Perú: Kukamas from the Forest and the City come together to address the Consequences of the Spill

Servindi, September 24, 2010 - The Kukama Kukamiria communities from the Marañón Basin and the neighborhood committees of the city of Nauta, Department of Loreto came together to jointly address the consequences of the crude oil spill which began on June 19.

Alfonso López, President of the Cocama Association for the Development and Conservation of San Pablo de Tipishca (ACODECOSPAT), stated at the press conference, which took place today, that it was completely false that the water of the Marañón River has returned to normal.

The leader showed the media remains of water mixed with crude oil collected this weekend from the Marañón River in the area of the Grau and Payorote communities.

López indicated that he had gathered evidence that indicated that a light aircraft and a yacht had spread a white powder that they assume was intended to cause the crude oil to move to the bottom of the river and make it less visible.

The Kukama leader said that the spill did not only involve 300 barrels of crude oil, as indicated by the company, Plus Petrol. He stated that they know, thanks to other sources, that up to 1,000 barrels of crude oil must have spilled.

"There is no other way to explain why the inhabitants in contact with the river water have gastrointestinal problems, allergies and itchy skin until now," he explained.

Alfonso López provided samples of the crude oil and the white powder collected in the river basin to José Álvarez Alonso, biologist of the Peruvian Amazon Research Institute (IIAP). Leaders asked IIAP to collaborate on the analysis of the substances.

Álvarez expressed his interest and concern for the issue, more so because the IIAP has been monitoring the water of the Marañón River for several years.

New Alliance

The alliance between ACODECOSPAT and the Organization of the Cocamas Indigenous Neighborhood Committees of Nauta, Loreto (OJUVENACO – LN) was announced at the press conference held at the headquarters of the Bilingual Teacher Training Program of the Peruvian Amazon (FORMABIAP).

This coalition of Kukama inhabitants of the forest and city was forged on Sunday, September 19 at a meeting that brought together 3,000 inhabitants in the city of Nauta.

OJUVENACO-LN arises "in defense of the Marañón River, natural resources and life", as indicated by its leaders who will now strengthen the fight undertaken by the Association for the Defense of Marañón River Pollution consisting of more than 60 Kukama Kukamiria communities.

Support from the Largest Indigenous Organizations

Edwin Vásquez, President of the Regional Organization of Indigenous Peoples of the East (ORPIO), expressed his solidarity with the steps taken and announced his support in favor of the actions to be carried out at a national and international level.

Vásquez of the Huitoto people, who is also the current coordinator of the Coordinating Body of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), questioned the indifference of authorities with regard to the cases of river pollution, which affect the life of the communities.

He indicated the following: "If Alan García is not concerned with the pollution of the Rimac River that is next to the Government Palace, he is going to be even less concerned with the pollution of our rivers."

"With the support of ORPIO, the Inter-Ethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP) and COICA, we are going to take these complaints to the extent necessary" Vásquez concluded.

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Traducción: Sylvia Fisher