History of the Ecuadorian–Peruvian territorial dispute nature, but was meant only for ecclesiastical and military jurisdiction. During the first 10 years of independence, Gran Colombia, under the leadership of Simon Bolivar, had continually protested Peru's occupation of Tumbes and Jaen; Maynas had not been militarily occupied yet. Peru ignored Simon Bolivars ultimatum to return Tumbes and Jaen or face war. Bolivar then declared war and Peru responded by successfully invading and occupying southern Ecuador with a force of 8,000 soldiers. Simon Bolivar sent Jose Antonio de Sucre to Ecuador who lead 4,000 Gran Colombian soldiers that defeated the Peruvian invaders in the Battle of Tarqui in
History of the Cook Islands Aitutaki. It appears that, though the inhabitants regarded themselves as British subjects, the Crown's title was uncertain, and the island was formally annexed by Proclamation dated 9 October 1900. The islands were included within the boundaries of the Colony of New Zealand in 1901 by Order in Council under the Colonial Boundaries Act, 1895 of the United Kingdom. The islands remained a New Zealand dependent territory until 1965, at which point they became a self-governing territory in free association with New Zealand. The first Prime Minister Albert Henry led the country until 1978 when he was accused of vote-rigging. Today,