Situation Worsens On Aguaruna And Huambisa Land
11/11/92
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/** en.alerts: 10.1 **/
** Written 8:49 pm Nov 11, 1992 by econet in cdp:en.alerts **
Update: Situation Worsens On Aguaruna And Huambisa Land
Aguaruna And Huambisa Face An Uncertain Future,
Communities Fear Imminent Conflict With Trespassers
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A deep uncertainty and discontent has gripped the Aguaruna and
Huambisa communities of Peru's Alto Maranon. Community
representatives in Lima report that they have all but given up
hope of a negotiated settlement with Edward Callan Interests, the
Houston, TX based oil firm managing the invasion of Aguaruna and
Huambisa lands in the Maranon, Santiago, and Nieva River basins.
Edward Callan has consistently refused to address the concerns of
the Aguaruna and Huambisa. To date, their contractors have
cleared nearly 200 km of seismic paths, dozens of helipads,
exploded thousands of pounds of dynamite, and left considerable
human refuse searching for oil reserves against the indigenous
peoples wishes. This activity is taking place in pristine Amazon
rainforest and on titled indigenous peoples' land. Edward Callan's
contractors continue to use Peru's armed forces as a shield
against the people whose land they are destroying.
Eyewitness reports from the remote zone indicate that a new
production contractor is moving into the area, following on the
heels of the withdrawing Halliburton Geophysical Services seismic
crew. The scale of the operation is said to be increasing.
Edward Callan's Houston headquarters has stopped commenting on its
Peruvian operations and will not provide any information regarding
plans to address the landowners concerns or environmental
protection measures.
TENSIONS BUILDING
Since colonial times the Aguaruna and Huambisa have been highly
vigilant protecting their land from harmful intruders, and despite
severe provocation in this case they continue to seek a peaceful
settlement. However, a recent statement from the Aguaruna-
Huambisa Council indicates that community leaders are concerned
that frustration from being ignored will cause communities to
decide to forcibly remove invaders from their land. They fear
that this may be a bloody process that will pit Peruvians against
Peruvians in a struggle over a foreign company's interest.
ACT NOW
Despite the worsening situation, it is important to emphasize that
unlike many other tropical areas with possible oil reserves, Lot
50 has yet to suffer irreparable ecological damage and the
indigenous stewards of the forest have not been driven out. Now
is the time to act, before large-scale production gets underway
and the communities and ecology of the area suffer further
damages.
COICA, AIDESEP, and the Aguaruna-Huambisa Council, the concerned
indigenous peoples' organizations, ask that you write Edward
Callan Interests to express your concerns about their Peruvian
activities:
Mr. Richard Yarbrough, President
Edward Callan Interests
1415 Louisiana, 43rd Floor
Houston, TX 77002
For more information contact: perezoso@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu, (512)
479-8629
(ref.: perezoso@ccwf.cc.utexas.edu Wed Nov 11 17:19:12 1992)