TALKS FOR OIL IN AMAHUACA TERRITORY
Chris (the anthropologist I worked with) and I have a connection to a linguist based out of the University of Chicago who also works with the Amahuaca community of San Juan where I stayed in the jungle up river. He recently passed along this short news article that was released in a local publication in Atalaya just last month. Atalaya is the biggest urban area closest the community and it takes about a day or so to get to from San Juan by motorized boat, meaning San Juan is relatively isolated from the city. However, the the government oil company Petro Peru is moving deeper into the jungle to discuss developments on Amahuaca territory as it is mentioned in the release. READ BELOW
This news is very disturbing as it is reflective of just how present and active the oil industry is in the area.
The other reason is that it is unclear as to who was present at this meeting. If it was simply the company and the local people it is most likely that the discussion was a very top-down approach where the oil company was discussing its plans of how it will develop the area without much information being shared or considered from the point of view of the indigenous communities. I am currently attempting to dig deeper into what the resulted from the talks, if there was any kind of outcome and the fait of the Amahuaca.
Please stay tuned for more on this and feel free to email me at needlesk@gmail.com with further questions or comments.
Article originally published in Gaceta Ucayalina
Atalaya - Las empresas Hydrocarbon Exploration PLC, sucursal del Perú, es la contratista que realizará actividades de exploración y explotación del lote 188, refiere Petro Perú mediante comunicado oficial.
Razón por la cual indica, que el 8 de marzo a las 9 horas, en la casa comunal de la Comunidad Nativa de San Juan de Inuya, realizará evento informativo y el 10 de marzo también a las 9 horas hará lo propio en la Comunidad Nativa de Bufeo Pozo, distrito de Sepahua.
Como se recuerda, que Petro Perú, es una entidad del estado que promueve y supervisa contratos de licencia de actividades de exploración de hidrocarburos.
Petro Perú, invita a la población de estas comunidades asistir a estos eventos públicos, en la cual se detallará en que van a consistir estos trabajos.
Enviado Por: Raúl Velásquez Aguirre
Fuente: Comunicado Petro Perú
Atalaya - Hydrocarbon Exploration Company PLC, a subsidiary of Peru, is the contractor who will carry out exploration and exploitation of Lot 188, referred to by Peru Petro statement.
On March 8 at 9 pm there will be an 'informative event' in the communal house of the native community of San Juan de Inuya. A similar event to be held March 10 at 9 am in the native community of Bufeo Pozo in the Sepahua district.
As we know, Petro Peru is a state agency that promotes and oversees license agreements for oil exploration.
Petro Peru invites the people of these communities to attend these public events where the details of this organization's work and development will be discussed.
Submitted By: Raul Aguirre Velasquez
Source: Petro Peru Comunicado