24 July 1997 Edition
Columbia ambush forces oil pull-out
On the sixth of July in the oil rich department of Arauca, Colombia, 21 soldiers lost their lives in a combined operation of the FARC and the ELN.
The soldiers were on their way to repair the oil pipeline which had been damaged in a bomb attack. As the helicopter landed guerrillas opened fire on the troops killing the pilot and 20 of the 24 soldiers.
Some days later when the troops returned to the zone 10 more of them were killed in another joint operation of the two largest guerrilla groups. The pipeline was eventually repaired and was in operation for an hour and 13 minutes before it was blown up for the 474th time since its construction in 1986.
It has all been a bit too much for the oil company OXY. On the 15th of July they suspended production at 135 wells throughout the region of Arauca.
Things haven't been going their way lately. The U'Wa tribe has successfully resisted all attempts by OXY to carry out oil exploration on their land, threatening a mass suicide if the company got their way.
BP is also feeling the effects of the guerrilla campaign. They have reduced production and have pleaded with the Colombian Government to afford them adequate protection. The situation is such that the Colombian military admitted that the flags which fly over the towns of Arauca belong to the guerillas and not the Colombian state which is experiencing increasing difficulty in operating in the area despite its massive use of death squads. Yes, it's tough at the top of the oil companies.
ยท
The Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) is an initiative for cultural promotion, development education and campaigning solidarity, linking Ireland and Latin America. LASC 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2, Ireland
Phone and Fax: +353-1-6760435
email: [email protected]
(Email services kindly donated by Ireland On Line)
The soldiers were on their way to repair the oil pipeline which had been damaged in a bomb attack. As the helicopter landed guerrillas opened fire on the troops killing the pilot and 20 of the 24 soldiers.
Some days later when the troops returned to the zone 10 more of them were killed in another joint operation of the two largest guerrilla groups. The pipeline was eventually repaired and was in operation for an hour and 13 minutes before it was blown up for the 474th time since its construction in 1986.
It has all been a bit too much for the oil company OXY. On the 15th of July they suspended production at 135 wells throughout the region of Arauca.
Things haven't been going their way lately. The U'Wa tribe has successfully resisted all attempts by OXY to carry out oil exploration on their land, threatening a mass suicide if the company got their way.
BP is also feeling the effects of the guerrilla campaign. They have reduced production and have pleaded with the Colombian Government to afford them adequate protection. The situation is such that the Colombian military admitted that the flags which fly over the towns of Arauca belong to the guerillas and not the Colombian state which is experiencing increasing difficulty in operating in the area despite its massive use of death squads. Yes, it's tough at the top of the oil companies.
ยท
The Latin America Solidarity Centre (LASC) is an initiative for cultural promotion, development education and campaigning solidarity, linking Ireland and Latin America. LASC 5 Merrion Row, Dublin 2, Ireland
Phone and Fax: +353-1-6760435
email: [email protected]
(Email services kindly donated by Ireland On Line)