www.survival-international.org/news/4514

Perenco chairman meets president as Indians protest across Amazon
Survival International
30 April 2009

The chairman of Anglo-French oil company Perenco has told the Peruvian president his company will invest $2 billion in the country, as Indians across the Amazon protest against the invasion of their territories by oil companies.

The protests have included the blockade of the Napo River, a key Amazon tributary. According to sources, at least two boats, including one belonging to Perenco, have managed to break through the blockade on the Napo - allegedly leading to three shots being fired at the Indians who chased after them.

Meanwhile, Perenco's chairman, Oxford University graduate Francois Perrodo, and Peru's president, Alan Garcia, met in the presidential palace in Lima. Perenco pledged to invest $2 billion in Peru, but said that its oil project, in an area inhabited by at least two of the world's last uncontacted tribes, will be delayed.

Survival has urged the company to withdraw from the project, as the isolated Indians living in the area, known as Lot 67, could be decimated.

Survival director, Stephen Corry, said today, "While Garcia and Perrodo shake hands and do billion dollar deals in the palace, hundreds of miles away Indians are protesting against the government and the invasion of their territories by companies. Perenco's timing couldn't be worse."


Watch Survival's short film 'Uncontacted Tribes',
narrated by Julie Christie:
www.survival-international.org/campaigns/uncontactedtribes

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www.survival-international.org/news/4520

Government determined to exploit uncontacted Indians' land
Survival International
1 May 2009

Peru's government has shown its determination to permit work on uncontacted tribes' land by passing a law declaring oil exploitation in northern Peru a "national necessity".

The law refers specifically to an area of Peru's rainforest called Lot 67, inhabited by at least two of the world's last uncontacted tribes. The company working there is Perenco, and Lot 67 is believed to contain the biggest oil discovery in Peru in thirty years.

The law has been passed in the immediate aftermath of a meeting between Perenco's chairman, Francois Perrodo, and Peru's president, Alan Garcia. At the same time, indigenous protesters have blocked a major Amazon tributary, the Napo river, in order to prevent Perenco and other company boats from passing, mainly in protest against other government laws making it easier for companies to take over indigenous land. According to reports, at least one Perenco boat has broken through the blockade.

Perenco has said it will invest $2 billion in Lot 67 and Peru's government hopes it will transform the country's economy, moving it from a net importer of oil to a net exporter.

The law was passed by Supreme Decree this week. A Supreme Decree is issued by the president and ministers and does not need to be voted by parliament.

Uncontacted Indians are exceedingly vulnerable to any form of contact because they do not have immunity to outsiders' diseases. Contact with Perenco workers would almost certainly decimate them. 

Watch Survival's short film 'Uncontacted Tribes',
narrated by Julie Christie:
www.survival-international.org/campaigns/uncontactedtribes


Act now to help the Uncontacted Indians
Your efforts are crucial in defending the Uncontacted Tribes. Writing a letter to the Peruvian government can make a real difference.

--sample letter--

To S.E. Alan Garcia
Presidente de la República del Perú
Palacio de Gobierno
Plaza de Armas
Lima 1
Peru

[Date]

Your Excellency,

I am extremely concerned about the future of uncontacted tribes in Peru. They are exceedingly vulnerable to outsiders' diseases and they make it clear they want to be left alone. They have the right to live on their lands and to remain in isolation. These rights have been recognised by international law.

I strongly urge the Peruvian government to protect uncontacted tribes by removing all loggers from their land, by stopping the entry of any other outsiders, and by prohibiting any form of natural resource extraction on their territories.

I also call on your government to set up an emergency medical plan in case of contact between the uncontacted Indians and outsiders, and conform to international law by recognising the tribes as the rightful owners of their land. At present these tribes are at huge risk and could well be wiped out.

Yours sincerely,
[your full name & address]

--end sample letter--

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