodiverse on the planet. Their referendum request was blocked by the electoral authorities of the time.

Declaring themselves in resistance, several members of the collective Yasunidos, or United for Yasuni, settled in the lobby of the National Electoral Council, Thursday, August 15. They deployed banners, flowers and started a native ceremony in honor of nature. They demand the organization of a new referendum to block the exploitation of oil in the Yasuni and denounce the inactivity of the council to organize it, especially its president, the native Shuar Diana Atamaint.

Rejected for no apparent reason

" Once again, the National Electoral Council rejects us for no apparent reason, said Antonella Calle, spokesman for the collective. It would be sad if the president of the council, a native of the Amazon, turns her back on her brothers and sisters of indigenous peoples, who live in voluntary isolation, and are now in danger. "

For the Yasunidos, the referendum is all the more urgent as the oil exploitation launched by the former government has not been stopped by the current, quite the contrary. " The only way to end oil exploitation is the referendum proposed by the Yasunidos collective. Our question is clear: "Do you want to keep the Yasuni oil indefinitely underground, yes or no?" Pedro Bermeo, another spokesman for Yasunidos, said.

The Yasunidos say they will occupy the National Electoral Council as long as it does not organize the referendum they ask for.

► See also: Oil: Ecuador gives up saving the Yasuni ecological reserve