Indigenous communities mobilize against 'fracking'

As part of the International Earth Day commemorated this April 22, indigenous communities of Cauca, accompanied by environmental sectors of the city of Popayán, will walk from the Casa de la Moneda to the Tulcán pyramid, better known as El Morro. The objective of this mobilization is to reject the measures of the government of Iván Duque, who recently authorized 'fracking' as a method of mining minerals in the country.

For the senior councillor of the Regional Indigenous Council of Cauca (CRIC), Carmen Gembuel, 'fracking' is a technique that attacks communities and biodiversity and “uses various substances that may pose dangers to human health and the environment,” she said in the minutes before starting social mobilization.

Among the risks that the Minister warns is the explosion and pollution of aquifers, as well as the generation of droughts in water sources, ruptures of underground soil layers, difficulties in the areas of livestock, agriculture and tourism. “It is a technique that goes against our life plans, our processes as an organization and destabilizes all spiritual and cultural thinking,” said Gembuel.

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The 139 indigenous authorities of the 11 peoples that are part of the CRIC participated in this mobilization against fracking. “Indigenous peoples join this call for life, in defense of the environmental, social and cultural rights of communities, so they will walk through the main streets of Popayán, aware that unity between different people is necessary to save the planet,” said the CRIC in a statement.

The communities assured that the use of 'fracking' directly affects the social, cultural, economic and territorial integrity of an entire country, therefore, they seek through this march to call social organizations, environmentalists, human rights defenders to unity, but above all, “the national government so that repeal this law, which, as has been seen in other countries, generates severe environmental damage and direct damage to mother earth”.

Finally, the counselor stated that, “within the framework of care and protection in defense of mother earth, the 'fracking' approved by the government of Iván Duque is for economic purposes and does not recognize the rights of communities, that is why we declare ourselves in Minga inwards, reviewing this new, disastrous measure, another, of this government that we hope he will leave soon.”

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In other cities in Colombia, there have also been mobilizations against this technique of mineral extraction. In Bogotá, protesters gathered in the Park of the Hippies at 10 a.m. and walked to the headquarters of the National Environmental Licensing Authority, located in the center of the city.

During the tour, people held a protest action in front of the Ecopetrol headquarters. It should be noted that this oil company is one of the most interested in fracking in Colombia.

On the morning of Thursday, April 21, the First Court of Barrancabermeja granted guardianship to the Afro-Colombian Corporation of Puerto Wilches (AFROWILCHES) in order to suspend the environmental license of the PPI Kalé 'fracking' project. This one was to be developed by Ecopetrol.

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