“We need to strengthen the important trade, economic, health, education and consular relationships” between Ecuador and Bolivia, “especially the relationship between both governments”, said Ulcuango in Cayambe, 60km from Quito, the capital city of the country. He highlighted the importance of strengthening the links between the people of both countries. “I’m humbled to take office, but I’m brave” to represent Ecuador and the different nationalities of the country, he said, according to news agency EFE.

Ulcuango was Vice-President of CONAIE (the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities of Ecuador) and President of the Kichwa Federation of that country (ECUARUNARI). He was also an MP for the Pachakutik Movement, CONAIE’s political force. He was also president of the Indigenous Parliament of the Americas.

But indigenous groups have responded to Ulcuango with criticism. On August 8th, CONAIE issued a press release with statements by the president of the organization, Humberto Cholango. The leader rejected the decision to appoint Ulcuango as Ambassador and accuses the government of dividing the indigenous movement. He also warned Bolivian President Evo Morales that the new Ambassador does not represent that movement.

“Ricardo Ulcuango does not have our support. He does not represent the dignified and historic struggles of our heroes and martyrs, who chose to die before giving in to the interests that are far away from those of the people”, reads the statement, cited in Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo.

Cholango also said: “It is sad that a former leader of the indigenous movement is now helping to consolidate the plans by the government to divide the people and destroy all types of peoples’ organizations in the country”.

According to CONAIE, Ulcuango has accepted the position disregarding the political authority of his grassroots organizations. “Beyond his personal intentions, which are deplorable, Ulcuango has given in to the temptation of power and has become an instrument for the government”, added Cholango.

In an interview with Gama TV, Ulcuango said that “he will not cause a division” and that the indigenous organizations he has represented have been struggling for the governments to include them in the political decision-making processes. “I respect the opinions of my friends and leaders of CONAIE and ECUARUNARI”, he said, but he stated that he does not share the accusations against him.

Ecuador’s new Ambassador to Bolivia said that he informed and consulted indigenous organizations when the government offered him the position, and regretted that the organizations “didn’t try to meet and analyze the possibility, assessing its advantages and disadvantages”. Ulcuango confirmed his “ideological principles and struggles always in favor of the poor, the indigenous people, but also of other social sectors”. He said that he will continue with this line of work and that he will never be an instrument for the right-wing parties.

The Ambassador said that he was motivated to accept the position by the possibility to “experience at first hand the process of change that Evo Morales is implementing, despite the adversities”. He also expressed his wish of the Bolivian government advancing towards a truly plurinational state.

Finally, Ulcuango highlighted the things in common between Morales and Correa’s governments. He said that he was asked to “strengthen cultural, political and commercial integration”, but also the “integration between the civil society and the indigenous peoples from both countries”. For this reason, the first item on his agenda as Ambassador is to schedule a meeting between the Foreign Affairs Ministries to write a work plan.

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