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French company in legal battle over uncontacted Peru tribes

A French company is locked in a legal battle with Amazon Indians over its plans to drill for oil in parts of the jungle inhabited by some of the world’s last uncontacted tribes. A hearing is due on 30 May.

The company, Perenco, is working in a remote part of the Peruvian Amazon where at least two uncontacted tribes live. It is believed to be the biggest oil find in Peru in thirty years and the Peruvian president, Alan Garcia, has expressed hopes it will transform the Peruvian economy.

The case has been filed by Peru’s Amazon Indian organisation, AIDESEP. It urges the judge to prohibit Perenco and other companies from working in the region and making contact with uncontacted tribes.

Perenco acquired the rights to work in Peru after taking over a US company, Barrett Resources, earlier this year.

Barrett had already attracted fierce criticism from Peruvian Indians after revealing plans to ‘communicate’ with the tribes using megaphones if its oil crews were attacked by them.

Any form of contact with the tribes could be catastrophic because of their vulnerability to outsiders’ diseases. After first contact, it is common for more than 50% of a tribe to die.

Despite this, and despite an international law that recognises the tribes as the rightful owners of their land, Perenco continues to work there.

Survival’s Director, Stephen Corry, said today, ‘Perenco must understand the potentially disastrous consequences its actions may have for the uncontacted tribes. Perenco, pull out. It’s the Indians’ land, not yours, and you’re breaking international law by working there.’

Official Press Release

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# Jerry Powers U.S.A. says :
30 May, 2008 [ 07:06 ]

Its so sad this world is so greedy, corrupt, thinking of only money to build further fortunes. Its not about oil to beging with. Our Govt. has the tecknology to build automobiles without useing oil. Its common knowledge we built a battery opperated car that had a top speed of 100 mph, & it would go 350 miles before a charge was necessary & our Govt. had it destroyed. Greed, my fellow Americans, on both countries.
Another note about the car that never was, it held 5 adults comfortably & a few people bought a few, which is still around. As illerate as I am towards building cars, I belierve even I could build one that gets better milage.

# James Wells says :
30 May, 2008 [ 08:38 ]

Have we learned nothing?  How many hundred years ago did the same thing happen to the North and South American Indians?  They thought it was their land.  We now think it is our land.  Who will protect us?  Will this continue?

# Jesus Saves says :
30 May, 2008 [ 09:30 ]

What? There are still savages in Peru? Time to send in the missions and Christianized and Civilize these poor souls. We must teach them to some worshipping evil Pagan demon which they call gods and teach them to wear clothes and speak Spanish :)

I will contact the Pope about sending missions soon.

# EC says :
30 May, 2008 [ 10:07 ]

Jeus Saves, you are out of line. What makes you think that they are the savages and not us.

# Sandra says :
30 May, 2008 [ 10:32 ]

Are they not humans? Do they not have a family that they love and show love to one another? If those Indians were killing each other and setting things on fire and so forth, I would agree with you Jesus Saves. How about you contact the Pope for those people who speak Spanish, believe in God, wear clothes yet rape women and kidnap and murder many others. Those Indians are humans and we should not force our culture onto theres just like we dont go into Asia and force them to speak Spanish and be all catholics and like our food. It's about Respect!

# Start Pumping says :
30 May, 2008 [ 14:31 ]

Largest oil find in 30 years, could easily accelerate Peru's progress into the 1st world.  Drill, and drill deep.  Survival of the fit.

If they are uncontacted, how are they waging a legal fight by the way?

# sda says :
30 May, 2008 [ 16:42 ]

**** them.. sorry we need the oil get the **** out

# fcbic says :
30 May, 2008 [ 19:54 ]

You Jesus, must be peruvian and indian , a lot of peruvians that think they are "limenos" belittle the people from the amazon and calling this people savages is a very hard word for them, at leat they have the will power and courage to defend their territory.
Do you think the Pope is going to listen your ignorance?

# General Custer says :
31 May, 2008 [ 02:20 ]

We need the oil.. Those savages are nomades anyway.. they can go and live in Brasil or somewhere else... Imagine if this oil finding become true... it will mean cheap petrol for everybody in Peru just like in Venezuela; Lots of public and private employees expending big money every end of the month and a huge income for the Amazon's region, we could even borrow money to Argentina or Brazil like Chavez does... The benefic of the whole country is before the interests of a small group and for the ONGs and their sponsors... well all them can fu** o**  

# sda says :
31 May, 2008 [ 13:59 ]

yea rofl a country > a bunch of savages sorry we need the oil get the fudge out

# CapitanDan says :
31 May, 2008 [ 17:02 ]

Yes My Friends. Who are these ignorant, uneducated people who ask for nothing ,but to be left alone to follow their pursuit of happiness. Who only take from nature enough to live and when they pass on they leave nothing but what was there to start.As for "Savages" we all should take out our Webster Dictionary then look in the mirror. There you will truly see the real Savage who has caused suffering to untold millions in the name of progress. As for the destination of all this oil. It will go to the E.U. where people are in an uproar more than in the U.S.. As for resources Peru doesn't need this field even if it proves to be what they say. We still have areas in the north that can be utilized without the disruption of these people and gas reserves that are cleaner and less polluting. Let's break the yoke of "Colonialism"and think for ourselves. The oil will be there for the future if Peru really needs it. Chau.

# Mari says :
31 May, 2008 [ 23:23 ]

I totally agree with you CapitanDan.

# A.K. says :
1 June, 2008 [ 00:18 ]

Dont take jesussaves, gen. Custer, etc seriously. Its the same person having fun in his own twisted way. I doubt he truly believes what he is typing. This problem is only going to get worse. There are some that believe the Amazon holds as much oil as the middle east. If so, now what do we do? The world is jonesing for this oil and there will be some very powerful forces at work here trying to get at it. Lets hope the good guys win...

# Mike says :
2 June, 2008 [ 00:02 ]

CapitanDan;

Who threatened violence as soon as they showed up?  The plane or the tribal people?

# Ysabel says :
2 June, 2008 [ 01:32 ]

First we have the Americans in TALARA getting the  oil to the USA  until Velazco got them out. Remember history:  the French's invaded Mexico, Maximilian lived at the Palace of Chapultecpec using the natives as his slaves until he got kicked out. Now the Frenchis are in our territories, and no one cares for the human patrimony we have, our people.!Indians or no Indians is their territory.
And here goes a mesage for Jesus saves and his question about " they are still savages in Peru?" I would have saying " natives out of civilization". The savages are mostly out of Peru. I will QUOTE what I read in "The Province New Paper " in Vancouver, Canada on May 29, 2008.
..."United Nations PACEMAKERS ARE CITED FOR ATTACKS ON KIDS". ..A twelve year old girl claimed she was walking to tend her mother's fields , then she was raped by 10 men , they were UNITED NATIONS peacekeepers". This happened in Ivory Coast. Many more sexual abuse  of children as young of six  by aid workers  and UNITED NATIONS peacemakers have continued uncheked...." This are the savaged, not our Indians. Let them live in their own land. Don't do what Americans and Canadians did to their Indians. Trading alcohol for  furs. Send the Frenchies back home where thy belong.