Speech by Humberto Cholango, president of the Confederation of Peoples of the Quichua Nationality of Ecuador, ECUARUNARI, at the Working Group on Indigenous Populations, which met from July 21 to 25 in Geneva, primarily to discuss the theme of indigenous peoples and globalisation. On behalf of CONAIE and the Federation of Peoples of the Quichua Nationality of Ecuador I would like to start my presentation by expressing the three principals of the nationalities and peoples of the Andes: Ama Llulla, Amma shua, Ama quilla (do not lie, do not steal, do not be idle). The Confederation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador, which represents the peoples and nationalities of Ecuador, wants to present to this event our public concern regarding the theme we are treating here, that of indigenous peoples and globalisation. Globalisation in our countries has produced negative results in terms of politics, the environment and the economy, as the model existing in the world today has been trying to exterminate the economic resistance models of the indigenous peoples such as "Minga", collective work and solidarity. As regards the effects of globalisation, which we are now discussing, the indigenous peoples are the worst hit because in the name of economic development our environment has been destroyed, our rivers contaminated, our people have been displaced through policies of oil exploitation and mining without respect for the customs and traditions that each culture preserves. Consequently, the indigenous peoples are, each time, kept outside the decisions made by the State, regarding the future and fate of our peoples and their territory. This has generated higher levels of illiteracy and poverty which violates the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the collective rights of indigenous peoples. The economic policies implemented by governments such as structural adjustment, clientele policies and paternalism have led to the indigenous peoples being the most affected and this has generated displacement and migration to other countries and cities and it is worth mentioning in this meeting that this is the case in Ecuador, which I represent. My people and the poor social groups have left their country for other destinations, particularly for Spain, where they are persecuted and mistreated, facts which are publicly known and distributed by the mainstream media. This is another illustration of the effects caused by the policies implemented by governments under the recommendations of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Another project of economic globalisation is the establishment and signing of the Free Trade Agreement of the America, FTAA in America. This will be the end for poor peoples and indigenous throughout the continent, where their sovereignty, their territory, their customs and their legacy will be in danger of extinction in the long term. This agreement goes against all the principles and objectives of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights of the United Nations, as this organisation fights against all forms of colonialism and marginalisation and fights for the protection of human rights, traditions and customs of the peoples of the world. With these precedents, Mr President, on behalf of CONAIE we would like to make the following recommendations: - Urge the relevant organisations of the United Nations to protect the alternative development models whose principles are solidarity, fairness and collective development - In addition, for any activities which the State and national or transnational companies want to implement in indigenous territories, they must first consult with the indigenous peoples. - Finally, Mr President, we request you to ensure follow-up, control and application of Convention 169 of the ILO in those States in which it has been ratified.