'...rejection of massive compensation, since they consider that in order to compensate for the damage, it is first necessary to carry out a study at s

Fishermen affected by the oil spill in Ventanilla marched to Congress

PERU
Saturday, November 12, 2022, 20:00 (GMT + 9)

Protesters carry banners and poles with messages such as "Repsol, take charge" and "President and Congress are part of this environmental disaster."

At least 500 artisanal fishermen from Ventanilla, Ancón, Chancay, Aucallama, among others who were affected by the Repsol oil spill on the Peruvian coast, are heading this morning to the front of the Congress, in downtown Lima. As they explain, the mobilization is to demand that the Peruvian State take action in the face of the oil company's refusal not to pay the agreed compensation.

Carrying and poles with the message "Repsol, take charge" and "president and Congress are part of this disaster", the artisanal fishermen were moving, at an average of 07:30 a.m., through the vicinity of Abancay avenue.

According to Luis Chiroque, from the Ancón Artisanal Fishermen's Defense Front, Repsol has barely paid them six out of nine compensation advances shortly after ten months of the environmental tragedy, which occurred on January 15 at terminal number 2 of the La Pampilla refinery.

“Our request is that the PCM make itself respected and make the fishermen respected, defending the sea that has been left a disaster by the hydrocarbon that was spilled on January 15. Repsol does whatever it wants with the fisherman and we have no support from the Government,” Chiroque told RPP Noticias.

In this line, the leader pointed out that the oil company wants to make the compensation at once, despite the fact that there is still no study that determines the environmental impact on the national coast.

"We are in the tenth month and we have only received six compensation advances, but Repsol does not want to continue giving because they want to make compensation at once," he claimed.

After arriving at the Parliament facilities and talking with legislators such as Ruth Luque, the protesters set out for the headquarters of the Presidency of the Council of Ministers (PCM).

Fishermen protested outside the Repsol headquarters

Dozens of artisanal fishermen, affected by the Repsol oil spill in the Ventanilla Sea, arrived last Tuesday, November 8, outside the company's headquarters, in San Isidro, to protest for fair compensation and a quality care.

The leaders, who arrived from Ventanilla, Ancón and Chancay, raised signs expressing their rejection of massive compensation, since they consider that in order to compensate for the damage, a study must first be carried out at sea.

In addition, they asked that the compensation be according to what each fisherman has, since many have one or more boats that they have achieved based on years of effort.

"They are against a massive compensation, they are offering equal amounts to all without respecting a comprehensive compensation. We also do not have a study that determines the projection of the damage in the sea to be able to take the numbers conscientiously," said the legal representative of the artisanal fishermen.

On the other hand, Zeida Vanessa, representative of a group of fisherwomen, requested that they change their category from Commerce to Fishing, since they own boats that work hand in hand with artisanal fishermen.

"We are heading to the PCM, we have presented a list of demands requesting that the Government take responsibility and side with the fishermen in the face of the abuse that the Repsol company intends to commit against the fishermen," said Mario Carranza.

He explained that, because the state of environmental emergency has not been extended again, the Repsol company stopped paying the compensation advances to the fishermen. “It has been a month since he canceled us, thus putting at risk his food, education and the subsistence of more than 2,500 families. It has unilaterally made this decision and intends to surprise the fishermen by pointing out that the sea would have recovered, when this is not the case because, according to OEFA reports, it continues to be contaminated.”

“What we are dealing with here is a public health issue. If the OEFA says that hydrocarbons are present on certain beaches, how is it possible that they are open, that people can go there, that species can be captured? That could create a serious risk to public health. Any beach that is contaminated must be closed”, he pointed out.

Source: rpp.pe (translated from original in spanish)

Related news:

• OEFA fines Repsol for more than USD 10.5M for oil spill false information

• Fishermen affected by the oil spill mobilize towards Congress

• La Pampilla, crime and punishment

• Repsol considers that the lawsuit filed against them is unfounded and Indecopi reports that Repsol has no legal basis

• The 100 darkest days

• One month after the Repsol oil spill, what is the economic impact?

• Oil spill in Ventanilla: more than 1,500 artisanal fishermen would be affected

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