Abstract

CIRO RODRIGUEZ, Estefanía. “Neither a war which kills us, nor a peace which oppresses us”: oil exploration and the defense of water in the south of Colombia during the negotiations for the peace treaty. colomb.int. [online]. 2018, n.93, pp.147-178. ISSN 0121-5612.  https://doi.org/10.7440/colombiaint93.2018.06.

During the negotiations for a peace treaty between the FARC guerrilla group and the Colombian government, headed by President Juan Manuel Santos, a petroleum exploration venture began in the Department of Caquetá, in southern Colombia, which led to protests revolving around the defense of water. This article analyzes the effects of the seismic exploration undertaken by the oil companies there and the actions of the peasant-farmer organizations which were defending water. In contrast with the idea that the Colombian State is institutionally weak, it has been a crucial actor in the consolidation of extractive industries. In that respect, the article also reveals how the historic shaping of territories limits the margin of action for social protest. Using a qualitative methodology, this study of the abovementioned events seeks to throw light on the challenge of balancing peace with the protection of the environment in the frontiers of Colombia.

Keywords : Petroleum; Amazon; guerrilla; peace; Colombia; violence; State.

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