Residents of the Waorani community in Dicar have ended their strike in the areas of influence of Blocks 16 and 67, in the province of Orellana, Petroecuador reported on Tuesday, April 11, in a statement.

The state-owned company assures that the cancellation of the measure is in accordance with the agreements reached during the dialogue held on Monday, April 10, between representatives of the community and the authorities of Petroecuador, the Ministry of Energy and Mining, the Government of Orellana and other institutions.

On the same day of the dialogue, Petroecuador reported that the daily production average fell by 50% in the aforementioned blocks “as a result of vandalism caused by groups outside the oil operation that affected the facilities.” One such incident occurred on April 6, according to the Armed Forces, when military personnel guarding the vicinity of Block 16 were “violently attacked with shotguns and spears by members of the Guayero community.”

The military intelligence service is analyzing incidents in the oil block to find those responsible, the energy minister said

Meanwhile, this agreement announced by the state-owned company marks the end of almost four months of protests since last December 25 when the Dicaro community started a peaceful resistance in their territory.

In that period there were also contradictions. On February 14, the state-owned company also announced the lifting of the measure, after reaching an alleged agreement, later denied by the community, which clarified that only a three-day period was agreed for Petroecuador to inspect its facilities. oil companies and collect data on their unsatisfied basic needs.

This protest was due to the alleged contamination caused by the Repsol-Petrolia company and Petroecuador’s unconsulted entry into the ancestral territory of the Waorani community in Dicaro, which demanded that the state make all the operations of the private company that managed blocks 16 and 67 transparent to the state 31 December 2022; After the agreed deadline, Petroecuador took over the operation the next day, January 1, 2023.

Among other demands, the community then requested the initiation of legal and administrative proceedings for alleged violations of the rights of the Waorani people affected by the company Repsol-Petrolia; and to Petroecuador to provide information on the overall operations and plans of the state-owned company in block 16, as well as the possible benefits that the continuity of oil exploitation will represent for the community.

In the meantime, regarding the agreements reached now, Petroecuador reported that in accordance with the Government’s guidelines, they treated the points requested by the members of the community, framed by the law and the competences of each entity.

Clashes between the Waorani community of Dicar and Petroecuador over the end of the protests in Blocks 16 and 67

According to the state-owned company, these resolutions are part of the Community Relations Plan that it implements in the areas surrounding its projects, the management of which is related to the areas of community infrastructure, education, human rights, cultural revaluation, health and the promotion of productive projects for the existence of communities in the zone of influence of the blocks 16 and 67.

“The company will take the appropriate steps, within its powers, to comply with the obligations to all communities in the area of ​​influence of blocks 16 and 67 with which agreements have been reached, among which Pompeya, Indillama, Yarentaro and Dicaro,” specified the state oil company. .