October 17, 2010
Source: mongabay.com
Survival International has warned that oil exploration in northern Peru threatens two uncontacted tribes. The organization, devoted to indigenous rights, has sent a letter to the UN’s Special Rapporteur on indigenous peoples, James Anaya, alleging that Peru is "violating international law" by allowing oil companies to explore a region home to uncontacted people, who are especially vulnerable to disease.
Anglo-French oil company, Perenco, has already spent months building and drilling wells in the remote Amazonian region known as Block 67, for which Perenco holds 100% interest. The company has stated that '50,000 tons of material and consumables' have been flown into the jungle. The company is now waiting for approval to build a (207 kilometer) pipeline. According to Survival International, Perenco denies the existence of the uncontacted tribes.
"This is as serious as it gets for indigenous people anywhere in the world. Massive oil operations are planned which will destroy the rainforest and could decimate two tribes," Stephen Corry, director of Survival International, said in a statement.
Peru has begun a drilling boom in its rainforests. According to Amazon Watch, 75% of Peru's Amazon rainforest is now open to oil and gas exploration and drilling.
Peru's government has backed big oil and other development projects, such as massive dams, over the protests of indigenous groups. Last year, the issue came to a head as a protest turned violent: 23 police officers and at least 10 indigenous protesters were killed.