n","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
color:black;mso-ansi-language:EN-IN;mso-fareast-language:EN-IN" lang="EN-IN">During its
colonial period, Tumbes was sparsely populated and formed a part of the
Audiencia of Quito through an unmodified Cedula of 1563 and Cedula of 1740.
When Tumbes declared its independence from Spain it opted to join Peru believing in the right of
free determination of peoples. First, the Republic of the Gran Colombia
challenged that right and then Ecuador claiming de jure rights through
unmodified colonial Royal Decrees ( Real Cédulas ), but to no avail. The
Protocol of Rio de Janerio signed in 1942 with Ecuador legally confirmed Peru's
previously de facto rights over Tumbes after a victorious war. However, lasting
peace between both countries was not achieved until 1992, after a final
conflict. Peruvian President Alberto Fujimori and Ecuadorian Presidente Jamil
Mahuad signed a final document in which Ecuador accepted Perú's right over Tumbes
and other territories claimed by Ecuador until then
