Ecuadorian government asserts grounds to refute results of oil drilling referendum

After Ecuadorians overwhelmingly voted to ban new oil wells in a prized national park, the government challenged the legitimacy of the referendum and said it would continue drilling. On [20 August], nearly 60 percent of voters approved halting new oil drilling in Yasuní National Park, which sits on the eastern edge of the Amazon rainforest and is home to two isolated tribes. [...] The results were contentious, however, as oil is a major source of revenue in Ecuador, accounting for roughly a third of all exports. On [23 August], Ecuador’s energy minister, Fernando Santos Alvite, said the government would not abide by the referendum, arguing that, per the constitution, only those living in the region can weigh in on oil drilling. In the province of Orellana, where Yasuní National Park lies, 58 percent of voters opted against the ban. Activists are calling on the government to respect the results of the national referendum, which was ordered by the high court of Ecuador. They are also bracing for the final round of a presidential election that has been marred by political violence. Activists are urging the two remaining presidential candidates to abide by the drilling referendum, if elected. The candidates will face off in October.
Read the full article here: E360