Assembly has final word on Yasuni issue

The Legislative has the last word, once President Rafael Correa signed the Decree number 74, which states the formal decision of exploiting the oil from the reserves with the greatest biodiversity in the planet.

The Executive defends the idea of a sustainable exploitation and that they will only take a one thousandth of the Park area. Justice Minister Lenin Lara said that “there is a guarantee that with the proper protocols and technology, there will be no affectation.”

Meanwhile, environmental, indigenous, politics, and human rights organizations have insisted that the National Assembly should pass a referendum, in which the citizens can vote for or against oil extraction in the Yasuni National Park.

According to Article 407 of the Constitution, nonrenewable resource extraction in protected areas and areas declared as intangibles is prohibited. And it adds: “Exceptionally, such resources may be extracted by a formal request from the Presidency of the Republic and a prior declaration of national interest by the National Assembly, which, if convenient, may call a referendum”.

Protesters against the oil extraction from Yasuni National Park.