Peru’s government is on the brink of approving the expansion of the highly controversial Camisea gas project into the land of uncontacted and isolated tribes – ignoring a recent UN recommendation to first carry out ‘extensive studies’ over the threats posed to the vulnerable Indians.
Peru’s Ministry of Culture has approved a plan to expand the $1.6 billion Camisea project – run by Argentina’s Pluspetrol, US’s Hunt Oil and Spain’s Repsol – once three minor conditions are met, raising fears that expansion is imminent.
Any contact with gas workers could introduce fatal diseases to the uncontacted Indians. When Shell carried out initial explorations in the area during the 1980s, half the Nahua tribe was wiped out following first contact with outsiders.
The expansion plan includes the detonation of thousands of explosive charges, and the drilling of exploratory wells using heavy equipment, and involving hundreds of workers. It would take place inside the Nahua-Nanti Reserve for uncontacted and isolated Indians.
James Anaya, the UN’s Special Rapporteur for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, visited the region last month and warned, ‘The government and company should act with extreme caution and should not go ahead with the proposed expansion before first assuring conclusively that the (tribes’) human rights are not at threat’.
Uncontacted and isolated tribes like the Nanti are at extreme risk of contracting fatal diseases introduced by outsiders on their land.
