CIEL - Cacataibo case (Peru): Impacts of hydrocarbon exploration on isolated indigenous peoples

In June 2007, CIEL and Instituto del Bien Común (IBC) began working together to safeguard the rights of the Catataibo Indigenous Peoples threatened by oil exploration in the Peruivan Amazon, particularly the Cacataibo indigenous peoples in isolation.

The Cacataibo Indigenous peoples in isolation live in the areas superimposed by the Block 107 oil and gas exploration concession in the Cordillera Azul region in the central Peruvian Amazon. There is overwhelming historical evidence that shows that forced contact with indigenous peoples in isolation results in serious illnesses and numerous deaths. Yet, despite the high risk of forced contact and life-threatening diseases, the Peruvian government approved oil and gas exploration in the traditional territories of the indigenous Cacataibo peoples in August 2007. The Canadian company, Petrolífera Petroleum Del Peru S.A.C., has recently begun laying down lines of explosives to conduct seismic testing, as part of its exploration for oil and gas in Block 107.

In August, CIEL, IBC, FENACOCA- the Federation of Indigenous Cacataibo Communities (Federación Nativa de Comunidades Cacataibo), and the leaders of the settled indigenous Cacataibo communities met in Aguaytía, Peru in order to discuss the negative impacts from hydrocarbon exploration on the Cacataibo peoples in voluntary isolation. In this meeting FENACOCA reiterated their rejection of the oil and gas exploration in the areas proposed as territorial reserves for isolated Cacataibo peoples. FENACOCA, IBC and CIEL, also decided to make a request to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights for precautionary measures to prevent the violation of the rights to life and personal integrity of the Cacataibo peoples in voluntary isolation.

In December 2007, FENACOCA, IBC and CIEL, with the support of the Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (AIDESEP), requested precautionary measures from the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to protect the lives, health and physical integrity of Cacataibo indigenous peoples living in isolation in the Peruvian Amazon. This request highlights the serious and imminent threats to the lives and physical integrity of the Cacataibo indigenous peoples in isolation due to the oil and gas exploration in their traditional territories. We are looking to the IACHR to request that the government of Peru take precautionary measures to protect the lives and safety of these indigenous peoples. In particular, the government from Peru and the company Petrolífera Petroleum Del Peru S.A.C. should refrain from conducting seismic testing in the traditional territories of the Cacataibo indigenous peoples.

For more information please see the briefing papers on this situation, provided below in English and Spanish, as well as the public announcement by FENACOCA and a map of the affected area:

• Cacataibo Indigenous Peoples in Voluntary Isolation Threatened by Oil Exploration

• Indígenas Cacataibo en Aislamiento Voluntario Amenazados por Exploración Petrolera

• Comunicado Publico De Fenacoca en Defensa de Cacataibos en Aislamiento Voluntario Amenazados por la Exploración de Hidrocarburos

• Map / Mapa: Pueblo Indígena Cacataibo y Exploración Petrolera del Lote 107

• Press Release in English And Spanish About the Precautionary Measures Request
  

The Precautionary Measures is also available for download (in Spanish):

• Carta Presentación

• Solicitud de Medidas Cautelares

• Anexos
  

 

Contact Information:

Marcos Orellana, Senior Attorney, Center for International Environmental Law
PHONE: 202-785-8700; FAX: 202-785-8701, Email: morellana@ciel.org

Carlos Soria, Attorney, Instituto del Bien Común
PHONE: +511 913-00824 / 440-0006; FAX: +511 440-6688; Email: carlossoria@ibcperu.org


This page last modified on 19 March 2008.