Ecuadorian tribe gets reprieve from oil intrusion

[xchrom]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/jan/17/indigenous-ecuadorian-tribe-oil-intrusion?intcmp=122


A Kichwa family by Napo River, Amazon rainforest, Ecuador. Photograph: Ragnar Th Sigurdsson/Alamy

An indigenous community in the Ecuadorian Amazon has won a reprieve after building up an arsenal of spears, blowpipes, machetes and guns to fend off an expected intrusion by the army and a state-run oil company.

The residents of Sani Isla expressed relief that a confrontation with Petroamazonas did not take place on Tuesday as anticipated, but said the firm is still trying to secure exploration rights in their area of pristine rainforest.

"We have won a victory in our community. We're united," said the community president, Leonardo Tapuy. "But the government and the oil company won't leave us alone. "

The Kichwa tribe on Sani Isla, had said they were ready to fight to the death to protect their territory, which covers 70,000 hectares. More than a quarter of their land is in Yasuni national park, the most biodiverse place on earth.

[tama]

1. Our hearts with them. nt

[Judi Lynn]

2. Hope somehow they can be kept safe from the predators. It's long past time the world evolved. n/t