En noviembre 2014, las organizaciones sociales presentaron una acci\u00f3n popular\u00a0 frente al Tribunal Contencioso administrativo de Arauca con el objetivo de denunciar los actos de la Occidental Petroleum Company (OXY), Ecopetrol y otras instituciones nacionales que permitieron a la OXY de explotar los recursos de la regi\u00f3n sin respetar las normas preestablecidas.<\/p>\n
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La acci\u00f3n popular expone el caso particular de la situaci\u00f3n en la Laguna del Lipa, un \u00e1rea que fue declarado reserva forestal en 1976 para proteger su fauna y flora. Adem\u00e1s, la regi\u00f3n est\u00e1 poblada por comunidades ind\u00edgenas y incluyen la Laguna del Lipa dentro de sus territorios ancestrales. Los impactos de la explotaci\u00f3n petrolera obligaron las comunidades a desplazarse de manera forcada. <\/p>\n
La OXY explora y explota la regi\u00f3n desde hace m\u00e1s de 40 a\u00f1os. La acci\u00f3n popular denuncia el nuevo proyecto de construcci\u00f3n de una plataforma artificial en la Laguna del Lipa. El objetivo de la plataforma es de perforar 9 nuevos pozos petroleros. Hace parte del proyecto Chipir\u00f3n que fue implementado\u00a0 por la OXY en 2003. <\/p>\n
Este proyecto en la Laguna del Lipa resulta en varias violaciones de derechos humanos incluyendo:<\/p>\n
El no respeto del proceso de consulta previa garantizado a las comunidades ind\u00edgenas;
Desplazamiento de las comunidades Sikuani, Betoy, Makaguan y Hitnu;
Violaci\u00f3n del derecho de libre circulaci\u00f3n;
Violaci\u00f3n de los derechos culturales de esas comunidades, por no dejarlas practicar sus rituales ancestrales;
Violaci\u00f3n del derecho a un ambiente sano, por la contaminaci\u00f3n de las aguas, cambio de la temperatura del agua y de su flujo; secamiento de los fuentes de agua;
Violaci\u00f3n del derecho a la soberan\u00eda y autodeterminaci\u00f3n de los pueblos;
Violaci\u00f3n del derecho a la vida.<\/p>\n
Adem\u00e1s, la presencia de la OXY contribuya a la presencia de actores armados en la regi\u00f3n, fomentando la intimidaci\u00f3n, las desapariciones forzadas, la judicializaci\u00f3n y asesinatos selectivos en particular para defensores de derechos humanos, miembros de organizaciones sociales, miembros de comunidades ind\u00edgenas y sindicalistas. <\/p>\n
El proyecto en la Laguna del Lipa viola varios art\u00edculos de la Constituci\u00f3n colombiana y de los Pactos internacionales que el pa\u00eds ha ratificado. As\u00ed, la acci\u00f3n popular pide:<\/p>\n
La suspensi\u00f3n del permiso de ocupaci\u00f3n de la OXY;
La suspensi\u00f3n de todas las actividades relacionadas con el proyecto Chipir\u00f3n.<\/p>\n
A pesar de las amenazas, de los actos de intimidaci\u00f3n, de las desapariciones forcadas y asesinatos selectivos, las comunidades y organizaciones sociales siguen luchando para sus derechos, territorios y vidas.<\/p>\n
\u00a1SOLIDARIDAD CON LAS COMUNIDADES AFECTADAS POR EL PROYECTO DE EXPLOTACI\u00d3N EN LA LAGUNA DEL LIPA!<\/strong><\/p>\n PUBLIC DENUNCIATION<\/strong><\/p>\n DENOUNCING OXY, YET AGAIN: THE LIPA WETLANDS CASE<\/strong><\/p>\n In November 2014, a collective action (a legal process used when collective rights are being violated) was brought before the Administrative Dispute Tribunal of Arauca in order to denounce the acts of the Occidental Petroleum Company (OXY), Ecopetrol, and various national institutions, which permitted OXY to exploit the department\u2019s oil in unfavourable conditions. <\/p>\n The collective action exposes the particular situation of the Lipa wetlands (Laguna del Lipa) an area that was declared as a forestal nature reserve in 1976, in order to conserve its fauna and flora. Additionally, the area is populated with indigenous communities who consider the wetlands as part of their ancestral territory. The changes caused to the land because of the oil exploitation have forced the communities to move away, causing forced displacement. <\/p>\n OXY has been exploring and exploiting for more than 40 years. The collective action denounces a new project that aims to construct an artificial platform in the Lipa Wetlands in order to drill nine new oil wells. It is part of the Chipiron project that has been implemented by OXY since 2003. <\/p>\n This project, in the Lipa wetlands, will result in various human rights violations including: <\/p>\n Disrespect of the due process of consultation guaranteed to indigenous communities; In addition, the presence of OXY contributes to the presence of armed actors in the region resulting in intimidation, forced disappearances, judicialization and selected killings, especially for human rights defenders, members of social organizations, members of indigenous communities and union leaders. <\/p>\n \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The denunciation also notes the preoccupation of the social organisations and communities for the respect of the fauna. A report made by the OXY indicates that some species would be relocated in another area while the exploitation process would be taking place, to avoid negative impact on the fauna. This fact underlines that the exploitation process has negative impact for the fauna of the Lipa wetlands, since the animals cannot remain in their natural habitats.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/p>\n The project in the Lipa wetlands violates various articles of the Colombian constitution and of the international Pacts that it is tied to. Therefore, the collective action demands that:<\/p>\n The OXY\u2019s environmental license be revoked; Through the struggle, acts of intimidations, threats, forced disappearances and selected killings, the communities and social organisations continue to fight for their territories and life. <\/p>\n SOLIDARITY WITH THE COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE LIPA WETLANDS EXTRACTION PROJECT!<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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Displacement of the Sikuani, Betoy, Makaguan and Hitnu indigenous communities;
Violation of the right to circulate freely;
Violation of cultural rights by preventing these communities from pursuing their ancestral rituals;
Violation of the right to a healthy environment, by the contamination of waters, change to the water\u2019s temperature and flux, and drying up of water sources;
Violation to the right to sovereignty and auto-determination of the People;
Violation of the right to life. <\/p>\n
The project in the Lipa wetlands and the activities related to Chipiron be suspended.<\/p>\n