The Waorani community of Dicaro, that since December 25, 2022, has been in a protest that prevents the entry of workers, machinery and supplies to block 16, located in the province of Orellana and which is now managed by Petroecuador, denounced through a public letter that the overflights of helicopters of the state oil company in Its territory could generate attacks by Tagaeris and Taromenanes (in voluntary isolation) on the Waoranis.
In their letter they explain that the Waorani of Dicaro are known as a people in recent contact with the other inhabitants of Ecuador, since the 50s. This, “with the violent and unconsulted entry of the oil industry into our territory.” They also explain that in the first months of each year, at the time of the chonta, the Tagaeri and Taromenane (in voluntary isolation) travel through this same territory to collect and feed themselves. Thus, this time of chonta collection has been altered by the continuous flight of helicopters that they go to the camps or production facilities (SPF) of Petroecuador, they say.
“There are days when we see close to a dozen helicopter flights over our territory, which generates unbearable noise for the Waorani and even worse for the Tagaeri and Taromenane. We have evidence that the isolated Tagaeri and Taromenane peoples are very close to our community of Dicaro, and We fear that the helicopter flights of the oil company are disturbing their peace of mind and could generate an attack against us,” they indicated.
The de facto measure of the Waorani community that began in December and has been maintained to date has led Petroecuador to execute an air logistics plan for personnel, materials and equipment, in order to guarantee the continuity of the operation and maintain production volumes within the expected range, the company has said.
The Waorani of Dicaro reported that their protest is due to the contamination by Repsol after 22 years of operation in their territory, and the neglect they have experienced in 38 years of oil exploitation, and finally what they call “the unconsulted entry of EP Petroecuador”, which operates oil block 16 since January 1, 2023.
They also complained that Petroecuador and the Ministry of Energy and Mines continue with the same staff of Repsol-Petrolia “community liaisons”, employees of whom they assure that for years they have despised the Waorani people of Dicaro, and today they would continue with the same practices at the service of the State.
Among the requests that the community made to Petroecuador on January 7 are a monthly payment of $1,200 from Petroecuador to each of the workers of the Waorani community for right of way, food and transportation; a payment of $25,000 for the death of a member of the community; coverage of the Ecuadorian Social Security Institute (IESS) for all Woaorani families; a semester bonus of $1,000 to single mothers and $2,000 to families in the community -also semi-annual-.
The representatives of the Waorani Dicaro regretted that it was not until January 16, 2023 that the Ministry of Energy responded to the requests stating that “some of the requirements are not supported by the legal framework” and that this “forces us to suspend the meetings of planned work in the territory until their list of demands is reconsidered”.
For the representatives of these indigenous communities, this shows that the State does not have a road map for block 16 and its towns, that the logical thing would be that the meetings should begin and there they find solutions to the differences. “We see that the interest of the State and certain officials and private stakeholders do not see beyond extracting oil or doing business without responding to the affected peoples. The State forgets that it is legally the guarantor of the rights of indigenous peoples in recent contact and in isolation,” they said.
The Waorani community asked the Ecuadorian and regional human rights organizations for solidarity and support for the Dicaro community, and to be aware of the situation, alert and express their concern to the Ecuadorian government and regional human rights organizations. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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