NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #26/NN_1992_26.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/8317

Text File | 1992-11-11 | 3.6 KB | 84 lines

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From: Andrew Lang <[e-mail]>
Subject: Oil Threat In Peruvian Amazon
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Date: Thu, 12 Nov 1992 07:19:09 GMT
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/* Written  8:49 pm  Nov 11, 1992 by [e-mail] in igc:en.alerts */
/* ---------- "Oil Threat In Peruvian Amazon" ---------- */
Update: Situation Worsens On Aguaruna And Huambisa Land

Aguaruna And Huambisa Face An Uncertain Future,
Communities Fear Imminent Conflict With Trespassers
---------------------------------------------------

A deep uncertainty and discontent has gripped the Aguaruna and
Huambisa communities of Peru's Alto Maranon.  Community representatives
in Lima report that they have all but given up hope of a negotiated
settlement with Edward Callan Interests, the Houston, TX based oil firm
managing the invasion of Aguaruna and Huambisa lands in the Maranon,
Santiago, and Nieva River basins.

Edward Callan has consistently refused to address the concerns of
the Aguaruna and Huambisa.  To date, their contractors have cleared
nearly 200 km of seismic paths, dozens of helipads, exploded thousands
of pounds of dynamite, and left considerable human refuse searching for
oil reserves against the indigenous peoples wishes.  This activity is
taking place in pristine Amazon rainforest and on titled indigenous
peoples' land. Edward Callan's contractors continue to use Peru's
armed forces as a shield against the people whose land they are
destroying.

Eyewitness reports from the remote zone indicate that a new
production contractor is moving into the area, following on the heels
of the withdrawing Halliburton Geophysical Services seismic crew.  The
scale of the operation is said to be increasing.  Edward Callan's
Houston headquarters has stopped commenting on its Peruvian operations
and will not provide any information regarding plans to address the
landowners concerns or environmental protection measures.


TENSIONS BUILDING

Since colonial times the Aguaruna and Huambisa have been highly
vigilant protecting their land from harmful intruders, and despite
severe provocation in this case they continue to seek a peaceful
settlement.  However, a recent statement from the Aguaruna-Huambisa
Council indicates that community leaders are concerned that frustration
from being ignored will cause communities to decide to forcibly remove
invaders from their land.  They fear that this may be a bloody process
that will pit Peruvians against Peruvians in a struggle over a foreign
company's interest.


ACT NOW

Despite the worsening situation, it is important to emphasize that
unlike many other tropical areas with possible oil reserves, Lot 50 has
yet to suffer irreparable ecological damage and the indigenous stewards
of the forest have not been driven out.  Now is the time to act, before
large-scale production gets underway and the communities and ecology of
the area suffer further damages.

COICA, AIDESEP, and the Aguaruna-Huambisa Council, the concerned
indigenous peoples' organizations, ask that you write Edward Callan
Interests to express your concerns about their Peruvian activities:

Mr. Richard Yarbrough, President
Edward Callan Interests
1415 Louisiana, 43rd Floor
Houston, TX  77002


For more information contact: [e-mail], [phone]

(ref.: [e-mail] Wed Nov 11 17:19:12 1992)