Half of the Nahua died after their land was first opened up by Shell for oil exploration in the 1980s.
Raya, a Nahua elder. More than half his people were wiped out after their land was opened up for oil exploration, Peru. © Johan Wildhagen/Survival
September 14, 2011
Isolated Indians in southeast Peru are being bribed with painkillers and pens, as industry giants seek to open up their land to explore for gas.
Survival has learned that even members of INDEPA the government agency set up to protect Perus tribes have put pressure on communities so research can be carried out in the reserve where they live.
Workers from Argentine gas giant Pluspetrol have been into the Kugapakori-Nahua Reserve to conduct environmental tests on the lands suitability. The reserve was created in 1990 to protect the territorial rights of vulnerable tribes.