e-archivo ecuatoriano
Resolutions of the Fifth Congress of the FEI (1972)
- Impulse towards the process of agrarian reform:
- Immediate abolition of precarious agricultural work, the automatic passing of the ownership of the land to the Indians and other peasants (campesinos) that work it, such as the renters, huasipungueros, occupants, supporters, yanaperos, etc.
- Total elimination of all traces of the feudal system as well as all discrimination towards Indians.
- Immediate and favorable designation of land for the communal cooperatives and other organizations of peasants, or peasants and salaried agriculture workers and poor residents of villages, towns, parishes, etc. of the area, taking them from the useless lands, whose ownership shall pass to the state as stated in Art. 38 of the Law of Agrarian Reform and Art. 12 of the Law of Unused Land and Colonization.
- The exclusion of landlords as decision makers in the process of agrarian reform, especially in the IERAC
- Realization of agrarian reform directly by the state with the participation of peasant organizations which shall make up the IERAC;
- Organization into cooperatives of huasipungeros who will have received land with the goal of improving existing conditions and with the right to request settlements that allow collective work.
- Help of the state for all of the cooperatives, communes and other peasant organizations whose goal is agrarian reform, so that they can improve and heighten agricultural production through low interest, long term credits, the establishment of machine stations, availability of fertilizers, insecticides, and selected seeds, agronomic assistance, etc.
- Total and unrestricted completion of the transactions prescribed for collective conflicts presented by peasants or their organizations.
- Correct application of the Water Law
- Free water for peasants who have little land
- Limited use of water for large landowners, only the amount necessary for the cultivation of the maximum extension of land allowed by the agrarian reform
- Plans for an immediate increase in the amount of irrigation available to the peasant, especially for the cooperatives, communes, and other organizations formed to promote agrarian reform
- Application of current laws regarding housing for peasants
- Cancellation of the debts of Indians and other poor peasants to state bodies and emanating from the exploitation and loan sharking of the landowners
- Cancellation of taxation of the lands of small landowners
- Adequate measures to assure markets and good prices for the products of peasants, especially those of the cooperatives and the communes
- Improvement of the living conditions in the rural area
- Development of plans for urbanization and amplification of housing zones and the rural population zones, applying clearly what is established in Art 146 of the Political Constitution of 1945, Art.28 of the Law of Provincial Regimen, the relative dispositions of the Parish Council and the mandates of the Law of Communes
- Massive literacy campaigns and establishment of primary schools where indigenous languages are spoken
- Free medical attention in rural areas. Health centers. Rural roads.
- Establishment of agricultural education institute
- Reclamation and defense of communal lands.
- Electricity for all the communities. Sufficient drinking water. Plan for the beneficial expropriation of lands for small communities.
- A raise in the salaries of agricultural workers. Respect for and amplification of labor union rights. Social Security for salaried agricultural workers and other protections for rural workers. Application of the Work Code.
- Setting of fair prices by the State for the purchase and sale of products. State credit for small businessmen for the purchase of the products of the peasants. Provision of the stores of the state (ENPROVIT) in rural zones to the small businessman for essential products and those most frequently consumed by peasants.
- Special help for artisans in rural zones
- Cheap, long term credit
- Technical assistance; establishment of schools for artisans for the improvement of artistic technique.
- State stores for the sale of tools, basic materials and the purchase of rural artwork at a fair price.
- Fight for democracy and the rights of the worker and peasant.
- For the strengthening of the worker-peasant alliance, nucleus of the National Liberation front.
- For international solidarity among all workers.
- For peace and friendship between communities.
Quito June 17, 1972
Source: "La Federación Ecuatoriana de Indios F.E.I. Frente a la Reforma Agraria y los cambios de estructura, Plataforma de Lucha," El Pueblo Epoca IV:857 (July 29, 1972): 8, 7.
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