Neither side backing down in Peruvian social conflict

The standoff continues between the Argentine oil company Pluspetrol on one side, and the Achuar indigenous people on the other. Ever since the indigenous group seized 14 oil wells, Peruvian officials have been working around the clock to negotiate a resolution to the conflict.

In a press conference, Carlos Sandi, president of the Federation of Indigenous Communities of the Corrietes River (Feconaco), told reporters that the indigenous communities are demanding that Pluspetrol recognize their right to the land as a condition for continuing talks and lifting the protest. He added that a meeting had been planned for this week, but was suspended, “because the company did not want to recognize our rights to the land.”

Sandi explained that part of the oil company’s strategy is to recognize the rights of some indigenous groups and not others, signing agreements with just some of the indigenous communities.

Pluspetrol has been issuing press releases but Sandi’s colorful comments have received much more press coverage than the oil company’s bland reassurances of its commitment to peaceful and harmonious dialogue.

In other Peruvian oil news, the Chinese National Petroleum Corporation was officially presented to Peruvian regional and municipal authorities by Perupetro, the Peruvian state oil company. CNPC reiterated its interest in investing in the Peruvian oil industry, despite low global oil prices.