In response to the contamination, we, the affected people, filed a class-action lawsuit against the oil company and decided to organize to continue the legal fight.
Out of numerous meetings in which area residents, indigenous groups, social federations of small farmers, and non-governmental organizations participated, the Union of the People Affected by Texaco (UDAPT: Unión de Afectados y Afectadas por las Operaciones Petroleras de Texaco) was created. This association was born out of the organizing process since the beginning of the fight and by the decision of the affected parties; that is, all of the decisions of this organization pass through review and approval by the bases. On November 23, 2012 the organization received legal entity status (ministerial accord No. 0476).
One of UDAPT’s objectives is to fight until they achieve reparation and remediation of the environment affected by the contamination; for this reason they have ordered their lawyers to prosecute Chevron until the company is held accountable for the damage and crimes perpetrated.
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