* They denounce pressures and manipulation of the MEM to carry out audience May 09 and will not open communal localities
* Community of Shivankoreni demands transparency and affirms that Camisea project has only brought about problems for the Machiguengas
Leaders of the native community of Shivankoreni publicly declared that by agreement of their General Assembly, they reject the public audience for the Block 56 (Camisea 2)concession planned for Monday, May 09 and consequently will not lend their localities for said act.
Through a proclamation, the communities denounce that the Peruvian Ministry of Energy and Mines (MEM) and the oil company Pluspetrol are responsible for pressuring and manipulating leaders to agree on the scheduled public audience, even though the communities of the Lower Urubamba agreed on April 22, by unanimity, to suspend any audience dealing with this hydrocarbons concession.
Up to now the Camisea project has only brought about problems for the Machiguengas and the exploitation of Block 56 will bring about increased negative impacts, as it is superimposed on seven native communities and “the proposed platforms are almost on top of our dwellings” they indicate.
Following the gas spill that occurred last December, the native communities of the Lower Urubamba agreed to require that before continuing with the expansion of the Camisea project, there must be an explanation of the causes of the spill, there must be serious evaluation of the incident and that efficient control measures must be adopted.
Nevertheless, instead of providing technical and clear answers, the MEM and the oil companies exercise diverse pressure tactics on the communities, while manipulating the leaders with the intention of dividing the organizations and not conducting themselves with transparency.
The agreement to schedule the audience on May 09 has been carried out by only two leaders of the Management Committee for the Development of the Lower Urubamba (CGBU), but “behind the backs of 22 communities of the CGBU and our unanimous decision,” states the proclamation drafted by Miguel Chakami, deputy Chief, Roberto Italian Pascal, Secretary and Grimaldo Caristo Aladdin Chief.
Read the full proclamation and related information [in Spanish] at:
http://www.servindi.org/sp/noticias/Noticias_2005/actualidad_142.htm
