Huaorani People Occupy Maxus Oil Wells
4/20/95
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/* Written 7:25 PM Apr 20, 1995 by rainforest in
igc:rainfor.genera */
HUAORANI PEOPLE OCCUPY MAXUS OIL WELLS IN
ECUADORIAN AMAZON, DEMANDING THEIR RIGHTS
The Organization of the Huaorani Nation of the Ecuadorian Amazon
(ONHAE) reports that on April 19 it occupied Maxus Ecuador Inc.
oil wells in protest of the companies non-compliance with a signed
agreement with the Huaorani people. ONHAE has called for a
meeting to negotiate a new agreement.
Maxus denies reports that its oil wells were seized and says that
the company's position will be published soon in a local paper.
Concerned individuals are encouraged to contact Maxus Energy Corp.
CEO Charles L. Blackburn at:
fax 214-979-1977, phone 214-953-2000
717 N. Harwood St.
Dallas, TX 75201
Following is a translation of ONHAE's April 20 press advisory:
PRESS ADVISORY
from the Organization of the Huaorani Nation of the Ecuadorian
Amazon (ONHAE)
HUAORANI PEOPLE RISE UP IN DEFENSE OF THEIR
RIGHTS
Due to the non-fulfillment of the agreement established among the
Government of Ecuador, Maxus and the Huaorani people, in the last
few hours the Huaorani people have decided to occupy Maxus' oil
platform/rigs in order to defend our rights and to propose a new
agreement since the current one does not guarantee our autonomous
development, has not been fulfilled and was signed under unequal
terms.
"This measure has been taken due to the practice Maxus has always
used to weaken the Huaorani organization rather then strengthen
their development as a people," declared Hector Villamil,
President of the Organization of Indigenous Peoples of Pastaza
(OPIP).
"We have decided in an meeting in Puyo." Villamil continued, "to
invite top authorities from the government, the company and
indigenous organizations to a meeting where the aspirations of the
Huaorani people can become reality."
"Since its arrival to this country, Maxus has implemented an
intensive plan of persecution in an effort to weaken the Huaorani
people's resistance and buy off their conscience and will to be
free. Through giving gifts of no value, some foodstuffs and work
tools, Maxus has tried to control and de-organize our people,"
declared the Huaoranis.
The company's paternalistic actions in the form of occasional
support, minimal economic resources and the loss autonomy for the
Huaorani organization (ONHAE) make impossible the fulfillment of
the "Agreement of Friendship, Respect and Mutual Support between
the Huaorani people and Maxus Ecuador Inc." that was signed
over a year ago, the region's indigenous leaders explain.
When this agreement was signed Maxus skillfully hid many
realities, such as:
% The company never specified the drilling technique Maxus uses to
reduce impacts generates more toxic waste during the drilling
process;
% The company concealed data such as that during seismic
testing it deforested 1,317 hectares (3,161 acres), opening
2634 kms of seismic lines.
%The Huaorani people never participated in the design nor
implementation of any environmental impact studies. These were
carried out by a consultant contracted by Maxus.
% Neither in the agreement nor in their studies did the company
discuss the cultural, social or economic impacts that the 180 km
road would cause. This road has interrupted the ecological life
of the plants and animals that live in this area cris-crossed by
333 rivers and streams.
% Maxus concealed that it contracted the Brazilian company
Andrade-Gutierrez which was justly sanctioned in its own country
for bribing government employees.
% In addition to this, the company contracted with lumber
traffickers, cut the natural flow of streams causing their
stagnation, thus affecting the Huaorani people's diet. The
company never consulted the Huaorani people in the design,
planning, implementation and monitoring of the environmental
management plan put into operation by Maxus.
In regards to cultural effects, many members of the Huaorani
people and other indigenous peoples as well that worked for the
company have abandoned their traditions such as hunting and
fishing, causing disintegration of family relations. The poor
disposal of human waste has affected people's health. There has
also been a change in mentality and attitude about the threat of
oil activities.
Divisiveness, human rights violations and deceit are at the vertex
of this agreement which the Huaorani people reject and for this
reason are now calling for a meeting with the highest level state
and company officials.
NEW AGREEMENT
The Huaorani Nation, in function of its rights and attributes as a
people, present the "Agreement between the government of Ecuador-
Maxus Inc. and the Huaorani people to participate in the economic
resources generated by oil exploitation in Block 16."
1. Defend and protect the cultural, organizational and
territorial integrity of the Huaorani people.
2. Guarantee the Huaorani people's participation in the decision
making process for Block 16 oil development and all activities in
the area of influence.
3. Guarantee the fulfillment of the Huaorani people's political,
economic, social and organizational rights.
4. Consolidate the process of dynamic and reciprocal integration
and interaction between the Huaorani people and the rest of
national society based on relations of mutual respect.
5. Economic participation in just terms for the integral and
autonomous development of the Huaorani people.
To this end, the Huaorani people have developed a "Integral Self-
development Plan" for the next twenty years in which ONHAE will be
the only organizational representative, and any decision without
its participation will be lacking.
Fraternal organization that sign this proposal with the Huaoranis
suggest that both civilian and military society, just as they did
during the recent armed conflict, join together in an efforts to
guarantee this continuity as a people in function of greater
national objectives.
Signed,
Armando Boya Bailwa, Vice President of ONHAE
Hector Villamil, President of OPIP
April 20, 1995
Puyo, Pastaza, Ecuador