OCTOBER 15, 1992
The Aguaruna and Huambisa Peoples of Northeastern Peru
are threatened with imminent devastation at the hands of US-based
petroleum companies.
Only in its early stages, the ill-designed exploration and
exploitation plan for the Maranon, Santiago, and Nieva River
Basins has already provoked a mass outcry from the area's native
population. Emir Etsam Nugkuag, an Aguaruna from the community of
Napuruka, said on Monday (10/12) "The detonations [for seismic
testing] and the clearings being made are scaring away the animals
and destroying the resources that our families depend upon to
survive."
Oil company plans made available in Lima indicate that the
exploration will continue with the clearing of roads, helipads,
camps, and most likely test and then production wells. Aguaruna
and Huambisa leaders fear a repetition of the environmental and
human nightmares recently experienced in Ecuador's Oriente.
One hundred and twenty representatives of Aguaruna and
Huambisa communities gathered in Napuruka on August 4th to meet oil
company officials who only agreed to speak to the communities
after being pressured by COICA, the Lima-based Coordinating Body of
Indigenous Peoples' Organizations of the Amazon Basin.
However, the company representatives arrived escorted by
the Peruvian Armed Forces and despite four days of desperate pleas
from community leaders, indicated they would not change their plans
before returning to Lima in an Army helicopter.
The companies operating in "Lot 50" (as the land is called
by the petroleum industry) are two Houston, Texas, USA based firms,
Edward Callan Interests and Halliburton Geophysical Services.
Contacted October 12th by Austin, Texas journalist Justin
Noble, a Halliburton spokesman refused to even confirm that his
company was operating in the zone. Richard Yarbrough, president of
Edward Callan Interests, acknowledged his company's presence in Lot
50; but declined to further elaborate on its operations or any plans
to address the Aguaruna and Huambisa demands that their land rights
be respected and that the environment should not be damaged.
This new threat comes on the heels of the recent AIDESEP
(Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Amazon)
victory preventing Texas Crude Inc. from entering the Pacaya-Samiria
Reserve. Etsam Nugkuag, visiting Texas to publicize the impending
disaster, said in Austin Wednesday "We know what oil companies have
done to other indigenous people and have seen their lands devastated.
We will not permit this irresponsible destruction to continue. We
have stopped big companies in the past and we can do it again. We ask
for the help of the international community to pressure these companies
to cease their operations on Aguaruna and Huambisa land."
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Edward Hammond (512) 479-8629
e-mail at: perezoso@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu
(see follow up detailed information message)
ADDRESSES:
Mr. Richard Yarbrough Mr. George Steel
President President
Edward Callan Interests Halliburton Geophysical Services
1415 Louisiana, 43rd Floor PO Box 36306
Houston, TX 77002 USA Houston, TX 77236 USA
(713) 759-1011 (713) 774-7561
TO CONTACT COICA:
COICA
Jiron Larco Herrera #1057
Lima 17 PERU
fax/phone 011-51-14-619228
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AWAJUNTIK KAKAGMAITJI IINA NUGKE AYAMJAKU TUKE DEPETKASHBAUWAITJI !!!
We the Aguaruna are heroes defending our territory - we are never defeated !!!
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Further information regarding oil company plans for "Lot 50":
1) Oil company plans call for a minimum of 135 km of 2 meter
wide paths to be cleared along 11 different "seismic lines".
Along these paths, engineers plan to detonate charges of up
to 10 lbs of TNT as close as 25 meters apart.
2) The charges are placed anywhere along the paths that the
engineers dictate, including streambeds, near peoples'
homes, near animal populations, in peoples' gardens, and
where great trees once stood.
3) Helicopters will operate and helipads will be cleared along
the Cordillera de Campanquiz, a particularly biologically
rich area where animals are taking refuge from current
exploration activities. In the words of the Consejo Aguaruna
Huambisa "Do they expect us to just go out and get canned
food?"
4) The first road planned as part of the project, a 10km wide
road (10km in length, 10m wide) from Chamikar to the Waisim
River is in an area already under pressure from colonists.
Its construction will cause the permanent loss of that land
to colonists, most likely coca cultivators. One Aguaruna
leader, Damian Tibijam, has already been killed by colonists
while trying to defend Aguaruna territory in Chamikar
5) No guarantees exist to properly house and feed oil company
workers. Likewise, none exist to prevent the arrival of
prostitution and commercial alcohol sales to cater to newly
arrived employees.
6) No independent environmental assessment authority exists,
and no practical recourse exists for people whose livlihoods
are destroyed by the oil operations.
7) Peruvian law is on the side of of the natives. In
particular, Article 123 of the Constitution, and Articles 54,
72, 73, and 76 of the Natural Resources and Environmental
Code make clear the Peruvian Government's responsibility to
prevent environmental damage and support Aguaruna and Huambisa
claims. To date, it has not exercised this authority.
8) International agreements to which Peru is a signatory also
support the indigenous cause, notable several sections of the
recent Rio de Janiero Declaration
9) Under Texas Law, multinationals with significant operations
in Texas may be held liable in civil court for personal
damages and injuries caused to foreign nationals by that
company's products and/or operations abroad (Dow Chemical vs
Domingo Castro Alfaro).
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Edward Hammond (512) 479-8629
"perezoso@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu"