Justice and Peace Commission says Gran Tierra has ignored territorial autonomy of the Cabildo Ksxa ́w Nasa in Colombia

On April 6, the Justice and Peace Commission posted:

“In the last two weeks, the Canadian company Gran Tierra Energy has ignored the territorial autonomy of the Cabildo Ksxa ́w Nasa that lives between the municipalities of Puerto Asís and Puerto Caicedo, Putumayo.”

Calgary-based Gran Tierra Energy Inc. is “a company focused on oil and gas exploration and production in Colombia and Ecuador.”

The Justice and Peace Commission further notes: “Operating companies and contractors of Gran Tierra entered the territory of the council without consultation, installing equipment and elements for the realization of environmental studies, has made tours and examined species of fauna, and flora of vital importance for the Nasa people.”

Their full statement is at Empresa Gran Tierra Energy desconoce derechos de Pueblo Nasa.

Danilo Rueda, Justice and Peace Commission national coordinator.

Justice and Peace has also highlighted the military repression that resulted in Nasa leader Victor Campo being wounded and Yordan Rosero Estrella being killed last year.

Their report on that May 31, 2021, incident noted: “Today at 5:30 am in the municipality of Villagarzon, department of Putumayo, protesters tried to enter the Costayaco field owned by the [Canadian] oil company Gran Tierra Energy, in order to block its operation.”

Still from National Organization of Indigenous peoples of the Colombian Amazon (OPIAC) video.

Justice and Peace also accompanies the Perla Amazónica Peasant Reserve Zone (ZRCPA) near Puerto Asis, which is about 200 kilometres northwest of Puerto Leguizamo.

The Guardian has reported: “Jani Silva [of the ZRCPA] says she has seen firsthand the effects of big business in Putumayo, where, she believes, oil companies ‘exploit irresponsibly’ and contaminate the environment.”

Jani Silva with PBI-Colombia.

Both Villagarzon and Puerto Asis are in the proximity of Puerto Leguizamo where the military killed 11 community members, including Indigenous Quechua governor Pablo Panduro Coquinche, on March 28.

Pablo Panduro Coquinche.

This week, PBI-Colombia tweeted: “Human rights organizations, among them @ccajar @justiciaypazcol, behind the verification mission in Puerto Leguízamo, Putumayo highlights that the National Army operation in an indigenous community left civilians murdered, injured and missing, including several minors. Urgent investigations.”

More on this at Statement of the Verification Mission Vereda El Remanso, Puerto Leguizamo – Putumayo.

The Peace Brigades International-Colombia Project has accompanied the Inter-Church Commission on Justice and Peace Commission since 1994 and the José Alvear Restrepo Lawyers’ Collective (CCAJAR) since 1995.