There is a demonstration on July 19 outside the office of Pluspetrol in Maynas province, Loreto and people are considering taking stronger measures, such as blocking the ship traffic in Marañon river, reported the radio station La Voz de la Selva.

The local residents also plan to file another criminal accusation against the oil corporation before the Public Attorney of Loreto. They are upset because the company said in a press release that it had delivered the aid promised to the affected.

After the spill, several studies certified that the levels of oil in the water of the Marañon river were above the permitted ones, having irreversible impacts on the flora and fauna, and endangering peoples’ health.

The news about the towns suffering the impacts of the spill mounted every day. The first days it was reported that nearly four thousand peoples had been affected, but now the local organizations registered nearly 21 thousands damaged residents.

Last Saturday, delegates of the communities met with the corporation to repeat the call for basic supplies, but Pluspetrol asked for a week to give an answer.

“This is a mockery to the peoples, this corporation can deliver, especially in response to the damage it has caused to the peoples and the environment”, local leader Alfonso Lopez Tejada told La Voz de la Selva.

The conflict takes place amid a Parliamentary debate on the passing of a “consultation bill”, which is rejected by the most representative social organizations, including the Confederation of Communities Affected by Mining (Conacami).

“They pass laws to favor investment of mining and oil transnational corporations, damaging the peoples’ rights over their natural resources. A clear example of this is what has happened with gas, with the oil spill in Marañon river”, said the chair of Conacami, Mario Palacios, in an interview posted on the organization’s website.

Photo: www.conacami.org