CSPP and COSPACC take concerns about Toronto-based Frontera Energy to the United Nations

The Committee of Solidarity with Political Prisoners (CSPP) and the Social Corporation for Community Counseling and Training (COS-PACC) have stated that they have brought before the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention the case of eight environmental leaders in Colombia captured after participating in protests against Frontera Energy.

They note that these defenders were captured on November 27, 2018 by members of the Police, the National Army and other forces.

The CSPP and COSPACC highlight their concern that: “The eight captured social leaders have led complaints and social organization processes to demand that the company invest an environmental compensation for the value of 1% of its investment for the collection of water that is carried out for the oil activity; repair of the roads that have deteriorated due to the constant passage of heavy vehicles; and the payment of the debts acquired by Frontera Energy during the last years with more than 80 people from the community who provided their transportation, food and lodging services.”

And they note in their statement that since 2016 these eight defenders have “been denouncing the environmental, social and economic damages that the exploitation of the Cubiro Block is generating in its territory.”

Media reports and additional background on this can be read in El Espectador, Pulzo, Prensa Libre, Trochando Sin Fronteras and Las Chivas.

Frontera Energy is a Toronto-based company and describes itself as “a leading explorer and producer of crude oil and natural gas, with operations focused in Latin America.”

In this August 1, 2019 statement, Frontera noted their “continued development success on the Cubiro block with development and water injection wells in the Copa field.”

You can read more about Frontera here.

The full statement from CSPP and COSPACC can be read here.

PBI-Colombia has accompanied the CSPP since 1998 and COS-PACC since 2009. You can read their backgrounder about FCSPP here and COS-PACC here.

Photo: Working on Arbitrary Detention – 12th Meeting, 42nd Regular Session Human Rights Council – September 13, 2019.