Peru: Oil company EcoPetrol to explore in region with uncontacted tribes

Date: 20 Mar 2009

Survival International has said that Ecopetrol's agreement with Brazil's Petrobras to explore in two regions of the Peruvian Amazon, will put it into territory inhabited by some of the world's only remaining uncontacted Indians – who may be especially vulnerable to exposure to the company.

Ecopetrol will operate in a reserve which was set aside for the Murunahua Indians, who are known to be vulnerable to contact because of their lack of immunity to common human diseases. A prior incident where Murunahua were contacted by illegal loggers resulted in up to 50 percent of the group being killed by resulting disease.

A second area also includes part of a proposed reserve for uncontacted Indians, and the proposal to explore there has angered members of indigenous communities who have said that they would resist explorations in that area.

Stephen Corry, director of Survival International, said: "It's possible Ecopetrol don't know what they're letting themselves in for: the land they've just agreed to explore is inhabited by uncontacted tribes. By working there, Ecopetrol will break international law and violate the rights of some of the most vulnerable people on earth."

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