Peru Will Not Exploit Uncontacted Peoples’ Lands
The government of Peru recently announced it will not auction the reserve lands of uncontacted Tribal Peoples for oil exploration.
“The decision represents a U-turn for Perupetro, the state body responsible for negotiating exploration rights,” comments Survival International in a recent press release. “Perupetro spokespeople had previously suggested the uncontacted Indians did not exist, and that exploration in their reserves would be permitted.”
In fact, last year a Perupetro spokesperson compared the Peoples’ to the Loch Ness monster, saying “everyone seems to have seen or heard about uncontacted peoples, but there is no evidence.”
Four months later, in November, President Garcia took on a similar position, basically saying the reward of oil is more important than the ‘potential’ risk of extinction… That is what the people would be facing if Perupetro went ahead and auctioned the lands. From that point on, all it would take is a firm hand shake. Sickness and Death would soon follow.
In any event, a lot of people can now rest easy. The reserve lands are safe. Thank you Perupetro for putting the needs of the People before the want of oil.
Survival continues,
“However, part of one of the new concessions, although not a reserve, is inhabited by uncontacted Indians, and elsewhere in Peru oil and gas exploration remains a huge threat. French company Perenco has recently acquired the rights to work in the northern Peruvian Amazon where at least two uncontacted tribes live, and companies Repsol-YPF, Petrolifera and a consortium led by Pluspetrol all work in areas inhabited by the Indians.”
“Survival International’s director, Stephen Corry, said today, ‘Perupetro’s decision is the right one – from both a legal and humanitarian point of view – and we hope this change of heart is permanent. However, there remain other areas inhabited by the Indians where exploration is still going on. These areas must be made off-limits too, and the companies should withdraw in accordance with international law.’”
For more information and background, please visit Survival International’s Campaign Page for Uncontacted Peoples, http://www.survival-international.org/news/tribes/isolatedperu
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This is good news. I think the tribes should be allowed to live in peace. They are not bothering anyone and just want to live like they have been without any interference from the outside.
Isn’t it ironic: How a few Indigenous people may just save the world from catastrophic climate change. They should be greatly honored by leaving them alone in peace. The Amazon Forest in which they inhabit is one of the few large carbon sinks for our planet. It is vital to their survival and to ours as humans.
The International Community is keeping a watchful eye.