Correa Says He is "Furious" About the Damage Texaco caused in the Amazonian Region
366 words
28 April 2007
16:50
Agencia
Agenda EFE - Servicio Econ6mico
Spanish
Copyright 2007 Agencia EFE. All Rights Reserved
Quito, 28 Apr (EFE).- The President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, said today that he is "furious"
about the damages caused, in his opinion, by the American company Texaco in its 20 years of
operations in the Amazon forests of this Andean country.
"It is infuriating, enraging to see how they treated us. The open pits are still there. They claim to
have carried out environmental remediation to some pits, yet what they did is put dirt in them; if
you dig a hole less than a meter deep, you dig out tar," Correa said.
In the past 48 hours, the head of State visited Amazon areas where oil companies operated,
particularly Texaco, to confirm on site the effects of these companies' work on the population and
the environment.
Correa said in his weekly radio program that during his trip he verified that in several areas, "the
water smells like gas," so he announced that he was creating an "integrated plan to relocate the
people" who live in the zone affected by the petroleum operations.
For Correa, "the spill, what Texaco left in the Amazonian region, is 30 times greater" than what
happened several years ago in Alaska, which is why he warned that it is extremely serious
damage.
He lamented that there was "Ecuadorian complicity" in the matter by attorneys who "are traitors;
those who, for a few dollars, are capable of selling souls, country, family, etc."
Similarly, he criticized the workers of the state oil company, Petroecuador, who in 1998 signed a
document certifying that Texaco had complied with the environmental repair work "when they
had not even covered many of the pits," he emphasized.
He therefore called on the Attorney General of the Nation to file criminal charges against "these
corrupt people and traitors who, despite the fact that the contamination was visible, said that
everything had been remedied," something which he described as "shameless."
"Listen to me, you miserable mafiosi, the party's over with this Government. We will not permit
you to take even one more peso from the country, our Amazonian region, and our oil," the Head
of State added emphatically.
PLAINTIFF’S
EXHIBIT
490#
11 Civ. 0691 (LAK)
Plaintiff's Exhibit 490# p. 1 of 3
CERTIFICATE OF ACCURACY
STATE OF GEORGIA
SS:
COUNTY OF DEKALB
Thomas L. West III, being duly sworn, deposes and says:
That the translation from Spanish into English, accompanying this certificate is a true and
complete translation to the best of my knowledge, ability and belief.
~ "-1;~1Jii
1;_
Thomas L. West III
INTERMARK LANGUAGE
SERVICES CORPORATION
Subscribed and sworn to before me this day, Wednesday, September 12,2007
Plaintiff's Exhibit 490# p. 2 of 3
==~
Correa se declara "indignado" por dafios en la Amazonia causados por Texaco
366 words
28 April 2007
16:50
Economico
Agencia EFE - Servicio Econ6mico
Spanish
Copyright 2007 Agencia EFE. All Rights Reserved
declaro hoy que se siente
Quito, 28 abr (EFE).- El presidente de Ecuador, Rafael Correa, declar6
provoco la empresa estadounidense Texaco en sus
"indignado" por los dafios que, a su criterio, provoc6
20 afios de operaciones en la selva amazonica
amaz6nica de este pais andino.
"Da indignacion,
indignaci6n, iracundia ver como
c6mo nos han tratado. Ahi estan las piscinas abiertas. En algunas
remediaci6n ambiental, 10 que han hecho es poner tierra encima,
piscinas dicen que han hecho remediacion
os un metro y sacan brea", relato
cavan un agujero de men
menos
relat6 Correa.
El jefe de Estado recorri6
recorrio en las ultimas 48 horas zonas amaz6nicas
amazonicas donde operaron compafiias
petroleras, en especial Texaco, para constatar "in situ" los efectos del trabajo de esas empresas
poblacion y el medio ambiente.
para la poblaci6n
constato que en varias zonas "el
Correa dijo en su programa semanal de radio que en su recorrido constat6
anuncio que se elaborani
elaboraTel "plan integral para reubicar a las
agua huele a gasolina", por 10 que anunci6
personas" que viven en el sector afectado por las operaciones petroleras.
Para Correa, "el derrame, 10 que ha dejado Texaco en la amazonia, es 30 veces mas grande" que
uno ocurrido hace varios afios en Alaska, por 10 que advirti6
advirtio que es un dafio sumamente grave.
Lamento que en el tema hubo "complicidad ecuatoriana" de abogados "vende patrias, los que por
Lament6
unos cuantos d61ares
dolares son capaces de vender almas, patria, familia, etcetera".
eo, Petroecuador, que en 1998
Asimismo, critico
critic6 a trabajadores de la empresa estatal de petrol
petr61eo,
firmaron un acta en la que se certifica que Texaco cumplio
con
los trabajos de reparacion
cumpli6
reparaci6n
subrayo.
ambiental "cuando ni siquiera se habia cubierto muchas de las piscinas", subray6.
Nacion para que inicie juicios
formulo un llamamiento a la Fiscalia general de la Naci6n
Por ello, formul6
contaminacion estaba a la vista,
penales contra "estos corruptos y vende patrias que, pese a que la contaminaci6n
dijeron que todo estaba remediado", algo que calific6
califico de "sinvergliencerfa".
acabo la fiesta. No
"Escuchenme mafiosos miserables, con este Gobierno se les acab6
petroleo",
permitiremos que se nos lleven un peso nunca mas de la patria, nuestra Amazonia y el petr61eo",
apostill6
apostillo de forma tajante el jefe de Estado.
Plaintiff's Exhibit 490# p. 3 of 3