Residents in Peru’s Loreto department have lifted a blockade in the Marañón river in protest of Argentinean oil company Pluspetrol’s response to an oil spill earlier this year, Radioprogramas reported.
Indigenous residents began the protests this week by blocking traffic on the river. They argued that Pluspetrol had not fulfilled its commitment to provide social assistance following the spill.
On Thursday morning, protesters confronted boats that tried to pass their blockade. On boat carrying 90 people – Glimer 4 – was reportedly held by the demonstrators who had demanded a high level commission be sent to solve the conflict.
According to RPP, six people went missing after a confrontation with another boat – Eduardo 8 – which also occurred on Thursday morning.
However the demonstrators decided to stop the protest following a meeting with authorities from Loreto. The representatives included Loreto’s regional vice president, Norman Lewis del Alcázar, as well as health officials, police officers and members of the Peruvian Amazon research Institute (IIAP), among others.
